10 Podcasts Championing the Music of the Middle East

When you listen to a good track, it evokes something in you that can’t be described. The same principle holds true to an excellently produced podcast— especially when it's meshed with music. Music podcasts cover an array of topics, and allow you to absorb knowledge with virtually no effort and in very little time. Go behind the scenes with up-and-coming artists, discover new talents, or learn how to break into the business with these 10 music podcasts from the Middle East for your ears only.

Dom Tak Telling the stories of Arabic music, this podcast series takes you through every genre of music practiced in the region. Produced by Sowt, the same entity which produces sociocultural podcasts Eid and Masaha, the podcast tells us about those who played a part in shaping the Arab world’s musical history, and those who are adapting newer, foreign genres to it. Click here.<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/playlists/753468207&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sowtpodcasts" title="Sowt | صوت" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Sowt | صوت</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sowtpodcasts/sets/domtak" title="Dom Tak | دُمْ تَكْ" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Dom Tak | دُمْ تَكْ</a></div>

TAQS.IM Founded by TAQS.IM, a resource for Middle Eastern sound libraries, learning tools, among other things for music connoisseurs, the self-titled podcast delves into Arabic, Assyrian, Balk, Kurdish, Persian, and Turkish music, performances and discussions. Click here. <iframe width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/747nWBZZdjE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hiya Hosted by Shirine Saad, Hiya is the all-female music podcast that brings on some of the most unique and eloquent women in the Arab music world. The series consists of interviews with a variety of artists from different genres, including Zeyada, rapper Felukah, Aya Metwalli, Meryem Saci, among others. Follow Shirine Saad for more. <iframe width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ewMsDXELKJ0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Buckle Up with Big Hass Hosted by Hass Dennaoui, aka Big Hass, Buckle Up is a podcast series of interviews with musicians and entertainers about their work. There’s just one catch— they’re also on a drive. It’s kind of like James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke a la podcast. Click here for more. <iframe width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqbzWzy7u3w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

#OHFTW Lebanese-Canadian Allan Chaaraoui (of Lazzy Lung fame) goes live with who he describes as the most “gnarly and electric” guests from a variety of industries, with many of his interviewees being musicians from Beirut and beyond. Available wherever you listen to your podcasts. 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Electronic Music Man Hosted by James Locksmith, Electric Music Man is aimed at young men aspiring to advance their DJing careers or work in touring, events, music curation, and talent broking. He breaks down tools, methods, tactics, and resources to help you navigate the electronic music business and brings on experts from the Middle East. Find out more here. <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFqnwHJ56e/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFqnwHJ56e/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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3ally El Mazzika This Egyptian podcast hosted by Mohammed Mashaly takes on a different mood with each episode. Listen to Arabic songs, chat about them, and get access to exclusive playlists curated by Mashaly. Find out more on the podcast here. <iframe width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F1WUMl8V3G4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Wallah Miaow Abood Aladham takes on some of the region’s up-and-coming musicians and change makers and talks us through the business of music in the Middle East. The Jordanian show’s episodes are a series of interviews that take you through genres, initiatives, collectives, and different jobs in the industry. Follow the podcast here. <iframe width="800" height="450" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YWK-KKTlyqE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Radio MelaMim This Iranian podcast series discusses independent music exclusively. Each episode aims at introducing underground artists and bands, focusing particularly on rock. Radio MelaMim started operating as an independent media entity in January 2018, and has since added several other podcasts to their roster. Head to the podcast's official website for more. <iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/390248151&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/melamim" title="MelaMim" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">MelaMim</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/melamim/zirzamin7" title="آوازهای زیرزمین قسمت هفتم - قسمت سوم از مقدمه سوم(داریوش و گوگوش)‌‏" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">آوازهای زیرزمین قسمت هفتم - قسمت سوم از مقدمه سوم(داریوش و گوگوش)‌‏</a></div>

The Music Elevator   Hosted by London-based concert organiser and cultural platform MARSM, The Music Elevator brings on some of the finest independent artists from the Arab world including Ghalia Benali, TootArd, Emel Mathlouthi, Tarek Yamani, among other talents. Artists discuss their releases, tell their stories, and take you behind their music-making process. Head to the MARSM website for more. <iframe width="100%" height="120" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?hide_cover=1&feed=%2FMarsmUK%2Fmarsm-music-elevator-2-with-ghalia-benali%2F" frameborder="0" ></iframe>