Join Julian Belbachir for a melodic and rhythmic journey as he voyages through traditional melodies of Indigenous music from North-Western Africa with a modern influence. Accompanied by a collective of musicians of Saharan and sub-Saharan ethnic backgrounds the seasoned producer and musician fuses traditional folkloric African music together with contemporary influences and modern production. 

Australian born drummer, N’goni Fola and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Sydney, he took to playing traditional African music from 5 years of age. 

Julian’s journey began with a pursuit to master the craft of African percussion playing and instrument making for which he extensively travelled West Africa in Guinea, Senegal and Morocco, studying with some of Africa’s most respected masters. As a child he was taken under the wing of master drummers and griots . He further honed his craft by training and studying with members of Percussion de Guinea as well as the internationally acclaimed Ballet Africans and the infamous djembe group ‘Bocka Juniors.’ Julian has extensively studied the instrument making traditional instruments such a Kamel N'goni Djembe, Dundunba, Kora, Balafon, Guembri . 

Julian then began uniting the worlds of traditional African instruments with modern-day production techniques drawing inspiration from genres such as Reggae, Dub, Electronica, Jazz, Drum & Bass, Dub and Gnaoua. Julian has spent countless hours in many of Australian ,Canadas best recording studios producing albums and tracks for the notable collaborations. 

Julian has worked with a plethora of bands during his career but most notably he is the drummer for Australian Indigenous Dub band Oka who have performed across 30 countries. Oka fuses Indigenous culture, Yidaki (didgeridoo) and electric production over which Julian plays drums and N’Goni.

notable collaborations

Featured on award winning Best Album of the Year in the Juno awards ‘We Are the Halluci Nation’ (2017) by A Tribe Called Red

Worked on a number of recent projects with Empire of the Sun and Pnau (LA based Aria award winning group from Australia)

Worked with Tash Sultana on her sold out Australia tour

Recorded Juno nominated (2019) Leonard Sumner album ‘Standing in the Light’

Musical director for the Healing Out Spirit Worldwide Indigenous conference 2018 working with grammy nominated Rocky Dawni and Stevie Salas

Performed with Platinum Aria award winner Stan Walker

Co-produced and played in latest album by Keyimba

produced “kanafo” by Moussa diakite (mali)