Focus: Electronic Music  2 min 10 Electronic Music Talents Out of Egypt You Should Know About

From the mid ‘90s onwards electronic music underwent a renaissance in the Middle East with mass demand for dance music across the region with Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia being the main hubs. In this list we’ve compiled some of the most seasoned and boundary pushing talents, as well some exciting, up and coming names out of Egypt’s local scene.

The majority of electronic music fans today may be unaware of the fact that one of the earliest pioneers of the genre is the late Egyptian musician and ethnomusicologist Halim Abdul Messieh El-Dabh (1921-2017). Many argue that his 1944 work; “The Expression of Zaar”, a piece of tape music, is one of the earliest known recordings of the sound, predating the work of tape music innovator Pierre Schaeffer by four years.

The term ‘electronic music’ went on to take infinite forms and include a plethora of subgenres from club music such as house & techno in the late ‘70s, to chart-topping pop since the early 2000’s and an ocean of left-field, experimental sounds all throughout those time periods. Electronic music is now a $6 billion global industry according to the 2022 IMS report. 

On a regional level, the genre hasn’t seen much growth or innovation after Halim El-Dabh’s early experimentation. Some notable instances of the sound being clearly utilized however emerged again in the ‘70s with guitarist Omar Khorshid’s futuristic sounding records, thanks to the use of his Moog synthesizer, as well as some recently unearthed recordings by Habibi Funk from the same time period by Algerian film score composer Ahmed Malek. 

From the mid ‘90s onwards electronic music underwent a renaissance in the Middle East with mass demand for dance music across the region with Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia being the main hubs. Massive concerts for some of the world’s most commercially sought after DJs were taking place, franchise clubs from international clubbing destinations were opening across the region and several cities started gaining reputation for their local scenes, venues and artists.

In the case of Egypt dance music sounds like trance and progressive house had dominated the country until shortly after 2011. As is the case with many MENA countries following the Arab Spring, the revolution had brought on a new sense of freedom and eagerness to experiment in a wave never seen before.

In this list we’ve compiled some of the most seasoned and boundary pushing talents, as well some exciting, up and coming names out of Egypt’s local scene. This list is in no way defining of course, but just a curated sampler
 

1. Belal Ali

Alexandria born music producer and sound designer Belal Ali has delivered a multitude of projects since his early career, starting out as a vocalist for the indie rock outfit Portrait Avenue between 2010 and 2015. In 2019 he started his solo project fuzzylittlebrain which featured a unique approach to songwriting utilizing industrial sonic palettes and his broad vocal range.

2. Donia Shohdy

Cairo-based DJ and promoter Donia Shohdy is best known for organizing one of the city’s longest running underground event-series JellyZone. When she’s not busy putting together her next event, you’ll find her behind the decks at multiple parties or on the airwaves with a new guest mix. Donia’s DJ sets are known for their high intensity, combining everything from breaks to Egyptian trap.

3. El Kontessa

Better known by her artist name El Kontessa, Fajr Suleiman, has been a fixture Cairo’s the alternative scene thanks to her experimentation as a producer and DJ with the Egyptian shaabi sound, dabbling with music recorded from shaabi weddings, mahraganat music and infusing it with her unique approach to dance music.

4. Ashrar

An enigmatic figure, Ashrar may or may not be a collective of several Cairo-based artists which remain to be identified. This masked protagonist gained rise through a series of appearances at the MOSHTRQ collective’s residency at Cairo Jazz Club as well as several other events. Ashrar’s arsenal of sounds varies from harsh noise to raw drill and grime inspired beats.

5. 3Phaz

A seasoned producer from Cairo’s first post-revolution generation of electronic music producers and experimentalists, 3Phaz has carved out a unique sonic space for himself with his original shaabi-inspired sound which he dubs as “percussive club music”. This sound has found plenty of success in Egypt and abroad, with Boiler Room appearances and multiple stints of tours in Europe.

6. Yas Meen Selectress 

Hailing from New York, Yas Meen Selectress is a multi-genre DJ who recently cemented herself as a staple act in Cairo’s lineups. She often blends regional hip hop, percussive club music and different regional electronic productions as well as incorporating a lot of flavors from cultures around the region.  

7. Jana

One of the youngest talents on the list, Egyptian producer, guitarist and DJ Jana has recently taken the scene by storm. Showing a wide range as both a producer and DJ, her eclectic sets balance elements from drum n bass, breakbeat, hip-hop without losing sight of their intention to set dancefloors ablaze.

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8.Zuli

Ahmed El Ghazoly aka ZULI is a name that has become synonymous with left-field electronic music in Egypt on a global scale. From his early days as member of the Kairo Ist Koming collective (KIK) between 2012-2015, to his work as producer and DJ for one the biggest rappers in country, Abyusif, to his string of releases on international labels which caught the ears and support of the likes of Aphex Twin, Bradley Zero, Ben UFO and Richie Hawtin.

9. Postdrone 

Another incognito producer and DJ out of Cairo Postdrone who’s garnered attention both locally and internationally thanks to his original productions, guest mixes. Most notable among his work is his Ready for Nothing EP which features emotive tracks like ‘Mahragan el Arp’ as well as heavy, percussive and club-oriented pieces like ‘Dawsha FM’.

10. Yaseen

The mastermind behind the MOSHTRQ collective and event series which helped bring to light many talents, including several artists on this list, Yaseen el Azzouni is a vital figure in Cairo’s electronic music scene both as an artist and curator with other outlets that he provides such as KHABT records.

June 2023