SceneNoise

Lebanese DJ and producer Arabian Panther, famed for his keffiyah stage mask and his distinctive sound which can transition swiftly from a warrior’s march anthem to a club banger tinged with Arabic scales and instrumentals. His dynamic sets and productions pay homage to his multicultural heritage as a French child from the Lebanese diaspora, demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian cause. 

Arabian Panther’s journey of solidarity commenced with the release of his EP ‘Desert’s Anthem’ in 2019, which caught the attention of Palestinian DJ Odai Masri, aka Oddz and helped him forge connections within the Palestinian music scene. After signing his first track with the first Palestinian techno label ‘Harara’ – managed by the late great Oddz.

For our 230th episode of Select, Arabian Panther has created a set exclusively for SceneNoise, which he recorded in one take at his home. The set is infused with some of his favourite tunes that he has been incorporating into his sets over the past year, along with a selection of tracks from his latest EP, ‘The Death of the Panther’, which he released on Ritmo Fatale on March 22nd of this year.

Featuring his own original tracks like ‘Hafla For Our Dead’, as well as ‘Lala Torkia’ by Cheb Hamar and more, the 66-minute set begins with an eclectic mix of Palestinian Dabke music, incorporating classic Middle Eastern instrumentals like Tabla, Mezmar, and Darbuka drums, which serve as the base for the set. As the set unfurls, Arabian Panther brings in versatile elements of techno, with dreamy vocal undertones. Proceed with loudspeakers in hand...

Sara Bluma is an Algerian DJ and producer who began her musical journey on the vibrant dance floors of Ibiza and has since been captivating audiences across the globe pushing a fusion of indie dance, techno house and Italo disco.

Bluma became a resident DJ at The Sanctuary Eco Retreat in Italy in 2020 before releasing her debut album ‘Teenage Dream’ in 2022, which marked her first venture into production, filled with a delicious variety of slow-burning, groovy bangers. On the dancefloor Bluma, the rising Algerian artist never shies away from pushing boundaries and dabbling into new uncharted sonic territories.

On this week’s Select 229, Sara Bluma has created an exclusive four-hour set for SceneNoise, featuring tunes like ‘Love Desire’ by Cassim, ‘Theka’ by Rass and ‘Nterini’ by Fatoumata Diawara.

The set kickstarts with a tropical mix of afrobeats and minimal house tunes, before transitioning into some funk grooves embellished with layers of percussion and sweltering vocoders.

Select 229: Mixed by Zenim by SceneNoise

UK-born techno DJ/producer and Co-founder of Secta collective, Ju Lovett is one of the rising artists shaping up Dubai’s burgeoning underground music scene. Ju’s showcases leave a lasting impression, consistently shifting from off-key melodic grooves to hypnotic inter-dimensional soundscapes.

For our Select, the Dubai-based techno-geek is bringing a two-hour-and-a-half set of raw energetic trance beats with trippy breakdowns, twists and turns, and tough rolling basslines.

Emerging from Beirut's dynamic electronic scene and holding a notable residency at the Ballroom Blitz, Serge Volant has a penchant for modular synthesizer and crate digging.

Serge serves us up an hour vinyl mix of beautiful breakbeats that blends grooves and electro-synths from all over the world.

For over 20 years, Hasan Hijjawi AKA Kitchen Crowd has been a leading figure in introducing and pushing electronic music to Amman, Jordan and the MENA region.

Back in the day, Hijjawi founded a pop up club concept called [dsiko’tek’]* which hosted the likes of industry heavyweights such as John Digweed, Rampue, Deep Dish, Audiofly, Claptone, Luca Bacchetti, Pete Tong, Atish and Jan Blomqvist just to name a few.

His groovy yet deeper sound draws from being an ‘adventurous’ college kid living in the US where he was bitten with what some may call the Chicago house bug at the infamous warehouse parties of the late 90s.

In 2018, Kitchen Crowd migrated to live by the sea in El Gouna, Egypt to pursue music full time and work on his productions which are set to be released in the near future. Going back to hosting events, In 2020, Hijjawi launched Misfits - a boutique events and booking agency that saw the likes of Traumer, Chris Stussy, Anotr, Djoko and Archie Hamilton grace its decks till date.

Balaclava is a collective of alternative artists emerging from the streets of Tunis and committed to promoting local talent, composed of producers Hmenou and 5amaseen. Dedicated to influencing the youth through their bold and provocative art under their brand, Balaclava aims to embody the rebellious spirit and ambitious drive of their generation. Hmenou, a dedicated producer bridging Tunisian heritage and Parisian culture, has found his niche in drum and bass, infusing his music with local cultural references. Similarly, 5amaseen draws inspiration from bass and club music, crafting his distinct sound with pounding kicks, percussive patterns, and distorted breaks, influenced by the sonic landscape of his homeland, from Mahraganat to Upper Egyptian folkloric music.

