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IA MIX 388 Hassan Abou Alam

Hassan Abou Alam, the electronic technician from Egypt’s underground, has been riding a long and high wave of peak performances. Following exhilarating international live shows and DJ sets, plus a barrage of hot releases, most notably ‘Shalfata‘ on YUKU and ‘Mesh Mafhoom‘ on Nerve Collect in 2024 – his impeccable sound design has wooed crowds of sweaty ravers on dance floors and off.

Punchy low-ends, broken sound texture, strings full of character whir around, blistering sharp, and strands of traditional Middle Eastern drum patterns reimagined by Abou Alam pierce through sound systems. Genres stripped and mutilated create a gritty, grimy, euphoric experience in borderless sound, leaving scope for sensational body movement in any given setting.

Strapping this heat into an hour podcast for IA MIX 388, Hassan Abou Alam plunges us into his world of music with a selection of adventurous tracks, meticulously balancing bass-heavy beats, structured machine-made polyrhythms, and textured layers of raw, pulsating energy. A hard launch into the unpredictable year to come – fasten your seatbelts!

Interview by Asmi Shetty

20240906 Hassan Abou Alam Kevin Christinat 04

"Music is more all over the place, which makes it harder to define clear 
categories. Honestly, I can’t even categorise my own sound anymore."

Hello Hassan, thank you for recording for this mix. The track selection is exquisite. What was your thought process behind the selection? What emotions would you say the mix expresses?

Hi Asmi, thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. For this mix, I was aiming for a more dance-focused approach, emphasising distorted, percussive elements with subtle hints of UK Bass. To me, the main emotion conveyed is excitement – at least, that’s how I perceive it haha.

What was your intention for making music? How did you find yourself on this journey? Did you rave a lot/ nerd it out to electronic music as a kid?

When I was younger, I was really fascinated by the idea of making music with synthesisers and drum machines – my uncle played a big part in getting me into it too! Honestly, I wasn’t too happy with the music I was making back then; it was a bit cheesy, haha. I experimented with so many genres, from electro house to progressive house to even pop at a certain point. I was always eager to learn more. It was such a great journey, and it really shaped me into the musician I am today. I’m really happy with the sound I’m making now.

I used to go out clubbing when I was younger but I was never really much of a raver. I was more into the music itself and the process of creating it than going out clubbing!

Your productions have always been tight and crisp, with a hint of your Egyptian roots hidden in the layers. What role do you think these cultural representations play in world club sound?

Thank you! I’ve been loving incorporating sounds and patterns inspired by Egyptian music into my work. Lately, I’ve realised how important it has become to my compositions. The rhythms in Egyptian music are so unique, I try to bring that influence into my music, especially through the drum patterns I create.

Paint us a picture of your studio. What kind of instruments do you meddle with? How many hours a week do you spend in there?

I’ve collected so much gear over the years! Here’s a list of the ones I use most often:

  • Digitakt: My go-to for creating drum patterns using one-shots.
  • Quadrantid Swarm by Eowave: A paraphonic synth I use for bass, drones and melodies.
  • Digitone: Perfect for crafting lush, dreamy melodies.
  • GR-1 by Tasty Chips: Amazing for ambient music and creating insane textures from any sound.
  • Octatrack: Mostly for live performances – not as much in the studio.

For effect units, I’ve got:

  • Erica Synth’s Fusion Box
  • Sherman Filterbank 2 Compact
  • Bastl Instruments’ Thyme: My favourite delay pedal! I even use it to make bass lines and wonky percussive sounds by running Digitakt samples through it.
  • The first synth I ever got was the OP-1 by Teenage Engineering – such a versatile piece of gear, and I still love it!

My studio doubles as my bedroom, so whenever inspiration strikes, I can just grab an instrument and dive in. I honestly lose track of time when I’m making music – some days I’ll spend the entire day at it, and other times I might go a whole week without touching anything. It really just depends on the moment!

What types of events or venues do you most enjoy performing live at? How do you judge audience interaction when in the flow? Talk to us about your favourite gig in recent times.

I know it might sound like a generic answer, but I genuinely enjoy performing everywhere I play. Each show feels like a unique journey, with different people, vibes, and challenges. I don’t really have a preference – every venue has its own special charm.

When it comes to interacting with the audience, I always try to read the crowd and build my flow based on the energy I’m feeling from them. It can be challenging at times, but it’s always exciting.

One of my recent favourite live shows was at Globus at Tresor in Berlin. I was invited by Solid Blake for her night there, and it was such an incredible experience. Everything was spot on – the crowd was amazing, and the entire lineup was insane.

For DJ sets, my recent favourite was at La Machine Du Moulin Rouge for the Nerve Collect x Timedance showcase. The crowd was wild and every performance that night was on point.

Do you feel motivated by the artist community that surrounds you? Who are some of your favourite producers/ collaborators?

Of course! Some of my favourite producers are: ZULI, 3Phaz, ABADIR, COIDO, Cocktail Party Effect, Piezo and Metrist to name a few.

Do you think functioning within a strict genre continues to define modern underground music production, or has its significance faded?

I definitely think its significance has faded, especially now that we’re seeing so many hybrids of different genres. Music is more all over the place, which makes it harder to define clear categories. Honestly, I can’t even categorise my own sound anymore.

Between touring, production and other bits, how do you balance time for the self? What’s your preferred way of winding down after a tightly packed schedule?

Honestly, after a long time away on tour, I love spending quality time with my friends and family. That said, if I’ve had a lot of interactions with people. I’ll often take some time to recharge at home. I enjoy relaxing on my own, watching shows, playing video games (sometimes that even inspires me to start making more music).

Name an album currently on repeat in your home listening sessions and any record stores / music shops / hidden gems you’d highly recommend when visiting Egypt. 

Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of ambient music at home. I find it incredibly soothing, it really grounds me and enhances my overall mood. One album I’ve been loving is ‘True‘ by Color Plus; the sound design is absolutely impeccable!

I’m not much of a record collector myself, but I’ve heard about a hidden gem in Zamalek called Mazzika Zaman. Thank you for having me :) It was an absolute pleasure, speak soon!

Photography by Kevin Christinat and Romain Guédé

TRACKLIST

1. Octoptic – Piezas [Inntra]
2. Shortage – BBM
3. Buckley – Void 19 [SPE:C]
4. Oddkut & Killa P – Can’t Do We Nothing (BLOCKLAB Remix)
5. Naco – Amaki [85acid]
6. COIDO – ?
7. Toumba – Rashash [Nervous Horizon]
8. Martini – Friendly Fire [Kindergarten]
9. uu011 – A2 [unknown-untitled]
10. Prozak – Bedroom Bully [HARDLINE]
11. Farsight – ?
12. Erotic Cafe’, KG Man – Hotta [NËU]
13. Noisia – Straight Hook (COIDO Remix)
14. Oddkut – Internal Rift [Judder]
15. Dagga x Manao – ?
16. EPROM – Trust (Headland Remix) [1985]
17. Yas Reven – Etoy (3Phaz) [Nerve Collect]
18. Dansa – ?
19. Illegal Nobility – 3am Base [Dionysian Mysteries]
20. Chloé Robinson x DJ ADHD – Last Night ft. Dumbblone [WHP Records]
21. Laksa – Wonda [re:lax]
22. BURNA – ?
23. Noodle142 – Magma [Twenty Twenty London]
24. Magugu x Le Motel – On Topper [Maloca]
25. Cash Cobain – RUMP PUNCH (Nahash BOOTLEG VII)

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