SceneNoise Podcast

For our latest Select, we have Lebanese vinyl maverick, NeighborsByMusic. Her penchant for discovering new sounds has led her to build an extensive repertoire over the years, blending diverse music styles from different cultures. Her sets often incorporate influences from oriental, Brazilian funk, hip-hop and jazz. NeighborsByMusic treats us to a special vinyl-only set–initially recorded at JIVE in Beirut–that meshes together threads of Brazilian bossa nova, funk, and Arabic oldies from Simone and Hamid El Shaeri with 90s hip-hop and a hint of jazzy house here and there. The colossal proportions of the set, fitting together a multitude of different sounds, are somewhat reflective of the organised chaos that Lebanon is known for. Featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of feel-good tunes, such as Ezra Collective's ‘Palm Wine', Mtume's ‘Juicy Fruit', and Simone's ‘Mabsouta', the set ends abruptly, as if alluding to a typical electricity cut at midnight in Beirut.

Select 334 comes courtesy of Jean-Philippe Kaya, aka KAYA, a Los Angeles-based DJ and producer hailing from Bordeaux, France. Dubbed a Future Talent of 2025 by the Pete Tong DJ Academy in Ibiza, KAYA is known for fusing various musical influences from his Cameroonian and Congolese roots, as well at classical piano compositions, with contemporary electronic music. His music has traversed dancefloors at some of the world's biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Coachella, and EDC Las Vegas. His select set is a hypnotic mix of melodic and afro tech-house grooves, featuring some of his own productions, along with a selection of his favourite tunes, such as ‘Oumuamua' by Sauaro, ‘Eyes on Me' by TMPLE and ‘Back 2 Me' by Malachiii.

This Saturday, we have Cairo-based DJ Azzouni with a special mix that's a little bit of everything from outside the club, packed with touchdowns in various sonic territories from Jamaica, Nubia, and Capo Verde, just to name a few. One of the most riotous DJs and producers in Cairo's underground electronic scene, Azzouni is known for his signature genre-hyphenated experimental sets, mixing ambient, breakbeat, grime, jungle and deconstructed club sounds. Instead of a traditional mix, Azzouni dug deep into his sonic library to bring us more of a three-hour, 33-minute and 33-second playlist, chasing joy outside the club vibes. The playlist is inspired by a recent trip Azzouni made to a pristine natural beach in Wadi El Gemal protectorate, called Ras Hankorab (which is currently facing a threat of being turned into a luxury resort. The set is a patchwork of various sounds that skate across swaggering funk, dub reggae, blues, jazz, and everything in between, featuring a thoughtfully curated selection of eclectic tunes by the likes of Ali Farka Toure, Mad Professor and Sharaf Band. As Azzouni puts it, “Drop in at any timestamp, and stick around if you like the vibes.”

Joining us on this episode of our Select mix series is the one and only Cheb Runner. A musical hurricane rooted in Moroccan soil, Cheb Runner is a DJ, composer and producer who represents a new sound of in-betweenness, nurtured by a diverse array of musical influences that run back and forth in time. His sets often feature first-hand recordings from his expansive sample pack of traditional instrumentals. In addition to being a fixture at some of the biggest clubs and festivals across Europe, Cheb Runner is a resident at Ghana's Oroko Radio, a familiar face at Brussels' finest Kiosk Radio, and part of Rotterdam's (A)WAKE collective. Most recently, he has also joined the Brussels-based Not Your Techno family. For his select set, Cheb Runner delivers a playful analog mix, supported by a unique set of synthesisers, where traditional Maghrebi sounds and shaabi rhythms pulse through deep techno, disco and Dutch gabber.

