- Bangers from across the globe.
- Bahraini duo Mazen Almaskati and Vish M launched Dar Disku in 2018 with a question: how to channel heritage into dance floor elation? Well, when your label and DJ name translates to "home of the disco," the brief feels pretty self-explanatory.
In the first few years, that meant crafting edits of Khaliji hi-NRG and Bollywood soundtracks for contemporary crates. A run of radio and shows in the UK—where they currently reside—flexing deep finds from across the SWANA region helped mint their name as DJs who could ace a party. A vibrant debut LP, out in September on Soundway Records, furthers the mission.
True to form, Dar Disku's RA Podcast is stuffed with heaters from all over the map. Algeria, India, Chile, Jordan, Australia, Turkey, Libya and Morocco get a look-in, as well as a few staple acts (John Talabot, Jamal Moss & KiNK, Masalo) who the duo increasingly rub shoulders with at cherished European festivals. It's not hard to see why: RA.946 is 90 minutes of sunshine.
What have you been up to recently?
Yalla, where to start! We just finished our debut record, which comes out via Soundway Records this September. It's been two to three years in the works and features artists from all across the SWANA region, from Algeria to Bahrain, India to Egypt. It's a collaborative record in the truest sense. We even recorded a tune with the legendary Asha Puthli.
Aside from that, we've been playing a bunch of shows. We just returned from Glastonbury which was frankly life-affirming. We played three sets, including a back-to-back-to-back with Nabihah Iqbal at the newly opened Assembly stage at Silver Hayes. Seeing Bahrain flags in the crowd was a little bit surreal and it suddenly felt like all of our dreams of playing the big stages at the festival we used to watch as kids in Bahrain (a few days late on an "alternative" to iPlayer) were coming true.
We also played a fun set at San Remo and a surprise set courtesy of Soundway at HMS Sweet Charity which was feral to say the least. I mean, where else can you play mash-ups of Syrian dabke and '00 hip-hop?
How and where was the mix recorded? And can you tell us the idea behind it?
The mix was recorded where it felt most natural: at home, on our trusty E&S with a couple CDJs, a record player and tape deck line in attached. The idea was to provide a soundtrack for a night out in a utopian club back home; a place that largely exists in our heads, but could become reality. Part hedonistic, part euphoric and unapologetically raucous. This mix would be best suited to the early hours of the morning slot, where eyes are closed, arms are in the air and things are getting sweaty.
It's a 120 to 160 BPM journey, predominantly comprised of music from our home region, new cuts, Dar Disku classics, music from friends and some Arabic interpretations of "lights on" tunes at the end. A lot of the tunes feature microtonal melodies, similar to what you would hear in traditional Khaleeji music—but of course in true Dar Disku fashion, refitted for the club.
What are you looking forward to in the near future?
We're really looking forward to playing more shows this year, seeing the reaction of our record and continuing to spread the music from our region across the world. We're also looking forward to collaborating with individuals from back home—whether that's music, art, fashion or film.
What's one social or political cause you want the world to pay more attention to?
The struggle of the Palestinian people and to all those from around the world who have lost so much and have been dehumanised in the process. We hope to be a part of shining a light on the stories, art and culture that may be lost otherwise.
What's one club or party that had a major impact on you as an artist?
Hard to say given everything has been very formative for us, but from recent memory it would have to be Magnetic Fields Festival in India. We had the honour of playing the festival recently, including inside a palace as well as a back-to-back with Orpheu The Wizard. It was truly moving to see a crowd of people that looked like us sing along to songs that would otherwise be lost in translation. It's an incredibly special atmosphere there, we came back feeling uplifted and grateful for the opportunity.
トラックリストJonny Rock - Radio Morocco
Jaco - Show Some Love
Charanjit Singh - Raga Bhairav (Strange Edit)
Khaled - Chebba (Man City Mix)
Latin Layers - Latin Layers (Dar Disku Rework)
??? - ???
Mike Dunn - Acid Feet
Anunaku - Forgotten Tales
E.T.H (Italy) & Palmiz - Interstellar
DJ Plead - Get in Circle
Jamal Moss & KiNK - Spiral Galaxies with 2 Cores
Nayoo - Khawa House ft. LaEsm
Masalo - Unreleased
Orchid - Bliss 1-3
Syntrovert - Mantente Enfocada
Tsepo - Burna
A K U - Arabic Bass
Nayoo - Msh She Gdeed (VIP BTS Edit)
John Talabot - Sunrise (JT's De School Final NYD Edit)
DART - Emergency
Cheb Runner - Debka Ghaba
Dazion - Sewer Dub
The Free Music - Mathasebnish
Dar Disku - Dybali ft Yacine El Khaldi
Ferqat Ajraas - Naar Elnishama
Photo by Khris Cowley.