While the traditional oud has been the melodic backbone of Arabic music for centuries, luthiers and musicians have over the last decade given it pickups and solid bodies, transforming it into an “electric oud.” These instruments retain the oud’s warm, microtonal character but can plug into amps and effects pedals, opening doors to rock, jazz, ambient, and experimental soundscapes. Makers like Turkish luthier Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol collaborated with New England Conservatory engineers to build custom electric ouds that withstand high gain and deliver clarity on big stages. Meanwhile, online communities—such as OudAndMoreMusic—have catalogued dozens of players, gear setups, and tonal demos, fueling a global DIY movement around the electric oud.
Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol & the Dünya Ensemble (Boston, MA)
On March 26, 2025, Grammy-nominated composer Mehmet Ali Sanlıkol unveiled his custom electric oud at Jordan Hall, New England Conservatory’s flagship stage. Backed by the virtuoso Dünya Ensemble, Sanlıkol’s program wove together reimagined Ottoman maqams, Middle Eastern folk motifs, and rock-inspired riffing. The hall’s pristine acoustics allowed every pitch-bend and delay pedal flourish to shine—creating a night where centuries-old modal scales met distorted overdrive. Admission was free, drawing a packed audience of students, early-career composers, and oud aficionados eager to witness this singular instrument in full flight.
What made it special:
Dialogue between electric oud and Western brass (trumpet, trombone), spotlighting East-West counterpoint.
A seamless blend of composed sections and open improvisation.
Use of looping pedals to layer qanun-like drones beneath rapid-fire solos.
Michael Onsy’s “Mood of Oud” (Cairo, Egypt)
On September 19, 2024, the AUC Music Program invited Egyptian oud master Michael Onsy to headline “Mood of Oud” at Ewart Concert Hall in Tahrir Cultural Center. Although Onsy performed on a classic acoustic oud, his band of electric guitars, synths, and a funk-driven rhythm section recontextualized every piece—turning folk-rooted taqasim into groove-laden fusion suites. Over 566 concertgoers cheered as traditional tetrachords wound through wah-pedal washes, proving that acoustic and electric worlds can cohabitate on the same stage.
What to expect at a Mood of Oud show:
- Extended solo sections (“taqasim”) over electrified backdrops.
- A tight interplay between piano-synth chords and microtonal oud melodies.
- A setlist that spanned Sufi hymns, Nubian folk tunes, and original fusion compositions.
Andrew Kzirian & Viza (Los Angeles, CA)
In the U.S., Armenian-Turkish oud player Andrew Kzirian has been bringing electric oud into indie-rock and world-fusion contexts. As a member of Viza (whose credits include tours with Gogol Bordello and Serj Tankian), Kzirian’s 2022 solo album nOUD showcased the instrument plugged straight into Marshall stacks and boutique tube amps. Live, he’s shared bills at LA’s Echoplex and Moroccan-American Cultural Centers—proving that the electric oud’s piercing upper harmonics can cut through even the punchiest drum-n-bass grooves.
Highlights of a Kzirian set:
- Reworks of rock anthems (imagine “Sweet Child o’ Mine” riffed in maqam Hijaz).
- Collaborative jams with DJs spinning Arabic breakbeats.
- Post-show Q&As about pickup choice, fretboard modifications, and cross-genre arranging.
Discovering Fusion Concerts Near You
If you’re curious where to catch “oud + electric” in concert, here are a few reliable ways to stay in the loop:
- University and cultural-center series
- Conservatories (e.g., NEC, Berklee) often program world-music fusion recitals.
- Institutes like AUC’s Center for the Arts host fall and spring concert series featuring local oudists.
- World-fusion festivals
- Events such as the Cairo Jazz Festival or World Music Expo (WOMEX) include fusion showcases blending oud, sitar, kora, and electric guitars.
- Specialty venues
- Look for pop-up performances at galleries and arts spaces (e.g., Darb 1718 in Old Cairo) where experimental lineups frequently appear.
- Boutique clubs in major cities—Marrakech, Istanbul, New York—invite oud-driven fusion acts on their “global grooves” nights.
What to Bring & How to Prepare
- Ear protection: Some electric-oud shows crank higher volumes than traditional recitals.
- Dress code: Varies from casual-hipster (loft galleries) to smart-casual (concert halls).
- Etiquette: Fusion audiences can be lively—clapping, dancing, and cheering during solos is often encouraged.
- Tickets: University recitals may be free or low-cost; bigger festivals charge admission tiers.
- Research: Follow artists and venues on Instagram and subscribe to newsletters—fusion nights sell out quickly!
From Boston to Cairo to LA, the electric oud is forging new sonic frontiers—bridging millennia of tradition with cutting-edge amplification. Whether you’re drawn by the oud’s plaintive microtones or the thrill of distortion pedals, these fusion concerts offer a genuinely global musical conversation.