SCA Initiative

Syrian Cassette Archives is an initiative to preserve, share and research sounds and stories from Syria's cassette era (1970s-2000s). At the heart of the initial collection are hundreds of cassette tapes acquired by audio-archivist and producer Mark Gergis during multiple stays in Syria between 1997 and 2010, reflecting a period of personal research and exploration, and connections made with local music shops, producers and musicians. 

The material is broad in scope and features an overview of musical styles from Syriaʼs many communities, including Syrian Arabs, Assyrians, Kurds and Armenians, as well as Iraqis displaced by sanctions and wars throughout the 1990s-2000s. Amongst the tapes are recordings of live concerts, studio albums, soloists, classical, childrenʼs music and more, with special focus on the regional dabke and shaabi folk-pop music, performed at weddings, parties and festivities. 

Since 2011, longstanding musical networks and traditions in Syria have been violently disrupted by war and displacement. Many creators and producers fled the country, while others were forced to seek safety away from their hometowns.The effects of war, compounded by rapidly-shifting recording technologies, have impacted the ways in which Syrian music is produced, consumed and remembered. Through close collaboration with Syrian communities, the project aims to document sounds and memories of a musical history that cannot be overlooked and should not be forgotten. 

Project outputs will be be made accessible to the public via several mediums, including an extensive bilingual database housing the digitized collection, recorded interviews with Syrian musicians, producers, distributors and merchants from the era, curated audio and video features, and commissioned written content from a wide range of contributors. Since its inception in 2018, SCA’s team of collaborators has grown, with a long-term vision to expand the breadth and scope of the project. Additionally, hundreds of additional cassettes have been contributed to the collection.

Syrian Cassette Archives is not a for-profit initiative, and relies on support from grants and contributions in order to continue its preservation efforts and sustain the project in a long-term capacity with the integrity and growth we have envisioned. Donations supplement vital operating costs such as ongoing translation services, proper maintenance of physical and digital media, compensation for staff, and honorariums for participants.