Select 331: Mixed by Rubbishhh by SceneNoise

Joining us this week on Select is Peter Al-Khabout, aka PAK, an emerging selector who has been recently making noise in the electronic music scene across Syria and Lebanon with his genre-blurring sets, packed with bold track selection and unexpected twists. For our Select the 330th, PAK takes us on a deep hypnotic journey of fresh grooves, heavy basslines, and dramatic, but also euphoric, buildups. His mix moves through lush house, relentless techno and atmospheric electronica. Think Dorisburg's deep textures layered up with DJ Koze's serpentine-like twists, and a dash of the driving energy of Ben Block. The set features a selection of eclectic tunes such as Shiffer's ‘Magnum', Aera's ‘Running Hot' and Luke Alessi's ‘Walk On By'.

This week on Select, we have one of Cairo's freshest young producers and selectors, Delrady, known for his innovative approach to tech-house, blending groovy house with classic funk, disco and blues, as well as hip-hop and rap. Since his emergence in the region's electronic scene, Delrady has already released five EPs, such as ‘Big Big Dreams' EP on Gawdat's DancIN' label, along with numerous singles and remixes, which have gained widespread recognition from leading DJs and producers across the globe. One of his tracks, ‘Keeping Working', was played at Burning Man earlier last year. For his select set, he treats us to a taste of his infectious tech-house mixes, spinning in iconic rap tunes such as Central Cee's ‘Doja', and Drake & Lil Baby's ‘Yes Indeed', along with some of his original productions such as ‘Big Big Dreams'.

Back on our Select mix series for his annual takeover is the legendary Wookie warrior, Chewie. Known for digging up fresh, groove-heavy tracks, whether it's sweat-soaked disco-house or heady minimal rhythms, Chewie is delivering an hour-long journey into the cosmos of house. This is a warped, high-energy set that would make Kessel Run look like a stroll in the park. Buckle up!

Select 327: Mixed by Fouad Darwish by SceneNoise

This week on SceneNoise's Select series, we have the one and only DJ Habibeats. Born and raised in San Francisco's Bay Area, DJ Habibeats is an internationally acclaimed artist who has been actively pushing Middle Eastern sounds in the global clubbing scene. He has built up a reputation for his culturally-charged electrifying sets, combining club sounds from the Middle East with afrobeats, amapiano, house, baile funk, and Brazilian and Latin influences. For his Select set, DJ Habibeats cooked us a culturally-charged house mix, featuring a kaleidoscope of musical influences from the Middle East and North Africa, India, and Brazil all wrapped up in deep club cuts. Expect some fun detours, and tunes like ‘Walhala' - DJ Rony, ‘Merzzy', ‘Gqom Do Pam Pam' - Bronka, ‘State Off', as well as some original productions by Habibeats himself.

Born and raised in Tangier, Yassir is one of the most exciting and versatile selectors in Morocco's underground electronic scene. His sets mesh together sonic textures from jazz with pulsating house grooves, always featuring a fine selection of eclectic tunes from the likes of Cobblestone Jazz and Rhadoo. He has been dominating dancefloors at major clubs and festivals in Romania, UK and Morocco, and sharing the decks with global techno icons the likes of Traumer, Ricardo Villalobos, and Sonja Moonear, just to name a few. Yassir takes over our Select today with a trance-inducing mix of breakbeat, progressive house and techno, featuring tunes from some of his favourite record labels and producers like Kosh, Jeku, Olsvangèr, Rudolf C, and Sansibar.

This Saturday on SceneNoise's Select, HALAWA - arguably one of the most promising selectors in Dubai - takes us on a colourful house journey that gradually builds in velocity from ambient to heavy rhythmic basslines. The set is packed with an eclectic track selection such as Calabasas' ‘Bubble Trouble', Delicious Inc's ‘The Poem', and Trik's ‘Feel Good'.

