- An Arab wedding classic from Saad El Soghayar bolstered with blazing jungle breaks.
- There's no shortage of breakbeat ragers coming out of Melbourne these days. The likes of Moktar, DJ Plead, Sleep D and dj pgz have amassed a hefty stockpile of percussive missiles with rubbery basslines that just don't quit. Egyptian-Australian producer Moktar, in particular, has been going from strength to strength with every release, showcasing his skill for taut drum patterns. His self-titled debut EP from 2021 paired Arabic instrumentation with bassy techno, a lethal combination that he fine-tuned on his follow-up, Immigrant, the following year.
On his latest single, "Haraka," he expands his horizons to jungle. Built around the 2006 single "Hatgawez" by famed Egyptian singer and actor Saad El Soghayar, this 160 BPM banger layers El Soghayar's vocals atop jazzy chords, breakneck percussion and siren synths. "Hatgawez," Moktar describes in the release notes, is one of the most played tracks at Arab weddings. Embellished with badass jungle and hints of 2-step, it makes a guaranteed party-starter.