The inability to see the world has never stopped Dlan Dary from pursuing his love of music.
The young Kurdish refugee from Syria was just three months old when his parents discovered he was blind.
But despite his disability, his passion for music got him through some of his toughest times.
“Music is my life, it makes me very happy and I have nothing except music to express my feelings. It is through music that I get introduced to many people, so music helped me in many ways,” Dlan told SBS Kurdish.
In August 2013, his family fled the civil war in Syria to Kurdistan Region and for the next three years, they lived in a refugee camp.
“We faced many difficulties there; we lived in a tent where the situation was very difficult,” Dlan said.
The 18-year-old said it was his memory of bombs and destruction, to the peaceful surroundings of his new home in the United States that helped shape his music – incorporating both experiences to form the melody of his music today.
“When we fled “Rojava” Syria due to the war, I was very young, the sounds of bombs and guns impacted on me, it was very scary,” he said.
The teenager's music teacher says she is in awe of his talent which extends to playing eight musical instruments including drums, piano and violin and singing in three different languages; Kurdish, English and Arabic.
“Since my arrival in America, I’ve learnt to play the piano and the guitar as well as all other instruments I play. I am very happy I can sing in Kurdish, English, Arabic and I am hoping to learn more languages to sing in.”
Music has played a huge part in Dlan's life. It is a passion that he cherries and never takes for granted.
In 2016, his family was granted a visa to resettle in the United States where he also seeks medical attention for his disability.
“Initially it was very difficult for us because we did not speak the language, especially for me I had never been to school in my life. I had to learn Braille but thank God now I speak the language, I have many friends, I love my teachers and my school they look after me very well.”
Dlan, who inspires many with his exceptional talent, continues to write the soundtrack of his life.
Dlan’s wish is to be able to see one day. He’s due to have operations on his eyes in the near future. He has been told by doctors that there is a possibility for him to get his vision back.
“I am going to have an operation in the near future and I hope it will be successful and I might regain my vision. I want to see my country Kurdistan, the flag, my parents’ faces; I don’t know what they look like. I want to see the world. ”
Listen to Dlan Dary's English interview.
Listen to Dlan Dary's Kurdish interview.
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Mûzîk jiyana min e: Dilan Darî
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