Taking over our latest edition of Select is Bahrain-based DJ Sudz. Having initially begun his journey in the electronic music scene seven years ago spinning Jungle and Drum & Bass, Sudz has recently started dabbling more into the techno spectrum. He has quickly built a reputation in the region for his vigilant crate digging and multi-layered sets that traversed dancefloors in Dubai and Amman. His select set, which marks his comeback to the night life after a brief hiatus, encompasses sounds from his earliest influences, toeing with the peripheries between chill hypnotic melodies and dark ominous grooves –all wrapped in a relentless 4/4 drum pattern. The set features eclectic tunes by international artists such as ‘RB208' by Oscar Mulero, ‘Forgotten Dunes' by Funk Assault, and ‘Linear System' by Kosher.

This week on Select, Cairo-based DJ Omar Ezzo returns to our Select series with an Afronic-flavoured mix of deep house and tribal rhythms. Omar Ezzo has built a reputation for himself in Cairo's clubbing scene with his fresh take on afro-house. He's also shared the decks with a latitude of international acts with the likes of Boris Brejcha, Magdalena, Giorgia Anguili, Sebastian Leger, Adana Twins, Andhim, Edu imbernon, Hannes Bieger, Massano and many more.

This week on SceneNoise's Select, Egyptian DJ, producer Awadly takes us on a flavourful journey of groovy house and minimal tech, serving up some spicy high-energy with a generous amount of feel-good vibes and kicks. A prominent feature in the nightlife scene, Awadly previously shared the decks with a roster of the world's biggest DJs the likes of Pawsa, Dennis Cruz, Whomadewho, Ricardo Villalobos and Sonja Moonear. Listen to the full set below

This week on Select, we welcome YoungWoman, an Amsterdam-based Egyptian DJ, producer, and co-founder of Los Angles Collective. Known for her genre-smashing sets and innovative mixing style, YoungWoman has been turning heads on the global stage, performing at some of the world's top festivals, including Rewire. Playful, energetic and surprising, her Select set is a percussive bass-driven rollercoaster ride into the left-field electronic spectrum, featuring explosive rhythms, scratchy noise textures, and a selection of eclectic tunes by some of the region's top artists such as Zuli and Shabjdeed.

Up next on Select we host Sherif, an up-and-coming DJ from Cairo with a bouncy house mix that dabbles into the upbeat side of the spectrum. Think erratic synths, quick stabs and driving basslines with fleeting moments of melodic rhythms here and there. The set features tunes from the likes of Dennis Cruz, Paul Woolford and Le Femme.

On this episode of Select, we have an eclectic b2b set from Tunisia's budding selectors formiq and Belgaida, who are the co-founders of the mix series Unspoken Sessions –a platform that serves as an outlet for rising regional DJs to showcase their unspoken tastes beyond the packed dancefloor and club environment. Recorded at the 13th edition of the Tunisian electronic festival Fabrika, the set is an improvised ambient mix with sustained mellow synth notes that journey through different corners of the electronic spectrum, where genres blur into one cohesive sound that feels evermore cinematic and dreamy.

This week on Select, we have Brenda all the way from Colombia. Throughout the past three years, he has galloped through various sonic territories within the global electronic music scene, establishing himself as a figure that is hard to define and one of the most innovative DJs in the globe. In his selection and mixing style, Brenda embraces the idea of ‘plunder-techno', a collage of traditional Latin rhythms, encompassing dembow, cumbia, djembe and guaracha, interspersed with variations of bass music, while incorporating noise textures close to IDM and club music. For his select set, the Colombia native DJ and producer brings a mix that encapsulates his passion for the multiplicity of latitudes within the global south and its diaspora. He meshes together threads of Mexican tribal, Colombian bailoteo and Andean techno with the emancipated UK bass scene across the globe, playing on the similarities between Latin dembow and the new waves of electronic music from the Middle East region. “It's an x-ray of my interests, specifically, my fascination with traditional percussion and how they can be employed in electronic music.” Brenda tells SceneNoise.

In this episode of Select, we have the Dutch-Kurdish DJ/producer duo CHAMOS, who have built a cult following across Europe with their club edits, fusing traditional West Asian sounds with bass and house music. For our Select 316, CHAMOS is bringing a mix dedicated to their latest EP ‘From Erbil to Amsterdam', a project that turns traditional Kurdish instrumentals into hard-hitting club anthems. The mix features their own edits of SWANA classics along with tunes by famous producers who inspired them and have been played in their club sets.

