{
  "id": 4090980,
  "title": "'There’s no such thing as an Arab sound': Meet the DJ spotlighting the Middle East’s underground music",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-arab-sound-meet-the-dj-spotlighting-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-29T03:04:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music-stage/2026/08/29/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-arab-sound-meet-the-dj-spotlighting-the-middle-easts-underground-music/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Egyptian writer, DJ, and radio host Nihal Al Aasar is dedicated to uncovering alternative narratives and capturing the cultural pulse of the Middle East's diverse communities. Raised in Cairo, she now lives in London, where her work responds to the region's changes, wars, and socio-economic issues over the past 15 years. Combining her love for writing and music, Al Aasar uses radio as a platform to fuse both worlds.\n\nAt a dinner party in 2022, she discovered NTS Radio, an international music community founded in 2011 in London. She started with guest appearances on shows, eventually landing her first gig as a resident DJ. Her show, \"Nile to Bank,\" delves into traditional DJ sets, art-oriented performances, and experimental selections that span various genres from across the Middle East.\n\nAl Aasar emphasizes that there is no singular \"Arab sound.\" She aims to represent underground contemporary music scenes from different Arab countries, highlighting the vibrant music scenes that often go unrecognized in the West. Her radio platform, Nile to Bank, serves as an extension of her worldview, inviting guests and activists to discuss regional issues while showcasing various musical styles like deep industrial breakbeat, techno, Mahraganat, rap, and electronic music.\n\nBy presenting a multifaceted practice that encompasses music, art, and cultural commentary, Al Aasar offers a fresh perspective on the Middle East's complex cultural landscape. She believes that art and music don't exist in isolation and that politics can be intertwined with everyday life, drawing inspiration from historical figures like Umm Kulthum, who used her concerts to support the war effort.",
  "summary": "From essays on geopolitics to music sets that highlight hidden Arab talents, Egyptian writer, DJ and radio host Nihal Al Aasar is all about unearthing alternative narratives and capturing the cultural pulse of the region’s diverse communities . Raised in Cairo and now based in London, she writes in response to the many changes, wars and socio-economic issues sweeping the Middle East over the past…",
  "key_points": [
    "Nihal Al Aasar is Egyptian writer, DJ, and radio host",
    "Nile to Bank showcases underground Middle Eastern music",
    "Art and politics intertwine in Al Aasar's cultural commentary"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Nihal Al Aasar's radio platform and DJ work challenge dominant Western perceptions of the Middle East's cultural landscape by highlighting diverse, underground music scenes often overlooked in the region.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "'There’s no such thing as an Arab sound': Meet the DJ spotlighting the Middle East’s underground music",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-arab-sound-meet-the-dj-spotlighting-the-4093212",
        "published": "2026-08-29T03:04:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}