We sit down with Ahmed Alammary (otherwise known as DJ Baloo), the Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast and a leading music figure and thinker in the region. We discuss the origins of MDLBeast and its goals for transforming the music industry in Saudi Arabia and the broader region. MDLBeast was born from a brief for a three-day music festival in 2019. Since then, it has evolved into a multi-layered music brand with an ethos centered on amplifying music culture across various platforms, including events, venues, record labels, radio channels, and music conferences. Given that Saudi Arabia was previously considered a "music desert" with no industry, music education, rights, or dedicated venues, the organization's involvement is seen as having incubated so much value and accelerating the development of a music industry. The conversation also touches on the dramatic shift in how the international community views Saudi music, moving from initial backlash to a point where artists and management companies are now actively seeking collaboration. This change has fostered a significant regional conversation and is credited with fading stereotypes, with Arabs starting to look at each other differently.

0:00 When Restrictions Fuel Creativity: MDLBeast's Genesis

3:50 The Chief Creative Officer’s Role in Shaping Vision

6:03 Saudi Arabia as a "Music Desert" and the Lack of Infrastructure

10:09 The Building Blocks of a Thriving Music Industry

15:03 The Core Difference Between XP and Soundstorm

18:42 Overcoming Domestic (and International) Backlash

20:35 Creating a Regional "Musical Glue"

22:50 The History of the Underground Saudi Music Scene

27:37 The Economic and Professional Focus of the New Industry

30:30 Artistry and Local Palettes: The Role of Record Labels

33:25 Identifying a Unique "Saudi Sound"

35:35 Beyond Electronic Music: Hip-Hop, Indie, and Heavy Metal

37:45 The 10-Year Vision: Saudi As a Music Destination

40:30 Culture Building Over Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

46:37 Navigating Censorship Through Creativity

51:38 Potholes to Avoid: The Double-Edged Sword of Ambition

Ahmed Alammary aka AlBaloo is the Label Head and DJ at Gabu Records and Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast, and a leading music figures and thinkers in Saudi Arabia. 

Connect with Baloo 👉 https://instagram.com/a_baloo

Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 

https://instagram.com/mikey_mu

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THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK 
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ABOUT AFIKRA
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