Dylan Connor is an Irish American singer/songwriter who, inspired by his Syrian wife, Reem Alhariri Connor, has become a celebrated activist for Syria and its refugees. Connor, who is the first cousin of Robert Downey, Jr., has heightened awareness of the Syrian crisis through four solo albums including the 2014 charity album, Blood like Fire (Songs for Syria), all proceeds going to educating displaced Syrian children.
“In recent years, Connor’s voice has emerged as one of the clearest reminders of the pain that grips Syria under the control of President Bashar al-Assad,” critic Jackson Connor wrote of the album in Fairfield Magazine. He became involved with the Syrian refugee crisis after his wife’s family fled Damascus during the civil war and began living with them in Connecticut. In March, he performed a special show at the Syrian American Medical Society “Making a Difference” gala in Lombard, Illinois.
Drawing on the themes explored in Blood Like Fire, Connor’s new album, Spirit Glue, extends the political and humanitarian themes using a rich variation of organic sounds, synthesizers, acoustic guitars, and more. It is available on vinyl (cdbaby.com/cd/dylanconnor5) and also can be purchased on iTunes or Amazon. ♦
Irish American Musician Advocates for Syria
Connor (center) with his wife, Reem, and their two children, Jude and Fayrouz (right), and Reem’s mother Raghda (far left), a retired public school teacher who was detained by the Assad regime for attempting to protest in Damascus in 2011, and father Taha (second left), whose family’s homes have been destroyed by shelling. Photo courtesy Dylan Connor
The work you’ve done is really, really, wonderful. I remember meeting your wife, she seemed very sweet, I hope you and your family are doing well. Keep fighting the god fight with your amazing music!-Elissa