Ahmed Alammary aka Baloo - a Saudi-born DJ/producer as well as the Chief Creative Officer of the global creative platform and multi-events brand MDLBEAST - is one of the main creative powerhouses in the kingdom, a man who has become synonymous with the rise of Saudi Arabia’s electronic music scene. As a former agency creative strategist, Baloo has been playing a pivotal role in shaping organisations’ ambitious endeavours throughout the region, including the annual Saudi mega festival, Soundstorm, Balad BEAST music festivals, the establishment of MDLBEAST Records, and the coordination of the annual music industry conference, XP Music Futures.
As a veteran DJ and producer himself, Baloo has been actively pushing the Saudi underground scene for decades, garnering a reputation for his expertly crafted minimal and groovy house sets that seamlessly transition from sublime to downright gritty. His sets have traversed stages in multiple prominent clubs, venues and festivals across the globe, from Bahrain and Beirut to Berlin, London, Boston and beyond. Continuously seeking new avenues to spread joy through music, Baloo recently launched a new label and event concept, Gabu, hosting underground house pop-up parties across Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, curated by himself.
In this edition of XP Conversations Saudi Spotlight, Baloo discusses how the rhythmic nature of the Kingdom’s music culture, MDLBEAST’s groundwork and efforts, as a multi-brand entity, in sowing the seeds for the next generation of Saudi creatives and artists, as well as its unwavering commitment to upgrading and improving the region’s underground scene.