On our 315th Select, we have Egyptian-Kuwaiti DJ NAZ with an emotive mix of afrobeats and melodic house, titled ‘Broken Wings'. Speaking of the set, NAZ says, “This set was curated to not only help me process the loss of my twin flames but also to encourage listeners to tap into whatever it's their soul is now going through, to hopefully bring closure to the adversity they endured.”

This week on SceneNoise's Select series, we have a special set from Tunisian-Algerian selector and NTS resident Cheb Mimo, who has been actively pushing the traditional rhythms of North Africa - like Rai, Ganwa and Stembli - into the UK clubbing scene. His sets are a treasure trove of rare retro cassettes and vinyl records from the 80s, 90s and 2000s, a byproduct of his relentless digging through classic disco, funk and drum n bass. For Select 314, Cheb Mimo cooked up a chill groovy mix of downtempo and Rai music that bursts with uplifting melodies, featuring tunes by legendary artists like Cheb Hasni and Jean Baptiste.

This edition of our Select series comes courtesy of Beirut-based DJ, producer and percussionist Julian Naman, aka JOOL. Inspired by his parents' extensive music collection, he started producing tracks at the early age of 14, merging various sounds, from jazz, hip-hop and ambient, to progressive rock, techno and house. He has performed alongside a slew of prominent international artists, including Dasha Rush, Ion Ludwig and Answer Code Request, traversing prestigious dancefloors at B018, Ballroom Blitz, Paris' Sputnik and Athens' The Place. Speaking of his Select set, JOOL says, “This set was born out of the challenging times we face in the region, where stress and uncertainty feel overwhelming. It's a reflection of that journey - an offering of love, a message of unity through sound.”

This week on SceneNoise's Select podcast, we have WAN, a Berlin-based Egyptian selector and the founder of the newly-launched Delete Collective, which recently made its debut at the famed Club OST. Deeply influenced by the disarming rave energy of Berlin's underground scene and hypnotic deep techno vibes, WAN brings a hard groove techno set, featuring driving basslines, minimalistic waveforms and razor-sharp transitions.

Egyptian multi-instrumentalist and live electronic act Chiati has become a staple across clubs and festivals across the region in recent years - armed with an unmissable set that combines blissfully timed drops, soulful riffs, melodic rhythms and touching falsetto, expertly performed between keys, guitar, vocals and the charisma of a veritable rockstar. For the first episode of the new season of #SceneNoise's long running stream series Houseplant Chiati gives us a taste of his new sound set to hit dance floors this year. Featuring mostly unreleased music, nestled in the confines of a lush Cairean greenhouse, we journey between highly danceable afro house to arab house anthems.

Houseplant 023 | Azzouni by SceneNoise

Youssef Yasser has come up as one of Cairo's youngest and most talented selectors, making appearances on several international airwaves like the NTS radio show, France's Rinse, as well as a multitude of prominent party series across the city's nightlife scene. For the second episode of the new season of SceneNoise's long-running stream series, Houseplant, Yousser treats us to a spin-off on the sound he previously embraced with a heart-pumping mix of 90s electro, house and breaks that demonstrates his refined crate-digging style. (Look out for a special surprise at the end of the set).

This Saturday on Select, we have Alaa Jazaeri. Emerging from Riyadh's vibrant underground scene, he established himself as one of Saudi Arabia's top-rated DJs, landing spots at major events like Sandstorm Festival and Freaks of Nature. Jazaeri is also the founder of Narratives, a storytelling music platform, curating mixtape podcasts and a series of dynamic events across the Kingdom, Canada and Lebanon, that saw global headliners like Nick Curly, Dolby, Violent Sentir and Gorge. For our Select 311, Jazaeri brings a carefully curated soulful groovy set, blending dreamy and minimal vibes with funk and jazz-infused deep house melodies, featuring soothing and chill tunes by international bands and producers like Mara Lakour and Jesse Maas.

