Syria’s musicians await their future under HTS rule

In the midst of the scramble for a new Syria, the country’s musicians are warily eyeing the Islamist rebel leadership and hoping to build on hard-won achievements made during the almost 14-year civil war.

The conflict gave energy and focus to a nascent heavy metal scene.

As the fighting ebbed, a flourishing industry of electronic music and dance shows then rose from the ashes, leading to a resurgence of Syrian nightlife.

Now, its members are preparing to approach a government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS – a group with roots in al-Qaeda and the…