In this Select, Balaclava guides its listeners through an experimental mix of sounds, composed of fractured and disjointed breakbeats. High-energy and fast-paced, Balaclava’s mix invites its audience into an electric universe of drum and bass, reimagining its meaning by weaving in the various musical influences that shaped them. Among some notable tracks featured in the mix are Hmenou's "Ahla & Sahla" and "Howa," 5amaseen's "Tashweesh" (Unreleased), and Kouslin's "Five Four.

Cairo-based Yas Meen Selectress is a versatile DJ known for curating vibrant club experiences. With a fusion of percussive bass and cultural influences, her sets reflect a unique blend of her Egyptian roots and a decade spent in New York City. Having graced the airwaves of platforms like Kiosk Radio and HKCR, as well as prestigious events such as BoilerRoom, the Laylit party series in New York and underground parties across Egypt, she brings a diverse range of sounds to her performances.

This Select mix is a personal celebration for her birthday month, featuring a curation of her all-time favorite tracks. From the hypnotic sounds of Fadila Kahraba to the soulful melodies of Muchi و Caïn's Warda, and even nods to iconic artists like Madonna with ‘Deeper and Deeper’ the mix spans various genres. Yas Meen Selectress effortlessly weaves together elements of drum and bass, baile funk, jersey club, and percussive bass, whilst showcasing tracks from esteemed producers like Hassan Abou Alam, Granul, Assyouti, Ma Sha, and JiaLing.

Misty (Moustafa Sheta), born in Madrid but with Egyptian roots, kickstarted his journey as a DJ and producer at the age of 15. Initially creating mixtapes for friends, he soon found himself immersed in the world of DJing, crafting a distinct sonic style that merges house rhythms with dynamic basslines and elements drawn from dance floor-ready disco and electro. This unique sonic blend not only positioned him as a prominent figure in Egypt's electronic music scene but also elevated his status as a regional DJ, with performances at various venues and festivals across the Middle East and North Africa.

In 2021, Misty's EP "Things," released via Love Attack Records, showcased two original tracks and two remixes by Vhyce. The lead track, 'Things,' featuring Canadian indie vocalist Andrew Shier, swiftly climbed Beatport's top 10 Indie Dance charts, garnering support from acclaimed DJs such as Solomun, Dixon, Catz N Dogz, and Jennifer Cardini.

Expanding his influence further, Misty initiated 'Transmissions,' a monthly residency at Cairo Jazz Club in 2022, aimed at spotlighting his indie house sound and shaping Egypt's dancefloors. This event not only cultivated a dedicated community around his music but also attracted renowned artists like Alan Dixon, Catz N Dogz, Storken, and Krystal Klear, underscoring Misty's pivotal role in nurturing a distinct musical identity within the local scene.

The year 2023 witnessed the release of Misty's follow-up single "Figure It Out" on Love Attack Records, which received accolades from industry luminaries like Folamour and Cormac. Additionally, his collaboration with Alan Dixon on an edit of Amr Diab's classic club hit "Wala Ala Balo" emerged as the anthem of the summer, gaining international traction and resonating across dancefloors worldwide before its official release at the year's end.

Through these concerted efforts, Misty continues to shape the electronic music landscape, leaving an indelible mark not only in Egypt but also across the broader region.

In this special select, Misty guides us through an hour of extremely Misty-coded sounds, from house, dub, electronic, and reimagined italo-disco. A club-ready set, Misty journeys through various eras, blending different eras of disco and house into one. Notable tracks to look out for include Nairless’ ‘Dazzling Fantasy’ (Jex Opolis Mix) The Entertainer feat. Solo’s “Check Your Body” and Pablo Bozzi’s “Dance Portal.”

Crossing into different territories, in terms of genre, BPM, synergy and atmosphere, Misty’s select is a textured and dynamic performance that welcomes its listeners into the sounds that have shaped him and that Misty consequently re-interprets.

Sara Allan, a versatile multi-media artist, explores various creative mediums, often blending visual and auditory elements to create immersive experiences and public art displays. Navigating the Jordanian art scene under her pseudonym ‘Wild Card,’ Sara crafts unique ceramic ashtrays as well as curates eclectic music selections for trendy spots like Spilled Milk in Jabal Amman. Drawing from her extensive collection of obscure tracks, she tailors sets to match her audience’s mood, seamlessly transitioning between various musical genres. While she steers away from a singular signature style, Sara stands out by infusing Asian influences into her sets.

In this Select, Sara traverses various genres, from rap, house, dub experimental sounds and more, spanning a wide range of BPMs to create a textured hour long set. Featuring extremely obscure tracks such as Tristan Arp’s “From The Seams” ACJI’s “underskov’ie,” Gendema’s ‘Ephimase” and Destrata’s “Mutationist,” Sara’s music selection is a testament to her digging and culling skills.