The Trippin Mixes, Vol. 27: ABADIR

    ABADIR
    © Omar Elkafrawy

    Share

    The Egyptian producer recreates a 90s summer with this infectiously fun mix of chart-topping hits.

    Across Egypt's diasporic underground scene, artists have been morphing various genres into new mutations. Take, for example, Cairo-based producer 3Phaz who's one of the driving forces behind Egypt's post-shaabi movement. Another example is ABADIR: a Cairo-born and Berlin-based producer crafting bassy, club mutations from a panoply of Arabic rhythms. He's part of a movement of artists from the Arab world fusing traditional rhythms with global genres to create club belters that have one foot in the past and the other in the future. For ABADIR, mutation is one of the overarching themes within his work.

    This is most clearly demonstrated on his landmark release on SVBKVLT in 2022, entitled Mutate. The LP celebrated the Shanghai label's 50th release with nine heavyweight tracks designed to be deployed as club ammunition. Across the release, ABADIR incorporates the sounds of Jersey club, reggaeton and footwork, weaving them with Arabic percussions.

    Read ABADIR's guide on where to eat in Cairo

    His newly-announced album, Ison, marks SVBKVLT's 60th release and it sees the producer chart off into a different direction: creating transcendent, choral sounds that feel more attuned to the morning after the club than the night itself. It presents ABADIR's vision of a contemporary Sunday mass, inspired by Coptic chants and Syriac hymns – the latter influenced by his time spent at a Syriac community club he used to visit with his parents on Sundays and in the summer. Musically, ABADIR evokes the works of Bach and Steve Reich on Ison, and weaves in field recordings of not only Coptic and Syriac sounds but also Maronite, Greek Orthodox and Catholic choirs.

    On his Trippin Mix, ABADIR reminisces over his past summers – particularly those of the 90s. Here, the producer once again demonstrates his breadth of tastes, veering away from chants and hymns to the dopamine-soaring hits that climbed the charts. It's crafted from precisely 50 tracks that journey through pop, Eurodance, trance, house and more. "I consider fun an essential factor when it comes to making music, listening and dancing," he writes. "We somehow miss the fun element. Now That’s What I Call Fun!"

    Tracklist

    1. Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice
    2. Stereo MCs – Connected
    3. Deee-Lite – Groove Is in the Heart
    4. Adamski – Killer
    5. Robin S – Luv 4 Luv
    6. Nightcrawlers – Push the Feeling On
    7. The Bucketheads – The Bomb
    8. Everything But the Girl – Missing (Todd Terry Remix)
    9. Sisqo – Thong Song
    10. The Course – Ain’t Nobody
    11. Mousse T. – Horny ‘98
    12. Madison Avenue – Don’t Call Me Baby
    13. Moloko – Sing It Back
    14. Spiller ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)
    15. Modjo – Lady (Hear Me Tonight)
    16. Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
    17. Phats & Small – Turn Around
    18. Bamboo – Bamboogie
    19. Wildchild – Renegade Master
    20. Double 99 – RIP Groove
    21. Tina Moore – Never Gonna Let You Go (Artful Dodger Mix)
    22. Sweet Female Attitude – Flowers
    23. Shanks & Bigfoot – Sweet Like Chocolate
    24. Gala – Freed from Desire
    25. David Morales Presents The Face – Needin’ U
    26. Armand Van Helden ft. Duane Harden – You Don’t Know Me
    27. The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl
    28. Opus III – It’s a Fine Day
    29. Chicane ft. Moya Brennan – Saltwater
    30. Ultra Naté – Free
    31. Corona – The Rhythm of the Night
    32. Livin’ Joy – Don’t Stop Movin’
    33. La Bouche – Be My Lover
    34. Jamiroquai – Canned Heat
    35. Sonique – It Feels So Good
    36. Ann Lee – 2 Times
    37. DJ Quicksilver – Bellisima
    38. Alice Deejay – Better Off Alone
    39. Sash! – Encore Une Fois
    40. ATB – 9 PM (Till I Come)
    41. The Underdog Project – Summer Jam (DJ F.R.A.N.K.’s Summermix Short)
    42. Paradisio – Bailando
    43. The Prodigy – No Good (Start the Dance)
    44. Faithless – Insomnia
    45. Underworld – Born Slippy
    46. Goldie – Inner City Life
    47. The All Seeing I – Beat Goes On
    48. Touch & Go – Would You?
    49. Roni Size / Reprazent – Brown Paper Bag
    50. Apollo 440 – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Dub