At the crossroads of Arabic folk music, 70s rock, 90s grunge, big band swing and timeless world rhythms, a distinctive musical voice emerges — and at its heart stands Neesan. Born in New York City and now living between NYC and Las Vegas, Neesan carries his music as both a spiritual offering and a personal healing practice. For him, creation is a gateway: a space where emotion, memory and spirit meet, and where music becomes a form of communication with those who have passed on.
His artistic journey began at the age of eight behind a drum set, later expanding into jazz, orchestral and theatre pit performance. But everything shifted when he discovered Arabic music in New York — a passion that led him to study with musical legends and eventually live in Lebanon, teaching music to refugee youth. Today, he is a skilled multi-instrumentalist, performing on the oud, saz, buzuq, riqq, darbuka and various frame drums, weaving ancient musical traditions into a modern, soul-awakening sound.
For Neesan, art is essential to society — a powerful source of joy, connection, healing and remembrance in a world that increasingly distances people from their inner lives. His music aims to calm the nervous system, open the heart, and offer moments of stillness, presence and spiritual reflection. With his project NEESAN, he envisions touring globally, performing at world, folk and jazz festivals, and creating immersive concert experiences that leave audiences transformed.
In this interview, we meet Neesan — the artist, the storyteller, the healer — whose mission is to share the ancient beauty of Arabic music with the world and remind us of music’s power to make us more human.
Where are you from?
I am from New York City, currently living between there and Las Vegas.
Who are your biggest artistic influences?
70s rock like Led Zeppelin; 90s grunge rock like Nirvana and Stone Temple Pilots; big band swing, Gershwin, Sinatra, drummers like Gene Krupa; Arabic music, Turkish folk music and African music.
Tell me about how your creation part begins, and how is your workflow.
Typically, I am experiencing a lot of emotion or am looking for an answer. I put my little phone sound recorder set to ‘on’ and I grab one of my Arabic string instruments. Then I settle myself into a state where I receive whatever the melody wants to be. It is both an offering, allowing spirit to guide me, and my personal therapy practice — a process that creates catharsis and clarity.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in my difficult emotions, in my relationships, in my grief. I lost my father at 8, then my grandmother who raised me, then my ex of 15 years to Covid. I use the music realm to find communication with them. I find that I receive a quiet kind of guidance and support from them through this medium.
When is your favorite time of day to create your music?
In the quiet of the late night.
Describe how art is essential to society nowadays.
Art, or creative expression, is singularly the most powerful source of joy, freedom, calm, healing, love and community. It is by no mistake that it is being removed from our social systems, so that depression, anxiety, fear, hatred and isolation can rule. There is a reason why for thousands of years, music was considered a necessary subject to study in school to become a whole human being.
What motivates you to create?
I want to share something good in the world. I don’t want to put out music that hurts, that encourages pain, jealousy, drug use or depression. I want to share music that I would listen to — that calms my nerves, slows my blood pressure, makes me pause and take a deep breath, that makes me close my eyes for a beat, that inspires me to take in the scene before me, like the red and orange mountains against the brilliantly blue sky, mountains like crushed French linen that change colors with every movement of the sun. I want people to experience a moment of peace, presence, and hopefully a sense of spirit and healing. I want to create concert experiences that leave people better than when they arrived.
How do you define success as a music artist?
When someone says to me, “Your music touched me,” or “That song felt like a prayer and I could sense their spirit,” or “Your music changed me,” or “Your music inspired me.”
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Art is the one space that grounds me, reminds me who I am, and makes everything else — all the other ‘problems’ — feel so small and insignificant. Art reminds me of my mission, why I was put on this earth. It gives me peace, focus, clarity, vision and tremendous healing.
How do you develop your art skills?
Since I was 8 years old, I began to study drums — from jazz and rock music to orchestra, marching band and theatre pit. When I left for college, I discovered my love for Arabic music in NYC, which started my 20-year journey of this incredible art form and culture. I was exposed to masters and legends such as Ziad Rahbani, Simon Shaheen, Bassam Saba and Michel Merhej Baklouk. I then resided in Lebanon for 3 years where I taught music to refugee youth. Over time, I developed skills on several instruments including the oud (11-stringed Middle Eastern lute), the saz (long-necked Turkish lute), the buzuq (long-necked Arabic lute), and percussion instruments such as the riqq (Arabic tambourine), darbuka (Middle Eastern goblet drum) and various frame drums such as the bendir (Moroccan hand drum). I continue to learn every time I have the opportunity to teach these instruments. For example, when I lead retreats overseas, I make sure we all take time to learn from the locals and experience the true sound.
What is your next move?
My focus is to establish tours around the world with NEESAN, with an aim towards world music, folk and jazz festivals, and secondarily alternative, instrumental and experimental festivals and venues.
Where will we see you in 5 years?
I performed at Coachella 2024 with an Arabic pop band. I will return there and to festivals like it around the world with NEESAN. Arabic instrumental alternative music will be part of the mainstream! I will also create a touring network that allows for Arabic music workshops and retreats, where my musicians can engage in education as well as performance. I want people to experience the healing and ancient beauty of Arabic music, and through performance and education, I will share it from the mountaintops.
Thank you, Neesan, for sharing your story, your heart, and the vision that guides your music. Your dedication to healing, cultural connection and spiritual expression through sound is a reminder of the transformative power art still holds in our world.
To our readers — if Neesan’s journey has inspired you, we invite you to stay connected and follow the evolution of his musical path. Discover his latest releases, upcoming performances, retreats and behind-the-scenes insights by following Neesan on social media and Spotify.
Join the community, support the music, and experience the soundscape that has already touched so many lives.
Neesan Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/aprilcentrone
Neesan Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/neesanmusic