SceneNoise

On this episode of Select, we have up-and-coming Lebanese DJ Lyss, who has been firing decks from Beirut to Paris and beyond with her versatile and dynamic sets, seamlessly blending house, techno, and trance with balearic and electro.

Her select set, which she recorded on a DJR 400 mixer and two CDJs Nexus 2 at the famed Djoon Club, beautifully encapsulates the raw ecstasy of a packed dance floor. Peppered with influences from UK dance music, it softly opens with some juicy ambient beats backed by sweltering synths as a warm-up, gradually building up to then unfurl in a cluster of energetic progressive rhythms, with some sharp breakbeats that swerve, bend and hit the spine. The set features eclectic club-ready tunes like ‘Rythm’ by Rippin’ L.P., Kylie Minogue’s ‘Believe in U’ (PTMC ADHAD Edit) and more.

On this episode of Select, we have Beirut-based DJ and electronic music producer Eli Atala, who has dominated dancefloors in top clubs and festivals across the globe with his smooth joyful house mixes since the 90s.

The set opens with the washed-out voice of what seems like a TV presenter on a loop before unfurling into edgy deep house beats with mellow rumbling subs, locked grooves, and silky hit-hats peaking and retreating. The set also features eclectic famous tunes like ‘This Is How We Roll’ by Galcher Lustwerk, ‘Make Me Feel’ by Fritz & Lang and more. Simply put, it’s a crisp, sweet, and light treat for one’s ears if you want some chill vibes on a Saturday night.

Up-and-coming Egyptian/Russian DJ Rashed Mekawy, aka RJ, has been gaining recognition in the dance music scene over the past few years for his distinctive groove-laden funky mixes, peppered with UK’s house music influences.

On Select 249, RJ delivers a chic hypnotic minimal deep house set, featuring bouncy transitions, groovy rhythms and dissonant melodies with some old-school samples. The set features eclectic tunes like ‘Sydney Charles’ by Keep Rocking, ‘Ruze’ by Hardewire and more.

3lais is a pioneering Beirut-based electronic music producer and DJ, and one part of the eclectic live act Atomic Circus. Born into a household of musicians and artists, 3lais began his musical career at a very young age, quickly becoming one of the trailblazing figures in Lebanon’s underground music scene by the mid-90s.

A decade into his residency at Beirut’s B018, one of MENA’s hottest clubs, 3lais launched his own collective, A Tribe Called Tribe, along with the Orient Express record shop in Beirut. 3lais is also recognized for his collaborations with a slew of renowned labels and clubs the likes of Fantome De Nuit, Hypnotic Itd, Club der Visionaere, and Sleep is Commerical.

For our Select 248, 3lais created an electric house set, featuring his silky synths, drenched in deep rolling grooves with a splash of funk and sleazy breaks. The almost eight-hour set, titled ‘Le Fragilite Du Trais’, serves as a celebration of his birthday –a ritual he’s been doing for 18 years now.

On this episode of Select, we have Marwan Hazem, a rising local DJ who has been manning decks across Cairo since 2019. His thoughtfully curated set encompasses various sounds, from minimal, house to electro and their sub-genres. Armed with a music technology major, which became a catalyst for refining his craft, Marwan has recently ventured into music production.

Kareem Mohamed, aka KMZ, is a Dubai-based Egyptian artist whose signature melodic techno sets have been dominating famous clubs and venues across Dubai and Cairo for almost a decade now. Though he explored other genres like disco during his residency at the likes of Oblivion and Dxb Boat Party, KMZ always found himself drawn back to melodic techno.

KMZ has also shared the decks with a slew of renowned international and regional artists like The Element, Ae:ther, Miss Monique, Acid Arab, Yubik, Rafael Cerato, Dizharmonia, Moonwalk and more.

For our new episode of Select, the Egyptian homeboy brought us the dreamy spirit of a midnight beach party in a one-hour set, featuring groovy tunes like Joshwa’s ‘Supersonic’, Bad Bunny’s ‘El Apagón (Andruss Edit)’, and Ranger Trucco’s ‘Hidden Groove’.

An up-and-coming Saudi DJ, violinist and producer, Kayan is making a name for herself by weaving classic music with electronic beats. Her compositions - made up of organic rhythms and remixes of classics embellished with heavy basslines - form entrancing harmonies that offer an uncommonly cool assurance.

For our Select 245, the Riyadh-based DJ crafted a melodic, deep house set filled with haunting melodies, and soul-stirring violin arrangements accompanied by poignant opera-like vocals that will gently caress the soul. The set features an original track ‘Amnesia’, which is composed by Kayan herself, along with some eclectic tunes like ‘At Sunrise’ by Levasseur, and ‘Don't Even Let Up’ by Florian Kruse & Tesla Nix.

Egyptian DJ Masry has been captivating regional and local audiences with his dynamic sets and waving textures of acid house..

Having started his musical career DJing in clubs across Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh during its heyday, Masry has recently become a regular in the region’s dance circuit, going from opening to Dekmantel Soundsystem DJ Thomas Martojo in Cairo to playing Dubai’s iconic Hence parties. He has also been manning decks in some of Lebanon’s most famous clubs, including Beirut Ballroom Blitz, where he performed alongside Lebanese veteran DJ Eli Atala. Meanwhile, earlier last year, he performed at MDLBEAST’s prestigious Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh.

For Select 244, the seasoned DJ crafts some futuristic sounds, masterfully combining hardgroove progression with resonating raw vocals, aptly sampled from African tribal music. The set opens with brooding yet ambient drones, before quickly unravelling into heavy synth waves and repetitive wonky basslines. Energetic and kind of crunchy in a way, the set paints the image of an alien rising in the midst of a jungle.

Born in the UK, and currently based in UAE, Egyptian DJ Maks is a driving force behind its thriving underground music scene. Considered one of the first originators of minimal and microhouse music in the region, Maks’ sound has left an indelible mark on dance floors in prestigious party series and festivals across the globe like Romania’s Sunwaves and Washington DC’s Flash. In October 2023, the DJ showcased at Nacelle and ByGanz’s party in Soma Bay.

For Select 243, Maks brings us a 90-minute mix of the early-morning six-hour set he recently played for Flash Club’s NYE party in DC. A mix of hypnotic house and minimal beats with a splash of soul, the set features heavy-hitting tunes by famous artists like Traumer, Cap, Andrey Pushkarev, Eris, Monile and more.

Ahmed Refaat, aka Riff, is an Egyptian electronic music producer and multi-instrumental musician. Having grown up in the isolated industrial city of Khanka, Riff was deeply influenced by the bustling sounds of his daily life, as well as Egypt’s heavy shaabi rhythms and classic pop music.

His latest releases include a double single with rising local singer Nourine Abouseada and shaabi artist Veto, where he presents a softer, and more pop-inspired rendition of the music he makes. Riff is also widely recognized in the local rap scene, for his hit EPs with Karim Osama, ‘K.O’, and ‘O.K’.

On this episode of Select, the producer has cooked up an exclusive set for SceneNoise, exploring the sounds of the city as a harmonious symphony through his unique and experimental electronic lens.