This August, Mesopotamian-born, NYC-based artist Lokman unveils Catching Smiles, a genre-defying album shaped by exile, resilience, and celebration. Known for turning underground dance floors into rituals of liberation, Lokman delivers his most personal work yet, a sonic journey woven from the scars and smiles collected across continents.
Since 2007, Lokman has been a nomadic force in underground electronic music. His distinct blend of techno, blues, and tribal rhythms reflects a life lived in motion, from the temples of Cambodia and the deserts of Mexico to the warehouses of England and the wild nights of Thailand. His music, raw and rebellious, channels ancient Mesopotamian roots while echoing the pulse of global resistance.
“Catching Smiles is a love letter to the world that broke me open,” Lokman shares. “But also to the moments of joy that stitched me back together.” The album builds on the spirit of his 2023 benefit project Mesopotamian Kids NYC 23, where music became a tool for healing in the aftermath of earthquakes in Turkey. Lokman’s sound acts as a socio-cultural bridge, a fusion of storytelling and activism, blending indigenous chants, sub-bass rituals, flamenco shadows, and nomadic blues.
A full-time DJ, producer, and activist, he’s also a member of NYC’s AVVA collective and has shared stages with icons like Selda Bağcan. Catching Smiles isn’t just an album; it’s a rite of passage for the boundless and untamed. A spiritual techno-blues experience arriving August 2025.