SceneNoise

NEDZ, a Cairo-based open-format DJ, is known for his unique approach to mixing the sounds of her world. Having lived between New York and Los Angeles for a long period of time, NEDZ’s sound is heavily influenced by her multicultural upbringing, fusing hip-hop and RnB with African, Caribbean, Latin and Egyptian sounds, creating a soundscape of her own.

On this Select 221, NEDZ is bringing you a meticulously-curated emotive set, centered around the Palestinian, Sudanese and Congolese causes. The hour and 12-minute set opens with a prelude in Arabic, retailing the rich cultural history of Palestine, with a soulful Ney melody playing in the background. Featuring a powerful South African Amapiano, and smooth afrobeats with Middle Eastern sonic undertones, the set –described by NEDZ as the ‘Sounds of Liberation’ –follows themes of post-colonial struggle and resistance, juxtaposed with the beauty and depth of pain uniting humanity across the world.

Snailee, one of the finest selectors in the Tunisian underground scene, is known for blending storylines with classic and contemporary sleazy underground grooves. Snailee has played in famous clubs, parties and festivals, both in Tunisia and abroad, including BSMNT the Club, Desimana, Neverstill, Wabi and Fabrika Festival.

For this episode of Select, Snailee created an exclusive set for us, featuring minimal tech house music from famous tracks like ‘Tagir’ by Pepe. This Select 220 set is Snailee’s first-ever set to be published online.

Hailing from Cairo, Chiati has emerged as a multi-instrumentalist performer in the Middle East. His music seamlessly blends emotive house rhythms with pop vocals, showcasing his versatility both in the studio and on stage. His seraphic vocals intertwined with harmonious melodies, honed through years of mastering various instruments such as the guitar and keys, have earned him various gigs at venues like Shorelines, XCHANGE Cairo, Glasshouse, and Nacelle’s Sandbox, among others. Collaborating with artists like Juno and Naila Marie, Chiato has graced the stage alongside renowned acts such as &ME, Damian Lazarus, Henrik Schwarz, me, DJ Tennis and more. Recently, he unveiled his latest work on Noise Records’ "Genesis, منش'' with his eclectic house single ‘In the Dark.’ This week, Hatem presents us with a special set: a live gig by Chiati performed at Nacelle’s Sandbox Festival in 2023.

In this Select, Chiati performs an hour-long set guiding his listeners through his talents as a multi-instrumentalist. Starting off with a solemn debut featuring piano melodies, Chiati seamlessly transitions into different tempoed mixes, integrating various instruments and BPMs into his set. Touching upon various genres, Chiati’s mix is musically complex and layered.

Hailing from the heart of historic Cairo, Sulisizer is an Egyptian music producer known for his fusion of shaabi and contemporary electronic music. His unique musical style, heavily inspired by the rich Egyptian and Sufi cultures that surround him, reflects both the historical context and modernity of his point of view. Known for performing anonymously behind a cyberpunk mask and eye-catching attire, Sulisizer never fails to capture the attention of audiences. Earlier last week, the Egyptian producer collaborated with hip-hop rising artist Karim Osama on a new track ‘3l Abyad’, which was released on Osama’s new EP ‘K.O’.

For our Select 218th, Sulisizer has created a 48-minute original set that fully captures the essence of the Sufi culture in Egypt and the spirit of Old Cairo’s neighbourhood (dynamic mahraganat soundscapes included). Proceed with caution, and loudspeakers in hand.

fffarida is a 25 year old Egyptian artist that started off her journey in Cairo. This started off by learning vinyls and then moved forward to playing digital across Cairo with lots of relevant local events. Taking a step forward fffarida has taken her music outside of Egypt and into the MENA region where she DJ-ed in Dubai and Saudi, and is working towards getting bigger. By starting production in parallel to DJing, since the beginning she has been going through all genres until learning to produce has helped her get settled into her current Acid sound while simultaneously still playing other genres for the crowd.

Riyadh-based tarek anTabi, one of Saudi Arabia’s pioneers in house music, has been on the decks since 1999. anTabi’s distinctive tunes have travelled from Beirut, Boston, and Dubai to Cairo, Miami, New York and more.

For our 216th Select episode, anTabi will take you on an hour-long sonic experience with some laid-back minimal grooves that give off pool-side party vibes. The set features tracks ‘Tijuana Bats’ by Durosai & Taioh-San, and ‘Pockets' by DJ Sneak.

Nova Retra, an Egyptian-Russian DJ, draws inspiration from her multicultural heritage, cultivating a distinctive identity that is both nostalgic and futuristic. Though the rising artist began her musical journey as a producer, her passion for classic dance records and vinyls led her to collect rare records from the 80s to the 00s, and ultimately into the world of vinyl DJing. She has since been creating music that re-envisions analog sounds in our digital age.

In solidarity with Palestine, Nova Retra created this exclusive set for Select 214. Over an hour and 10 minutes, Retra reflects on the Israeli atrocities that have been ravaging Palestine, with emotive sonic waves and distorted electronic beats that represent the destruction and distress we have been witnessing for over the past 100 days. Opening with a muffled scratchy Arabic voice note (as it was sampled from a news report on the radio), the set is made up of layers of futuristic and industrial sounds with occasional intersections of sirens and white noise, ending with an evocative symphony evoking a dystopian soundscape.

After dedicating the last five years to perfecting her skills, C/EL has risen to prominence as a highly regarded figure in the electronic music scene of the Middle East. Her expertise as a DJ reflects her extensive musical background, allowing her to effortlessly fuse a diverse array of genres with a stylish finesse, guiding dancers on a captivating journey beyond the confines of the dancefloor.

C/EL unveils her impeccable selection skills in an hour of pure dancing euphoria, skillfully navigating the expansive sub-genres of house music, seamlessly incorporating breaks and breakbeats into her mix. The playlist includes tracks such as Onur Ozer's "Orion," Shanti Celeste's remix of Matthew Jonson's "Marionette," Boddika's "Walk Talk," and Patrick Prins' "Le Voie Le Soleil."

Rising Egyptian artist Khalil has been making waves in Barcelona’s clubbing scene with his fusion of traditional Middle Eastern music and Afro-beats. Having mastered the art of blending organic, psychedelic vocal elements with contemporary rhythms and indigenous sounds, Khalil’s sets add an ethereal dimension to the dancefloor. He has recently launched his record label, Armaal, with an aim to bridge the cultural gaps by curating and showcasing diverse regional talents globally.

For our 213th episode of Select, Khalil has exclusively curated an hour-long set that beautifully showcases his distinctive approach to electronic music. The set unfurls into vibrant rhythms and Afro-beats, featuring some retro house music tracks. By incorporating a series of heavy percussion-based tracks against the backdrop of textured psychedelic vocals, Khalil adds an extra layer of energy to his set that creates a magical sonic experience for the listeners. And, just when you’ve settled into the infectious pulse of his music, the DJ takes an audacious turn, transitioning to experimental house music.

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