AZEEMA FM Global Sounds Presents: Myyuh

Words & Programming by Jameela Elfaki

Continuing our Global Sounds series, we welcome Myyuh to the AZEEMA FM platform! Providing us with a unique mix that is an ode to rhythms, percussive sounds and drum patterns like the darbuka with a few surprises thrown in.

“I am an Egyptian American DJ and multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY. My music and artwork often reflects a fascination and existence within the imaginary realm—meaning, I like to think of how the music I play, the sounds I gravitate towards, the paintings I create, all reflect aspects of our collective imagination. I think anyone who is an immigrant in this country is forced to be imaginative, and I think that imagination is built into the DNA of any children of immigrants as well.

Growing up, music was the strongest link between me and my cultural identity. As I grew older, I returned to the music of my youth, reconnecting to it in different ways. I think Arabic pop music has opened my mind to so many different sounds and worlds of music, and is something I will always be grateful for as an artist and as a listener. I'm always fascinated by the way a piece of art can be created for a particular audience, like say Arabic pop songs that became synonymous with wedding music, and quickly take on a new life when played in a completely different context, like a night club in Bushwick.

Beyond my ear for music, I grew up playing the violin and singing. I still play the violin, as well as a little bit of guitar, and I enjoy singing mostly for spiritual reasons. I got into DJing in 2018 after a series of difficult years, and I felt like I was ready for a different chapter of life. I had learned how to DJ at Scratch back in 2013, but never thought I could actually take what I learned and apply it to my practice as an artist. I found that DJing offered me a way to actually listen to music without multitasking, and it forced me to slow down. I struggle with slowing down, as I'm sure anyone who experiences regular anxiety can relate, and DJing allows me to meditate on music. I can focus on the different rhythms, the lyrics, the vocal patterns, and then there's a point where I stop thinking and I'm just moving from a place that feels both deeply rooted within me, and outside of me at the same time—I don't know how else to explain it “

Image #1: Me, my mom, my sister, and my brother picking apples... I mostly chose this because of how funny my brother looks, I will never get over it. He might hate me for sharing this but I think the world deserves to witness this comedy. Just because I know how to intellectualise my emotions and my art doesn't mean I haven't been and always will be, a clown. The playfulness in my mix really comes down to the fact that I never want to take my work too seriously where I don't feel like I'm having fun and making stank faces while building mixes.

“I was feeling really tired and hot while making this, but the music forced me to slow down. My controller even shut down a couple times during my session, which forced me to be patient with the music and let it just play when it was ready. (Thankfully I found the problem and solution so that the controller stopped glitching lol). This test of my patience also allowed me to experiment with different mixing techniques and samples. I almost exclusively used echo fades between songs to make it feel like each song was part of the next. I veered towards more percussive sounds in this mix because I've been feeling drawn to different types of drum patterns lately, beyond just the darbuka (which is a sound that I like to include in almost every single one of my sets). What makes this mix uniquely mine is that there are always surprises even when I'm following a very specific sound, which you'll hear with the more upbeat, pop-sounding tracks that I included. The experience of creating the mix felt like a mirror to the experience of stopping and starting so many times during this pandemic that we've all been living through—making sure that what I'm doing is aligned with my heart, and never being afraid to slow down if needed. It's a theme that's always present in my life these days and one that I give thanks for.”

Tracklist
TSVI - Darabukka
Kawtar Sadik, Mr. ID - Salat Ala Nabina (Phck Remix)
Freak De L´Afrique - Mama Eh (Jowaa "Papa Wei" Remix)
Subware - Disco Hoopla
Ahadadream - Dhol (Part 2)
Hot N' Ready - DJ SWISHA - Losing UR Mind
Moonshine - Ginseng (feat Bamao Yende)
Gafacci - AbbA - Gimme Gimme Gafacci Edit
Missy Elliott - Cool Off
Anunaku & DJ Plead - Wheele
Daytimers - Ladki Badi Anjani Hai - Daytimers UK Funky Refix
Gafacci - Three 6 Mafia - Stay Fly Gafacci Edit
TSVI/DJ JM - Aziza
Leluw Leluw Wele
Ahmed Fakroun - Nisyan (Disco Døner Edit) [HZRX]