In this episode of SceneNoise's Select series, Cairo-based DJ and producer Mahib performs a live set of his own productions, a blend of electrifying mahraganat and EDM beats, with a ting of hip-hop and emotionally driven rhythms. The set takes us on a throbbing journey through the bustling sounds of Cairo, featuring echo-laden vocal samples, synthesised instrumental melodies, and pumping edits of classic shaabi tunes.

Egyptian experimentalist and Kafr El Dawar Records co-founder YUNIS is set to premiere ‘The Partridge Bird', an evocative track from his latest project, ‘Opera for 1000 Crows' (*الحجلة). This exclusive release offers an early glimpse into the sonic landscape of the performance, blending live electronics, cello, voice, and toys to explore the paradox between grief and celebration. ‘The Partridge Bird' embodies the thematic essence of ‘Opera for 1000 Crows', drawing inspiration from a traditional funeral dance ritual in Upper Egypt and Delta villages. This limping movement, performed by women around graves, mirrors the motion of crows, creatures deeply tied to burial myths in Islamic traditions. The track encapsulates this duality, transforming it into a haunting, funeralistic soundscape that bridges life and death. Following the track premiere, ‘Opera for 1000 Crows' will make its full debut on February 13 at the French Institute in Cairo, marking YUNIS' first performance of the project in Egypt after extensive touring in Europe. The show, an interactive experience incorporating poetry recitations and experimental vocal performances by YUNIS himself, will create a meditative space for reflection, healing, and solidarity. With this premiere, YUNIS not only introduces audiences to his latest sonic exploration but also sets the stage for what promises to be a groundbreaking artistic experience. 'Opera for 1000 Crows' will continue its journey with a second performance scheduled for April at the French Institute in Alexandria.

Select 309 features Kontrast, a Beirut-born DJ based in Riyadh who has crafted a distinctive sound that blends melodic house, techno, indie dance, and progressive house. Drawing inspiration from the Lebanese electronic music scene, his collaborations with international artists like Rafael Cerato, Tim Taste and Sam Gino have further shaped his unique style. For his Select set, Kontrast delivers a fluid mix of melodic house and techno, driven by high-energy tempos, intricate acoustic drums, and uplifting frequencies. The set maintains a steady rhythm of flowing grooves. Tracks like ‘Benigne' by Upercent, ‘Can't Stop' by Jonathan Kaspar and ‘Flores' by TWiiNS shape the vibe of the set.

Select 308 comes courtesy of K.led, a DJ, musician and engineer with over 13 years of experience, with notable performances at venues like Montreal's Salon Daome and Soundstorm in Riyadh. K.led's eclectic and genre-fluid approach to sound began in local underground clubs, where his ear for rhythm and evolving style led him to shape diverse sets that speak to a broad spectrum of listeners. This three-hour set was recorded during a recent performance at Beast House, K.led blends a mix of deep grooves and pulsating beats with moments of rough, gritty energy. The set transitions between diverse sounds with tracks like Terry Hunter & Aaron Smith's ‘Enuff Enuff' (feat. Frankie Knuckles) and Shonky's ‘Mama Queen' combining elegance with a bit of rawness.

Select 307 comes courtesy of Ghent-based Syrian/Libyan producer and DJ Bader Shahit, known behind the decks as Bader. Growing up immersed in Libyan tagaza majrouda rhythms and Syrian classical music, Bader has built himself a distinctive musical identity, merging contemporary club music of heavy bass patterns with various musical elements from across the MENA region. His select set, recorded in Yalla Worldwide studio in Ghent, is a bass-heavy mix of acid, breaks, techno, electric boogies and Middle Eastern textures, featuring Mix Monster Menno on the scratch and Acid Ponch on drums. The set also features hard-hitting tunes like El Sawarikh's ‘Ekhwaty' and Cheb Naser's ‘Ole Ole'.

