SceneNoise

In the latest edition of our Select series, we have Hmehdi, a Tunisian selector, label manager and resident at the XPAM label, event and podcast series. When he’s not wearing the DJ hat, Hmehdi is a filmmaker, whose emotional approach and storytelling galvanises much of the music he makes. Inspired by the spirit of 90s clubbing, Hmehdi’s select set experiments with various obscure sounds and tranc...

Shellwell is a Dubai-based selector who has earned residencies at some of the top clubs and venues across the Middle East with her versatile sets encompassing a wide range of sounds, from minimal and garage to disco, jungle and drum n’ bass. For Select 271, Shellwell delivers a funky, groovy bass-heavy set, featuring thumping drum patterns and hard-hitting tunes like ‘Theme From The Scam Planet’ b...

For our Select 270, we brought in Egyptian music producer Ahmed Mokhles, aka El Mokh. Hailing from Al Mansoura, El Mokh has become recognized in the local music scene with his trademark lo-fi and electro-shaabi productions, fused with elements from drum ‘n bass and techno. For his select set, El Mokh opens with a gentle and ambient Lo-fi flow, dominated by soulful piano notes, portraying his calm...

This time on our Select series, we have rising Tunisian DJ Dali Chebili, aka Volka, who is also the co-founder of eclectic events series like Fantasy and Tri-City. His select set is a very minimal house mix, featuring rolling deep basslines, mellow synths, laid-back yet funky grooves with hints of smooth breaks, and raw cuts of rare 90s house gems here and there. It’s chill, refreshing and calling...

In this episode of our Select series, we’re introducing Shadzo, an aspiring Egyptian DJ who has been a seasoned digger for over 20 years now. Heavily inspired by 80s Chicago and Detroit house, his set features a selection of funky and fun rare vinyl records such as ‘Foulard’ by Riccardo and ‘Le Velour’ by Shonky. It’s emotional, cathartic and groovy all at once. Speaking of the set, he says, “It i...

Rising Egyptian selector and avid vinyl digger, Ali Youssef - known for his eclectic niche underground sound, dabbling simultaneously between deep house and electro - brings an exclusive, thoughtfully curated all-vinyl mix of his favourite records to our select series. The set opens with an extended ambient melody with a voice-over by a TV presenter stating, aptly, “It’s not the form of the song t...

On our 266th Select, we bring you Karam Touba, a Dubai-based selector, DJ, former resident at the Rave Movement parties, and current organizer of the Decibel DXB event series. He has been spinning in the region’s electronic music circuit since 2003, beginning his DJ career by playing drum ‘n bass and jungle before eventually venturing into techno. His sets usually feature selections of dark, deep...

On this week’s Select, we have acclaimed DJ and music producer Amen Ra, who is known for promoting Egyptian musical heritage through his energetic and lively sets, blending elements from hip-hop, dance music and afrobeats. Amen Ra has previously worked with several high-profile artists and brands like Apple Music and Wizkid, performing at high calibre such as NBA all-star weekend and the Grammy Aw...

This episode of our Select series comes courtesy of Dubai-based Egyptian selector and vinyl collector Mo Ezaby, who has become a staple in the local underground house scene with his dynamic sets. Along with being a DJ, Mo is the founder of Dubai’s eclectic night series Unfold, which aims to provide an intimate space for emerging regional talents to freely express their art and musical ideas, and g...

In our 263rd episode of Select, we’re bringing Montreal-based Bangladeshi singer, electronic music producer and DJ Dameer. Born in a musically-inclined household in Dhaka, Dameer’s sound is heavily inspired by the 80s and 90s music scene in Bangladesh, which he grew up listening to with his father, as well as the works of Tom Misch, J Dilla, Joe Pass and Loyle Carner. Dameer delivers us a versatil...

