Zeyad Assad to release first song since 2004

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Renowned Kurdish singer Zeyad Assad is going to break his musical silence with a new release after more than a decade.

Abdulghafar Abdulla, in charge of Assad’s art affairs, told Rudaw that Assad is working on a new project.

Assad is not only a popular singer, but considered to be a giant in Kurdish lyric writing circles. He is widely known for his love songs.

Abdulla revealed that Assad is continuing to help other Kurdish singers in the production process.

The late Kurdish poet Sherko Bekas had described Assad as respected because of his diverse knowledge of regional music.

“Zeyad Assad is well aware of the culture of Kurdish music," Bekas said. "He is [also] aware of new and old songs in the neighboring nations.”


Sherko Bekas is the son of the renowned Kurdish poet Fayeq Bekas. Sherko Bekas was born on May 2, 1940, in Sulaimani. He died of cancer in Stockholm on August 4, 2013. 

“In terms of choosing the poems for his lyrics, they are clear ... and match the lyrics," said Bekas.

Assad began his music work  in 1983. He left the Kurdistan Region to Europe in 1993 and has never returned.

He has provided the lyrics for 140 songs for Kurdish performers.


He, himself, has 120 recorded songs and five albums, but released any since 2004. The native of Erbil is also a composer.