This week on our Select series, we have Cairo's indie rock rouser Dirty Backseat, the electronic solo project of producer and singer-songwriter Moe Hani, with an exclusive mix of a string of unreleased productions that he recorded back in 2024. Dirty Backseat is best known for his nuanced melancholy-tinted sound that serves as a distillation of Moe's influences of post-punk, psych-rock, synth-pop and electronica. His select set is as dreamy as it's danceable, featuring thick basslines, gritty rhythms and heart-pumping tunes with some of Egypt's veterans the likes of 200 Shams and Omar Zahran.

On the 305th episode of SceneNoise's Select series, we present Brooklyn-based Alexandria-born selector Solofan, a resident and the host of El Commodino show on Radio Flouka. Having spent years immersed in the underground scene in Berlin and Brooklyn, Solfan developed his own signature sound where he experiments with free-form mixes that unravel like symphonies. His Select set is a high-energy mixture of early EBM, acid house, IDM and hardcore, featuring Tarab influences, African polyrhythms, and deep club cuts, intermingled with tunes by the likes of Trinity Magas and Assassins of Youth.

This week on Select, we have a special set from Egyptian-Bosnian vinyl maven Taty, whose distinct crate-digging approach and hypnotic sets cemented him in Berlin's underground electronic dance scene. Taty turned up with a vinyl-only set of deep and ambient techno, featuring textured obscure sound, echo-laden hypnotic beats watered down by reverb effects, and atmospheric soundscapes. Recorded on his home setup using technics turntables and an Xone 42 mixer, the set evokes a certain vibe of trance that's certainly meditative.

In Select 303, we have Cairo-based selector and producer P.O.V with a futuristic bass-heavy electro set, exploring the interplay between sound, space and time with a fresh approach to music synthesis. The set opens with an ethereal drone noise that seems to drift aimlessly through space, which then dissolves into pulse-pounding bass-driven beats with subtle frequency modulations and granular textures, embodying the chaos and order of the universe. The set features bumping tunes by a slew of international producers the likes of Deemphasis, Koova, Logitech and more.

This week on Select, we have France-based Moroccan DJ, producer and Radio Flouka resident Leïla Koumiya with a stormy left-field bass set, mixing syncopated Amazigh rhythms and elements of dnb with chopped rap samples from the likes of Julmud and Caïn و Muchi. Koumiya has cemented herself in the regional underground scene with her hybrid and versatile sets, exploring the nuances of her North African roots through a poetic blend of traditional sounds, polyrhythms, rap influences and percussive bass music.

This week's Select comes courtesy of Omar Taa'i, aka Taai, a Cairo-based music producer behind Abyusif and Marwan Pablo's collaborative track ‘SMACK THAT'. His prolific discography features tracks with regional hip-hop artists the likes of R3, Alvin, BEGAD, and Xander Ghost. For our Select 301, Taai cooked us a mix of hard-hitting trap beats and instrumental tracks, featuring some of his favourite Egyptian hip-hop tunes.

This week on Select, we have a special set from Dublin-based Saudi-born maestro Moving Still marking THREE HUNDRED episodes of our exclusive mix series

Joining us this week on Select is UAE-based Lebanese-born selector and producer Tarek B with a dynamic house set, mixing micro and minimal elements with relentless groovy basslines and the occasional electro break. The set features a slew of eclectic tunes by global producers and artists such as tINI's ‘So High', Last Pines' ‘Go Ahead' and DJ Gear Hoover's ‘Studio Gear'. Having been manning decks since 2017, Tarek's sets have traversed dancefloors at some of the region's top clubs and festivals, from Dubai and Beirut to Istanbul, Amman, Riyadh and more, spinning at the likes of B018, Snoopy Beats and Boogie Box. He's also played Boiler Room Abu Dhabi and Ibiza's Blue Marlin club.