For Select 262, we have rising Egyptian DJ Ali Ghoneim aka Ak Ghoniem, introducing a fresh groovy take on classic tech-house. Opening with spacey atmospheric synths that slowly build up into a hypnotic crescendo of the soulful end of house, the set is peppered with danceable, long and repetitive melodies, 90s Detroit techno and elements of dub here and there. Ghoneim mixes in an eclectic selection...

Cairo-based DJ-turned-producer Mike Pham is taking over our Select series this week with one of his signature progressive house sets, mixing in four-on-the-floor kicks and claps with moving synth layers and atmospheric pads. It’s a sweet treat, bringing the dreamy cool vibes of early summer nights (best savoured with a mimosa in hand). Pham has become a force to be reckoned with in the region’s da...

The 260th edition of our Select series features some old-school broody house vibes from Cairo-based DJ Hisham Zahran. Arguably one of Egypt’s most renowned and well traveled dance music acts, Hisham Zahran is known for his innovative and impeccably curated house and minimal sound. Since 2006 Zahran has regularly played in Europe, Asia, North and South America and has had residency stints with Egyp...

In this episode of our Select series, we delve into the world of Peaky Beats, a British producer and DJ with Iraqi heritage. Peaky Beats infuses his sets with a tapestry of Arabic genres intertwined with the expansive spectrum of UK bass music. Peaky's vinyl and digital mix weaves tracks from his debut 2LP album 'BLOODLINES' with classic dubstep elements like ‘Changes’ by Mala and ‘Surgery’ by dub...

In this episode of our Select series, we have Egyptian rising DJ Ram, whose dynamic sets are peppered with influences from UK garage music. Ram has cooked an infectious minimal house mix for us, layered with melodic textures, rolling rhythmic beats and bouncy hit-hats. The set is light and chill, just the right amount to get you groovy if you are feeling lazy this Saturday morning.

Egyptian DJ Magdolina draws inspiration from the jumbled sounds of the bustling streets of his hometown of Cairo to craft dynamic techno sets, featuring rolling beats, gritty drum patterns and electro. For our Select 257, Magdolina brings us an hour set of versatile and experimental sounds, exploring new sonic territories. The set features memorable hard-hitting basslines and infectious breaks alo...

Philippe Zarif, aka Boshoco, is currently one of the pioneering DJs and producers in the Syrian electronic dance music scene. Born and raised in Aleppo, Boshoco drew inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of his hometown to craft a distinctive playful sound. Imbued with sweltering rhythms and infectious grooves, Boshoco’s sets skillfully blend left-field electronics with contemporary Arab mus...

Dubai-based music fanatic, collector and DJ Alessandra has been spinning across the MENA region’s underground dance music scene from a very young age. She has previously co-organized several eclectic parties with Berlin’s Breakfast on Mars collective. On this episode of our Select series, Alessandra delivers a thoughtfully curated blend of 90s sounds, from house and electro to breakbeats and tranc...

On this episode of Select, we have Kamyar Khanzaei aka RING & K-Dub, the Iranian electronic music producer, visual artist and DJ who founded Sampatic Records. Since its inception in 2016, Kamyar’s label has been amplifying the diverse sounds of Tehran's music scene globally. Besides actively DJing and hosting eclectic events in Iran and Turkey, Kamyar also manages NoHradioTehran and TUS.SHOW. His...

Jeddah-based DJ Anmarz - a house-head through and through - has been spinning since the 90s from the coastal city of Oregon to Saudi Arabia and beyond, showcasing at some of the most prestigious clubs and festivals across the globe. Now, as a resident at Gabu Records and a co-founder of 9Sicksick and Mirkaz, Anmarz has been playing a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s thriving underground music scene....

Whether she is spinning at underground parties or famous clubs and venues, Dubai-based French-Iranian DJ Parvané, aka Parv, dominates the decks with her euphoria-inducing sets. Blending a wide range of genres into one juicy cacophony, her sound swiftly shifts from Miami Bass, Breakbeat and UKG to Chicago house, Ghetto tech with afro and Brazilian funky undertones. For our Select 252, Parv cooked u...

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....

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...

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 fea...

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, 3...