The rise of independent music labels in Egypt mirrors the growing interest in experimental music and speaks volumes about artists’ needs to create and be heard. Various music labels are spearheading a major cultural shift, providing a platform to support and promote emerging new artists, and challenging Egyptian music norms that use Middle Eastern tunes and instruments such as the oud, ney, mizmar, or riq. This movement is part of a broader transformation within the Middle Eastern music industry, where experimental music is reaching a broader audience of listeners. Sound of Noize Founded by producer and sound engineer, Eslam Salah, in 2019, Sound of Noize is a Cairo-based music label. It acts as a platform for artists who want to go against the current. Some of the collaborating artists include European Canon, Essperx, Hannah, Gaad, and Jana. The label consistently releases new music for local and international musicians, promoting different genres, starting with experimental music, theatrical scores, ambient themes, and field recording. NASHAZPHONE Nashazphone, an Algerian/Egyptian record label based in Cairo, was founded by Hicham Chadly in 2006. The label’s catalog of vinyl releases is known for its aesthetic and…
Spotlighting Egypt’s Independent Music Labels and Experimental Music
May 31, 2024
By Nadine Tag
Journalist