This week on Select, we have a special set from Ramy Tsuruta, a Japanese-Lebanese selector, producer, and founder of party collective and record label deependofthepool. Raised experimenting with the analog machines of his father, Tsuruta established a dynamic and unpredictable style, influenced by the sound of cities like Beirut, Budapest, Tokyo and Berlin. His select set starts off with a toned-down house beat shimmering amidst atmospheric sounds that feel quite earthly and meditative. It then smoothly transitions into a wholly unique mix of analog sounds, encompassing 80s/90s electro, techno, house and new beat.

This week on Select we have S!Na, a NYC-based German-born Syrian/Sudanese selector with a weighty drum-heavy bass dub mix, inspired by the spirit of the New York underground scene. Rooted in a deep meditative groove, the set explores the different ranges of bass, featuring hypnotic rhythms and a dub edit of Anunaku & DJ Plead's ‘Clap Clap', as a personal nod to her Syrian roots.

In this episode of Select, we have Amman-based Palestinian DJ, producer and rapper Shalaby with a special rave-coded mix of UK bass, techno and grime. The set features hard-hitting rhythms, complex drum patterns, fresh sharp transitions and a fine selection of hip-hop tracks from his favourite producers and rappers in the MENA region, the likes of Shabash, DJ Gawad and Ziad Zaza.

For our 295th Select , we have a special showcase set from Cairo Jazz Club 610's Disco-Tech, a party series dedicated to revitalizing the intersection between tech-house and disco. Skillfully curated and mixed by Disco-Tech's budding residents Moenes (who's also the series' co-founder), Jess, Mazen A, and Muze, the set will take you on a groovy glide with razor-sharp transitions, packed with heavy, funky beats and the warm soulfulness of 90s disco tunes, akin to the uplifting vibes of Disco-Tech parties.

This week's Select comes courtesy of Cairo-based artist Hashem. As one of the few rock selectors in the underground scene, Hashem has carved a niche for himself with his dynamic sets, merging various sounds from rock and disco to synths and electro. When he is not behind the decks, Hashem is a singer-songwriter recognised for his smooth alternative synth-pop releases like ‘Other Clone', ‘Kolena Benmel Fe Youm' and ‘Bases, Mesh Shayel'. His Select set showcases a fresh, intriguing style that's distinctly his own, meshing threads of different genres into one cohesive sonic spectrum that's intense, powerful and thoroughly enjoyable. The set is a mixture of bass, left-field sounds and electro, featuring 80s sonic aesthetics combined with fast-paced beats, prominent bass drums, and heavy basslines along with a few trap samples. An infectious growling bass emerges in the first quarter of the set, followed by a selection of eclectic tunes like Julmud's ‘Kalma'', ‘Zein' by Hassan Abou Allam, and 200 Shams' ‘Atmana A5taf Youm'.

On this week's Select, we have Saudi selector Haffs, one of the most promising talents who has been dominating the Kingdom's dance music scene over the past few years. She has played at major festivals and venues in Saudi the likes of SoundStorm, XP Music Futures and Beast House. Inspired by the unsullied human-earth connection and the serene tranquillity found in the historical oasis of AlUla, Haffs' select set is a harmonious synergy of deep, melodic house and organic oriental rhythms. The set features a melodic intro of dreamy piano notes, transitioning into atmospheric and tribal sounds interspersed with soft vocals of that ebb and flow, resembling the natural reverb of the desert's mountains. The set features tunes by a slew of international producers such as Storm, Heart Pieces, Qallin and Dreamland.

