What Dance Music is the Middle East Listening to?
It's fairly easy to gauge the popularity of local music and artists, but what are music fans listening to when it comes to international artists? Because we simply had to find out, we teamed up with streaming platform, Anghami, to discover what techno and electronica music the Arab world is hooked on. Granted, there are a few eyebrow-raisers in their that will have some facepalming, but there are some absolute gems and legends in there that gives us hope for the future...

Whilst over the years a plethora of online music platforms have become the go-to place for rushed AUX DJ sets at house parties all over the Middle East, it turns out that Lebanon-born streaming app Anghami isn't just for Amr Diab classics and Marshmellow mash ups. On the contrary, the platform has an unrivaled catalog of dance music with every DJ and producer on your radar streaming through the app and they even have a whole host of niche segmented playlists from Latin House to Melodic Techno to Chilltronica that have become uber popular. This then got us thinking; what is the Arab world listening to to get their rave fix? What are we low-key head-nodding to at work? Who are we insisting will take the a3da up a notch? Who are we fistpumping to with the window open on a cruzaat?
Well we hit up Anghami to find answers to these burning questions and discover who and what we in the Middle East are listening to most when it comes to techno and electronica. First and foremost, it seems the region hasn't totally divulged into the harder side of Techno, with more melodic producers taking the top spots such as Jan Blomqvist and Workals, ahead of the likes of Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens. On the other hand, we are apparently totally into Aphex Twin - who figured?
It's also interesting to note that artists who are often booked to play in the Middle East, such as Deborah De Luca and Boris Brejcha, are also high up on listeners’ rankings, which goes to show the importance in live music and making an impression in today's digitally driven age. Take a gander at the lists below and let us know on social media if any of your favorites made the list.
Rankings are based on the amount of individual plays through Anghami.
TOP 20 TECHNO ARTISTS
1. ARTBAT
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1957169/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/132378/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
3. WORAKLS
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/98612/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
4. JAN BLOMQVIST
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/341003/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
5. BORIS BREJCHA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/925196/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
6. FADY FERRAYE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/279346/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
7. DEBORAH DE LUCA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1138978/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
8. RECONDITE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/351501/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
9. ENRICO SANGIULIANO
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/324981/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
10. VICTOR RUIZ
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/95164/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
11. MARK DEKODA
12. SAM PAGANINI
13. AMELIE LENS
14. CHARLOTTE DE WITTE
15. JORIS VOORN
16. RENIER ZONNEVELD
17. MIND AGAINST
18. FAKE MOOD
19. KEVIN DE VRIES
20. KOLSCH
TOP 20 TECHNO TRACKS
1. DENIS HORVAT FT. LELAH - NOISE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/48452028/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
2. SAM PAGANINI - RAVE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/13116453/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
3. TALE OF US - ERROR ERROR
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/33313582/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
4. KEVIN DE VRIES - ARATAK
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/41480319/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
5. OLIVER HUNTEMANN - SCHATTEN
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/50161783/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
6. ALEX STEIN - EL DORADO
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/36335290/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
7. HENRY SAIZ - SPHYNX
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/12982974/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
8. RAFAEL CERATO, LUNAR PLANE - TRESOR
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/41220335/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
9. WEHBBA - PROCESS
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/38117502/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
10/ NINA KRAVITZ - GHETTO KRAVITZ
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/60700085/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
11. JOEY BELTRAM - CAN YOU FEEL IT
12. WORAKLS - BY THE BROOK
14. FADY FERRAYE, EL TOPO - IGNITE
14. JON HOPKINS - SINGULARITY (ANNA REMIX)
15. NICOLE MOUDABER - ROAR
16. MOBY - POWER IS TAKEN
17. BOXIA - UNDER THE BRIDGE
18. ANNA - HIDDEN BEAUTIES
19. PAULA TEMPLE - RAGING EARTH
20. I_O - SYSTEM ERROR
TOP 20 ELECTRONICA ARTISTS
1. MASSIVE ATTACK
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/22771/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
2. APPARAT
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/50913/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
3. APHEX TWIN
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/11866/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
4. THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/109342/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
5. HOOVERPHONIC
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/2846/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
6. EMIKA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/1004528/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
7. MOME
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/942710/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
8. NICOLAS JAAR
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/103893/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
9. PORTISHEAD
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/91164/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
10. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/artist/28462/?theme=fulldark&&layout=list&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=450 ></iframe>
11. YKSOPP
12. METRONOMY
13. PARRA FOR CUVA
14. THIEVERY CORPORATION
15. JON HOPKINS
16. SHKOON
17. CHROMATICS
18. NETSKY
19. BRIAN ENO
20. THE PRODIGY
TOP 20 ELECTRONICA TRACKS
1. APPARAT - GOODBYE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/1050464/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
2. M83 - WAIT
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/17081619/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
3. SHKOON FT. ELFAR3I - RIMA
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/62065203/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
4. DAFT PUNK FT. JULIAN CASABLANCA - INSTANT CRUSH
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/2139499/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
5. KONOBA FT. R.O - ON OUR KNEES
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/25719338/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
6. MARIAN HILL - DOWN
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/14906229/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
7. APHEX TWIN - AVRIL 14TH
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/59660694/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
8. MASSIVE ATTACK FT. HOPE SANDOVAL - THE SPOILS
<iframe src = "https://widget.anghami.com/song/15826819/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling = "no" frameborder = "0" width = 600 height = 190> </iframe>
9. JAMES BLAKE - RETROGRADE
<iframe src="https://widget.anghami.com/song/1661774/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" width=600 height=190 ></iframe>
10. MOBY - PORCELAIN
<iframe src = "https://widget.anghami.com/song/1198355/?theme=fulldark&&layout=wide&&lang=en" scrolling = "no" frameborder = "0" width = 600 height = 190> </iframe>
11. KRUDER & DORFMEISTER - ROLLIN ON CHROME
12. FLUME FT. TORO Y MOI - THE DIFFERENCE
13. THE BUTCHER'S BRIDE - LIPSYNC
14. PORTISHEAD - GLORY BOX
15. TRENTMOLLER - BLUE SEPTEMBER
16. TALE OF US - RICORDI
17. HELLO PSYCHALEPPO - TARAB DUB
18. RHYE - OPEN
19. JON HOPKINS - SMALL MEMORY
20 NICOLAS JAAR - SPACE IS ONLY NOISE IF YOU CAN SEE
Check out more music on Anghami.
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