Brooklyn-based duo Bedouin formed by Rami Abousabe and Tamer Malki brings a new saga to Pacha Ibiza every Wednesday. Electric Mode was invited to get an exclusive interview covering everything from their music inspiration, culture, and what they have in store for the Bedouin brand together with BBC 3 presenter and Kakura DJ, Amber Haque.
How does it feel to finally be here this summer at Pacha – what makes it unique as a venue for you?
As you might imagine…It feels amazing to be back in Ibiza. The last couple of years have been intense for so many people, it’s great to see everyone back together and sharing space again…
Pacha recently did a renovation, how have those changes felt for you guys over the first few shows?
It’s one of the best clubs in the world for us and for so many…The layout, the multilevel setup, the authenticity and history of the building, the sound and vibe in there…it’s a timeless venue that so much love was put into evolving it to what it is today.
You’ve described this as “Saga 2.0” after you guys finished your residency at Heart and brought it here. In what ways do you feel the night has evolved and changed for your installation this year?
It evolved in many ways… Imagine the initial Saga theme of surrealism, psychedelic theatricals and the artistic direction that stems from the past and hints to the future… Now, supersize the experience 10 times over. That’s how I can describe Bedouin’s Saga 2022…The music is the soul of this night and will always remain so, the performers are a central part of the experience along with every single element that we added to Pacha for our Wednesdays to create an exceptional experience.
Heading into the venue for Saga tonight, in my opinion it feels like a truly holistic experience and a 360 storytelling experience from the off. Futuristic, meets energetic circus, meets a journey back to our nomadic roots. Talk me through the elements of the theatre and the sensory elements of the Saga night?
Most of our performers team from the start of our Saga events have migrated to Pacha along with us and we even recruited more to this mad circus along the way…We transform the venue every Wednesday into another world built on the already authentic original setup of Pacha.
Saga means “story” – what stories from your upbringing and lives do you bring to your residency and your music more generally?
Saga is a series of stories…which describes the journey of this event series we started back in 2017. Much of our inspiration came long ago from the Subliminal days .. we of course learned a tremendous amount from these records of Harry Romero and the whole crew. Morillo really taught us how to really DJ. That’s the story we are bringing back into the night…blended with our fresh treats… it’s like the past and the future having a baby
Your line-ups for this season are incredibly eclectic – from huge names such as Pete Tong, Damian Lazarus, Black Coffee (and even landing a Deep Dish reunion!) all the way to more upcoming artists like Capoon. How have you approached curating the line-ups?
We sought after a mix of artists who inspired us as DJs throughout our lives…along with new artists who we feel are some of the top producers and songwriters of current times.
You pair are spending this summer constantly on the road, traveling and performing all across Europe and beyond. When your plane hits the tarmac in Ibiza every week, what makes this island so different and unique in your opinion?
Well for an island it seems to have everything you need which is rare. Most Islands need to feed off of some mainland. This one is fully sustainable and flourishing with its very own fruit. Also music is the focus of the island. So everywhere you go…you’re surrounded by people with similar interests. Also, we find that we have met some of the most interesting people and learn a tremendous amount each season.
You guys are New Yorkers, no doubt used to the fast-paced, frantic, city energy – what do you get from the slower, Mediterranean lifestyle when you come here for the summer?
New York will always be home, but we moved to Miami recently. It’s always great to have the balance between living in a city half of the year and on an island the other half. It balances the energy and levels in some ways.
As a listener to your productions, I can’t help but feel they connect us with the mystical, something beyond the mundanity of everyday life – is that how you feel when you’re creating the sounds?
We create the music that we feel.. It starts there. That feeling could come anytime from anywhere…that’s the beauty of making music.. It has a purpose that makes sense after its made and shared with the world.
You guys joined forces in 2012 – happy 10 year anniversary of Bedouin! How has this journey been for you as a duo? How does your “ying-and-yang” work in terms of the energies you both bring?
Actually you’re close 🙂 but Bedouin as a duo, officially took shape and was introduced to the world in 2013. So next year will be the 10th anniversary.
The key is to be able to collaborate together naturally as a duo in the studio and on the road. It’s like a band…we treat it like that.
Your label Human by Default launched 2 years ago and has produced a really tantalizing array of productions, from around the world. What are you looking for on the label?
Human By Default, is centered around artists that create their own music, that are musicians, moving sonically forward. We mainly sign artists who we somehow either establish a personal connection with or with their music.
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