Quartertones | Music from the Arab World

We sit down with Ahmed Alammary (otherwise known as DJ Baloo), the Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast and a leading music figure and thinker in the region. We discuss the origins of MDLBeast and its goals for transforming the music industry in Saudi Arabia and the broader region. MDLBeast was born from a brief for a three-day music festival in 2019. Since then, it has evolved into a multi-layered music brand with an ethos centered on amplifying music culture across various platforms, including events, venues, record labels, radio channels, and music conferences. Given that Saudi Arabia was previously considered a "music desert" with no industry, music education, rights, or dedicated venues, the organization's involvement is seen as having incubated so much value and accelerating the development of a music industry. The conversation also touches on the dramatic shift in how the international community views Saudi music, moving from initial backlash to a point where artists and management companies are now actively seeking collaboration. This change has fostered a significant regional conversation and is credited with fading stereotypes, with Arabs starting to look at each other differently. 0:00 When Restrictions Fuel Creativity: MDLBeast's Genesis3:50 The Chief Creative Officer’s Role in Shaping Vision6:03 Saudi Arabia as a "Music Desert" and the Lack of Infrastructure10:09 The Building Blocks of a Thriving Music Industry15:03 The Core Difference Between XP and Soundstorm18:42 Overcoming Domestic (and International) Backlash20:35 Creating a Regional "Musical Glue"22:50 The History of the Underground Saudi Music Scene27:37 The Economic and Professional Focus of the New Industry30:30 Artistry and Local Palettes: The Role of Record Labels33:25 Identifying a Unique "Saudi Sound"35:35 Beyond Electronic Music: Hip-Hop, Indie, and Heavy Metal37:45 The 10-Year Vision: Saudi As a Music Destination40:30 Culture Building Over Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)46:37 Navigating Censorship Through Creativity51:38 Potholes to Avoid: The Double-Edged Sword of Ambition Ahmed Alammary aka AlBaloo is the Label Head and DJ at Gabu Records and Chief Creative Officer of MDLBeast, and a leading music figures and thinkers in Saudi Arabia. Connect with Baloo 👉 https://instagram.com/a_baloo Hosted by Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://instagram.com/mikey_mu FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Oud player, singer and musician Huda Asfour takes the stage on Habibi Festival's fifth and last night of 2025, performing new tracks she wrote during the genocidal campaign on Gaza, and a track called "From the River to the Sea" which she Wrote as a response to the May 18, 2021 strike in Palestine. The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet also take the stage for a second night this festival. 0:00:00 Huda Asfour Takes the Stage With Her Oud0:09:48 Asfour Introduces a New Track 0:14:10 Asfour Performs More Tracks From She Wrote During the Genocidal Campaign on Gaza0:31:37 Asfour Performs a Track She Write "From the River to the Sea" As a Response to the May 18, 2021 Strike in Palestine0:36:19 The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet Takes the Stage for a Second Night This Festival With New Track "Teach Me"0:49:47 Mohamed Abozekry Celebrates The Sextet's Last Show in Their US Tour and Introduces the Musicians on Stage0:51:00 The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet Perform Another New Track: "Still Longing"0:59:08 More Tracks From the Sextet1:08:22 "Roh El Fouad" Track from the Latest Album With the Same Name1:23:38 Performance Continues2:12:00 afikra Quartertones Takes the Stage for a Conversation with Huda Asfour Huda Asfour is a Palestinian oud and qanun player, composer, educator, social entrepreneur, and engineer. Born into a musical family, she began her formal musical training at 13, and later studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Gaza and the Edward Said Music Conservatory in Ramallah, where she was mentored.Connect with Huda Asfour 👉 https://instagram.com/hudasmusicMohamed Abozekry is a Franco-Egyptian musician who entered the Arabic Oud House in Cairo at a very early age and received his teaching from Naseer Shamma. At the age of fifteen, he became the youngest professor of Oud in the Arab world. He formed several groups, including the Mohamed Abozekry Sextet and received the first prize at the international Oud competition in Damascus in 2009. In 2010 he formed the quartet Heejaz which also includes Guillaume Hogan (guitar), Anne Laure Bourget (percussion) and Hugo Reydet (double bass). Connect with  Mohamed Abozekry 👉 https://instagram.com/m.abozekry Hosted by Hiba Al-Ashtal FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the fourth night of Habibi Festival 2025, Sudanese artist Mai Elgizouli takes the stage with a dynamic, deeply emotional first "serious" show in New York performing a set of acoustic songs that explore themes of sadness, power, and hope, including a deeply personal tribute to her late brother and the strong women of Sudan. She follows with a nuanced and candid conversation with afikra Quarertones, joined by celebrated Sudanese musician Alsarah. They discuss their long-standing friendship and artistic collaboration and delve into May’s journey from visual artist to musician, the unexpected amount of work required for a professional set, and the immense privilege of having a family that provides a space for emotional and artistic expression in a place like Sudan. They also reflect on how being in New York and witnessing the current war has impacted Mai’s work, concluding with a powerful message for the audience: to simply feel their feelings. Palestinian musician Rasha Nahas also takes the stage for a second night in this year's festival. 