Dualism — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s Palestinian shamstep pioneers 47SOUL.
In the music video for ‘Ghost Town’, the lead single from 47SOUL’s upcoming EP Dualism Pt. 1, a Palestinian man runs through an empty central London. He stops as he reaches Whitehall, the street that leads to the Houses of Parliament where many of the country’s government offices are, as thousands of people holding red, green, white and black flags, and ‘stop bombing Gaza’ placards, walk past.
Over a dancefloor hitting, off beat rhythm, singer Tareq Abu Kwaik (aka El Far3i) sings in a mix of English and Arabic: “My people on fire / Bring me water / occupied by alliance / This goes to my people they’re lions”.
For the shamstep pioneers – who blend space-age electronics with traditional dabke folk influences – music and politics are inseparable. Founded in 2013, their name refers to the year before the 1948 Nakba (‘catastrope’), when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homelands, with hundreds of towns and village destroyed as part of the Zionist military’s ‘War of Independence’.
Dualism Pt. 1 pays tribute to the Palestinian journalists who have continued to risk their lives to report to report on the atrocities happening inside Gaza. Ahead of its release and their fundraising launch party – where proceeds will go to the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund – we asked them to pick out some of their most cherished physical items.
Ramzy (ZthePeople): Dave Smith Instruments Mopho Keyboard
Of all the keyboards and plug-ins for lead lines and melodies, the mopho (mono-phonic) keyboard is the one we keep coming back to. Its analogue and digital combo makes designing sounds easy. From the beginning of our journey until now, we have even used it on occasion for bass.
Since we do appreciate analog instruments and we write most of our music within the world of Arabic-scales (many of which have 1/4 tones), the question: “How do we quarter tune this synth?” came up a lot. After some searching and trial and error, we found out that Karim El-Far was the guy who had a lot of answers, and was very responsive. He even made trips to the synth manufacturers to include our specific keyboards in his updated versions.
Hamza (El Jehaz): Mate Cup
Thanks to my Argentinian friends in London who introduced me to Yerba Mate, I became a devoted fan of this magnificent drink a few years ago. No matter where I am – at home, in the studio, or on tour –you can be sure my Yerba Mate kit is always with me.
Hamza (El Jehaz): OM Kalthoum Poster
This illustrated poster of the legendary Umm Kulthum – the most famous Arab singer of all time – was a gift from my friend, the Jordanian-Palestinian artist and designer Mothanna Hussein, who also played a key role in creating major designs for 47SOUL. It holds a central place in my studio, positioned right in front of me, serving as a constant source of inspiration and a reminder of her enduring artistic legacy.
Tareq (El Far3i): Lawwaha
Used by Dabke dancers sometimes, this ‘lawwaha’ was gifted to me by a dear friend and Dabke troop leader. I keep it around our gear and instruments in my studio, and use it as a multipurpose tool to start a groove or as a stress relief thing.
Dualism Pt.1 by 47SOUL is out on May 2. Tickets for the EP launch party and Palestine fundraiser at Scala on April 29 are available here.
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