Egyptian electronic duo Husa & Zeyada have announced the launch of their independent global music label, Soundscool, with a roster of regional and international artists including Vinyl Mode, Shunus and Madmotormiquel.
More than a music platform, Soundscool is, at its core, a school echoing Husa & Zeyada’s approach to music as both a creative and learning process, providing artists with a community space to explore, workshop and experiment with their sounds, with an aim to funnel a new wave of electronic music across the MENA region. “Soundscool is a playful art school; a space where sound becomes something you can learn from, experiment with, and play around,” Husa & Zeyada tell SceneNoise.
Perched amidst the Sinai mountains in the coastal city of Dahab, the label will take on a physical location at Husa & Zeyada’s own studio as a reflection of the duo’s lifestyle. “Our vision is to bring something new to the table; a blend of sound and visual art. We’re providing a platform that encourages new sounds, new ideas, and a different way of thinking about music in MENA,” Husa & Zeyada tell SceneNoise.
While the label will focus on a wide range of various genres from indie dance and minimal to organic and deep progressive house, it seems that the duo are not aiming to follow the established rules or conventions of said genres, instead, toeing with the peripheries of these sounds and reimagining them in a fresh playful way. “We are releasing lots of new music with Arabic vocals, paving the way for a new way to experience Arabic music on dancefloors in less traditional ways.”
Giving a preview of their label’s sound, the duo released ‘Are We Alive’, the title track of Soundscool’s upcoming debut EP. The EP will be released soon, featuring two remixes by Egyptian live-act producer Fulltone and Montreal-based house DJ/Producer Sinca,.“For now, the label will be focused on our own work, original tracks and remixes, so we can explore new soundscapes and ideas without external pressures,” Husa & Zeyada say.
The track portrays a certain phase in Husa & Zeyada’s musical and personal journey, reflecting on the duo’s emotional state one year into the tidal chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, with introspective lyricism inspired by global artists like Deope Lemon, The Strokes and Timbre Timbre. “We wrote it during our ‘indie’ phase while experimenting with our new bass guitar, who we now call Jimmy,” the duo shares. “It felt like being kids again, discovering an instrument that’s now become central to our sound.”
‘Are We Alive’ is now available on all streaming platforms, and you can now pre-order Soundscool’s debut EP, which will be released soon. Stay tuned for an exclusive sneak peek into Soundscool’s studio in Dahab.