0:00 Mai Elgizouli Performs a Tribute to Her Brother: "Ba'eed 'an Al Ahzan" (Far From Sorrows)4:40 Performing "Ramadi" (Gray)10:47 Mai Introduces Her Band & Performs "Al Gawiyya": a Song for Strong Women & the Sudanese Revolution17:20 Performing "Bi Darbi Ma Bamshi" (Never Down That Path Again) 23:34 Performing "Shabah" (Ghost)29:32 Performing "Al Furaq": the First Song She Wrote37:06 Rasha Nahas Takes the Stage for a Second Night43:57 Rasha Nahas Introduces the Band & Performs "Desert" From Her First Album50:09 Rasha Nahas Performs "The Clown"56:46 Rasha Nahas Performs "Nbeed" (Wine)1:02:24 Rasha Nahas Performs an Unreleased New Song "Khalas" From an Album Which Will be Out Next Year1:07:13 Rasha Nahas Performs Her Latest Single "Ghanneeli" (A Song Written During the Genocide in Gaza)1:14:00 Rasha Nahas Performs Another Unreleased Song: "Once Upon a Time in Palestine"1:24:20 afikra Quartertones Invites Mai Elgizouli and Special Guest Alsarah on Stage1:26:05 Alsarah’s Obsession and Mai’s Artistic Mastery1:29:13 Mai’s First "Serious Show" in New York1:30:58 Family Support & Surviving Trauma in Sudan1:33:36 Art, Critique & Dealing With War While in New York1:37:37 The Message: Feel Your Feelings Mai Elgizouli is an award-winning film director and multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Omdurman, Khartoum in a family of artists. Her music carries the tenderness of Sudanese Arabic and the nostalgic pulse of Sudan's 1980s sound.Connect with Mai Elgizouli 👉 https://instagram.com/mai_egizouli Hosted by Suzanne Gaber 👉 https://instagram.com/suzannegaber FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Day 3 at Habibi Festival 2025 brings two boundary-pushing Arab artists: Iraqi-American visual artist-turned-musician Maryam Turkey and Egyptian oud player Mohamed Abozekry. They discuss their artistic journeys, creative transitions, and their unique collaborative processes. Turkey details her move into music in New York, where she found a more playful and collaborative creative space. She discusses her new album, which innovatively revives classical Arabic themes of love and lust by repurposing lyrics from forgotten Iraqi folk music. Abozekry reflects on his rapid musical development starting with Naseer Shamma at Arabic Oud House. He shares the challenges and rewards of evolving from a strictly instrumentalist role to embracing singing and composition, which has allowed for a new phase of creative fun and experimentation in his work. The artists share their conceptual themes, from Turkey's exploration of inspiration and freedom in "Ahlam" to Abozekry's method of refining new compositions through touring.  0:00:00 Performance by Maryam Turkey and Band0:36:23 afikra Quartertones Invites the Two Musicians on Stage for a Conversation0:37:24 Maryam Turkey's Childhood in Iraq & Transition from Visual Art to Music 0:39:39 Mohamed Abozekry's Journey with the Oud0:42:13 The Joy of Creative Collaboration0:45:26 Maryam's Latest Album: Reusing Iraqi Folk Lyrics0:48:17 Mohamed's Roh El Fouad Album & Using Touring To Try New Arrangements0:49:36 Maryam's Ahlam: Conceptual Themes, Freedom & Lust0:52:20 The Mohamed Abozekry Sextet Takes the Stage2:07:35 afikra Quartertones Invites the Two Musicians on Stage Mohamed Abozekry is a Franco-Egyptian musician who entered the Arabic Oud House in Cairo at a very early age and received his teaching from Naseer Shamma. At the age of fifteen, he became the youngest professor of Oud in the Arab world. He formed several groups, including the Mohamed Abozekry Sextet and received the first prize at the international Oud competition in Damascus in 2009. In 2010 he formed the quartet Heejaz which also includes Guillaume Hogan (guitar), Anne Laure Bourget (percussion) and Hugo Reydet (double bass). Connect with  Mohamed Abozekry 👉 https://instagram.com/m.abozekryMaryam Turkey is an Iraqi-American artist and designer based in Brooklyn, New York. In 2009, she moved with her family as refugees to the United States, where she attended Baltimore School for the Arts high school and learned traditional painting. She continued her art and design education at Pratt Institute, where she earned her Bachelor of Industrial Design in 2017. Shortly after graduation, Turkey was awarded an art residency at Domaine de Boisbuchet where she was mentored by Sabine Marcelis. Turkey’s sculptural practice began then. In 2019 she was awarded an art residency at the Museum of Art and Design, where she developed her ongoing paper clay techniques. She has recently made a transition to a career in music as a singer-songwriter. Connect with Maryam Turkey 👉 https://instagram.com/maryamturkey Hosted by Daleelah Saleh Egyptian-American multi-hyphenate creative, passionate about