This week's Select comes courtesy of Cairo-based selector Mahmoud Okasha (AKA Zeft Funk), who has been helping Egypt's top dancefloors groove over the last four years with his distinct blend of italo disco, acid house, textured bass-heavy sounds and eclectic tunes pulled from his own secret collection. For his Select set, Zeft Funk delivers an hour-long mix of fancy funk tunes and pulse-bounding acid, disco and groovy house. The set kicks off with spoken words of the classic intro of radio broadcasting in Cairo, which then wafts through a fire mix of Lineat's ‘InsBLaue'. The set is a treasure trove of irresistibly danceable grooves, featuring some of Zeft Funk's favourite tunes like ‘Bigboy Exercises' by Schwarzfahrer, ‘Self Loathing Rulz' by Shout Out Out Out, and more.

For Select 285, we have veteran techno DJ and producer Anthon, a prominent figure in the Lebanese underground music scene, recognized for mastering the craft of dark edgy big room sounds, as well as his ominous twisted techno productions, which are infused with shadows drawn from his own life experiences. Anthon is the founder of one of Beirut's burgeoning party series, Deep Department, which has been running since 2015. He has done his rounds at some of Lebanon's most famous clubs and venues, from The Grand Factory and The Garten to AHM, Harbor, Ballroom Blitz and B018. He has also showcased at prestigious clubs across the globe, including Berlin's Suicide Circus, Montpellier's PZ Club, as well as Klub Der Republik with the Cluck Im Ohr crew. He has shared the decks with a roster of globally acclaimed artists like Sam Paganini, Boris Brejcha, Dubfire, Stephan Bodzin, Marco Bailey, Reinier Zonneveld, and Victor Ruiz, just to name a few. His extensive discography boasts several EPs, released on famed labels like Mango Alley, UNSEEN Records, Timeless Moment, Phobia and Phobiq. His works also appeared on various artist compilations alongside prominent artists such as Hernan Cattaneo, Citizen Kain, The Element, Oscar L, Blancah, Ten Walls, Soul Button, Space Motion and many more. For his select set, Anthon delivers a dark melodic techno mix, rich with warm synth layers, deep basslines and atmospheric soundscapes.

For this week's Select, we have Berlin-based underground DJ/producer duo Marko & Bene, aka Longhair. Arguably one of the leading figures in the electronic dance scene, they're known for their devilishly pumping and harmoniously uplifting sets that dabble in versatile shades of hazy house, with influences that range from disco and balearic to trance and electro. Earlier this year, the duo released ‘Surf & Turf' EP on the famed London-based label OPIA Records, a deep and progressive house fusion of futuristic funk and dreamy rave nostalgia across four cuts. For their select set, Longhair came in with a pulse-pounding house set, featuring psychedelic layers, acid-licks and rousing synth-heavy grooves with hip-thrusting kicks, combined with a subtle pinch of trance-like repetitive rhythms. The set features tunes by famous international producers such as Eddie Richards, Nanami Togarashi and Hidden Spheres.

On today's Select, we have SAUD, a veteran DJ hailing from Belgrade, Serbia, recognised for his multicoloured hypersonics, blending hardcore breakbeat patterns with contemporary gradients that gravitate towards a regenerated form of rhythmic psychedelia. He is also the co-founder of Belgradie-based famed rave platform SUTRA, which has brought a roster of acclaimed producers the likes of Gabber Modus Operandi, ZULI, Abadir, Aisha Devi, Mumdance, Batuu, Lee Gamble, Flore and more, to Serbia's clubbing scene over the last 7 years. Besides running SUTRA, SAUD was featured on Boiler Room x Belgrade. He has also played in various clubs and venues across the globe, from NYC, Berlin, and France, to Austria, Belgium, Norway, Poland, and Beirut, just to name a few. In 2023, he also launched his own club in New Belgrade called Živa. For our 289th Select, SAUD shares the set he played at his club Živa's season-opening party that took place earlier this year, featuring Kuwaiti producer Van Boom on the lineup. The set, a whirlwind of saturated bass sounds, razor-sharp electro, distorted drum patterns and vocal samples, features tunes by the likes of 3Phaz and Van Boom. “This one is dedicated to my lovely people in Beirut, whom I think of every passing hour,” SAUD tells SceneNoise.