São Paulo – Syrian Rajana Olba started a new stage in his career in Brazil. Since the coronavirus outbreak, with concerts and events being interrupted, the musician has found himself without his primary source of income. Then, Olba decided to learn how to make his own instruments.
Living in Brazil for over six years, the Syrian has tried several times to find a lute to match his expectations. “I bought four or five, and I didn’t like them and kept buying others, but they didn’t have the sound I wanted,” he said.
Hence, the musician also discovered himself a luthier. The production of instruments is today Olba’s principal occupation. The products are sold online, mainly on marketplaces like Mercado Livre and through the Syrian’s Facebook page. “I enjoy working as a luthier, and I sold instruments to five Brazilian states, and I’m planning to sell them abroad. I’ve already had contacts from Germany, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates,” he revealed.
To get to the quality he needed for his songs, Olba realized he would need to produce lutes himself. With the experience of playing the instrument for over 20 years and access to online tutorials, he took advantage of his time at home. “I learned on my own, watching different videos, and I also learned how to make cavaquinhos and violins that way,” he said in an interview with ANBA.
The Syrian uses woods such as imbuia, purpleheart, ivorywood, and walnut for the back and neck to produce the instruments. On the other hand, the top requires imported woods, such as Canadian cedar, African mahogany, or pink cedar. “The use [of the material] depends on what the customer wants and the price,” he explained.
The luthier produces instruments by request. The production of each instrument takes 20 to 30 days, and most of the raw material is purchased in Brazil. Olba’s clients are primarily professional musicians, but there are also amateurs and students just starting to learn their first instrument.
Since he migrated to Brazil, the Syrian has already worked on a farm and as an electrician, in addition to having taken a barista course. In addition to his work as a luthier, Olba maintained his career as a composer and musician and created the band Nikkal. The musician even performed online at the Casa da Cultura do Butantã. The band is now looking for new opportunities for concerts and events.
Listen, below, to one of Rajana Olba’s compositions:
Contact
Instagram: @rajana_olba
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