storytelling at the intersections of culture, activism, and media.Connect with Daleelah Saleh 👉 https://instagram.com/medialeelah FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Experience day two of the fifth edition of Habibi Festival, hosted at Joe’s Pub in Brooklyn. The evening begins with the festival co-founders, Yacine Boulares and Meera Dugal, welcoming the audience and reflecting on the festival’s mission of celebrating the living, breathing music, culture, and traditions of the Arab region and actively combating their "museumification." The night features contemporary Egyptian artist Maii Waleed in her second appearance this year, joined by a New York-based band, followed by the critically acclaimed Palestinian rock star, composer, and guitarist Rasha Nahas. Following her powerful performance, Nahas sits down with afikra for a Q&A discussing the impact of the last two years on her creative process, her upcoming bilingual album, and how her multi-generational family history and connection to the land directly influence her music, especially in her unreleased track, "Once Upon a Time in Palestine." 0:00 Welcome to Day 2 of the 5th Habibi Festival at Joe's Pub0:49 The Mission: Combating the "Museumification" of Arab Culture1:35 Habibi Festival's Partnership with Celebrate Brooklyn and afikra3:48 Maii Waleed Takes the Stage with Her All-American Band 12:45 Maii Waleed Performs "Neptune" (On Losing Hope and Silver Lining)21:04 Maii Waleed Performs "Louloua" 25:22 Maii Waleed Performs "Ehdefini" (Throw Me Out of This System)30:06 Maii Waleed Performs Her Last Two Tracks 39:53 Rasha Nahas Takes the Stage: How to Survive Whole as a Victim47:17 Rasha Nahas Performs "Desert" From her Debut Record52:19 Shukran and Invitation to Dance/Cry56:34 Rasha Nahas Performs "War"59:36 Rasha Nahas Performs "Nbeed" (Wine)1:04:19 Rasha Nahas Performs a New, Unreleased Song1:09:26 Rasha Nahas Performs "Ghanneeli" (Latest Single)1:16:39 Rasha Nahas Performs "Once Upon a Time in Palestine" (Unreleased)1:24:41 Rasha Nahas Performs "The Skies Don't Care" (First Song Written at 17, in Jerusalem)1:31:06 afikra Quartertones Interviews Rasha Nahas on Stage1:33:18 Discussing the New Bilingual Album and its Themes1:34:04 The Multi-Generational Trauma and Shared Story of Palestinians1:35:46 The Indigenous Connection to Land is Not a Cliché1:36:40 Rasha Nahas on How the Last Two Years Shattered the Soul and Influenced Art1:39:41 The Influence of Berlin's Weimar Era Cabaret on Her Music1:42:30 Recording the Amrat Album in the Occupied Golan Heights1:44:41 Life in New York City and the New Energy of Her Local Band1:46:00 Future Goals: Community, Family, Health, and Releasing Soulful Music Maii Waleed is a singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist born and raised in Alexandria. She was once a part of Telepoetic, an Electro-Rock Egyptian band performing their first gig on 100live music festival for electronic arts. She dropped her first album, Moga, in 2013 which was produced with Zeid Hamdan. Over the years Maii had collaborated with various artists in her community as well as internationally. In the year 2015 she released tracks with Jordanian electronica trio Zaed Naes. That was later followed by a couple of EPs with Zeid Hamdan within the umbrella of their collaboration project Maii and Zeid. Connect with Maii Waleed 👉 https://instagram.com/maiiwaleeedRasha Nahas is a multifaceted Palestinian artist known for her distinctive approach to songwriting, storytelling, and performance. A singer, composer, actress, and instrumentalist, she has a unique sound that is rooted in her early training in classical guitar and her formative years in Haifa's underground music scene. Her genre-defying style weaves the traditional and popular music influences of her homeland with the raw intensity of electric rock. Her 2021 debut album Desert chronicled her journey from Haifa to Berlin. Her second album, Amrat, was released in 2023 via UK label Cooking Vinyl, marking her first foray into Arabic language lyrics, exploring the thematic duality of urban and rural life. Recorded at 67 Studio in the occupied Golan Heights and featuring contributions from leading lights of Palestine's indie scene, its success secured tours across Europe, South America, the UK and West Asia.Connect with Rasha Nahas 👉 https://instagram.com/rasha_nahas Hosted by Tarik ZahrTarik Zahr is a afikra ambassador, born in Lebanon, raised in the UAE and currently in the US, getting his PhD at Columbia University in Molecular Pharmacology. He works in the Medical Campus' Diabetes Center focusing on fatty liver disease and cholesterol metabolism. He has a huge interest in Arab and SWANA history, food, and music, and is curious about his Druze faith.Connect with Tarik Zahr 👉 https://instagram.com/adventuresoftartarsauce  FOLLOW & RATE THE QUARTERTONES PODCAST:» Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-quartertones/id1646407556» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26VHvC6yVOxlRFjeOts6uf» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639452THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK Explore all episodes in this series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7FiLcdH_iSgv4RiXEy4GAhABOUT AFIKRAafikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.