Has the techno industry failed Palestine?
Sama', the world's most famous Palestinian DJ, talks about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and how the music industry—and some of her peers in techno—have failed Palestine.
The most deeply divisive topic of the year is undoubtedly Israel's genocide in Gaza. The issue has prompted some artists to step boldly into the political ring and others to shield their professional identities from scrutiny and public discourse, with each camp drawing fierce backlash.
After a brief summer hiatus, the RA Exchange returns with a new season, launching with Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi, who addresses all this and more in a charged interview. The Ramallah-born artist has since gone on to tour non-stop internationally, regularly appearing alongside some of her idols growing up, such as Richie Hawtin and Nicole Moudaber. She's also no stranger to RA: in 2023, she graced the cover of this magazine and, just this summer, contributed to our drop of RA.1000 anniversary mixes.
This interview, though, is the most outspoken Abdulhadi has ever been. She shares her take on what's happened since October 7th, including her assessment of how and where the music industry, and her peers, have fallen short; the pressure she feels to be a global spokesperson for Palestine; why she feels that the revolutionary spirit has drained from a subculture built from resistance; and how, despite it all, she retains a sense of optimism and forward momentum. Listen or watch the episode in full. -Chloe Lula
All content for RA Podcast is the property of Resident Advisor and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Has the techno industry failed Palestine?
Sama', the world's most famous Palestinian DJ, talks about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and how the music industry—and some of her peers in techno—have failed Palestine.
The most deeply divisive topic of the year is undoubtedly Israel's genocide in Gaza. The issue has prompted some artists to step boldly into the political ring and others to shield their professional identities from scrutiny and public discourse, with each camp drawing fierce backlash.
After a brief summer hiatus, the RA Exchange returns with a new season, launching with Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi, who addresses all this and more in a charged interview. The Ramallah-born artist has since gone on to tour non-stop internationally, regularly appearing alongside some of her idols growing up, such as Richie Hawtin and Nicole Moudaber. She's also no stranger to RA: in 2023, she graced the cover of this magazine and, just this summer, contributed to our drop of RA.1000 anniversary mixes.
This interview, though, is the most outspoken Abdulhadi has ever been. She shares her take on what's happened since October 7th, including her assessment of how and where the music industry, and her peers, have fallen short; the pressure she feels to be a global spokesperson for Palestine; why she feels that the revolutionary spirit has drained from a subculture built from resistance; and how, despite it all, she retains a sense of optimism and forward momentum. Listen or watch the episode in full. -Chloe Lula
Three hours of incendiary techno, as two veterans go head-to-head.
When Speedy J described his studio dynamic with Chris Liebing back in 2014, he put it bluntly: "I try to piss him off a little." The result? Dance music that's as functional and precise as Liebing demands, with just enough chaos to keep it interesting. That tension has defined the duo's partnership, Collabs 3000, since their first releases, and it's alive and well on their debut RA Mix.
Both artists are techno heavyweights in their own right. Jochem Paap, AKA Speedy J, helped Europe slow down after the breakneck '90s, proving that techno could chug as well as pummel. Liebing, meanwhile, commanded his popular label CLR and went from transforming schranz into the hard techno sound that recently swept up a younger generation of ravers.
As a pair, Collabs 3000 undeniably has its ear trained on the big room. Paap and Liebing are both former Berghain regulars, and the Berlin club's influence is clear across RA.1006: taut, muscular techno, or "effective and structured" in Liebing's words, with Paap injecting the right amount of unpredictability. Their 2005 full-length, Metalism, remains a landmark: polished, uncompromising and dynamite for any large sound system.
With the album now remastered for its 20th anniversary, Collabs 3000's RA Mix brings that same ferocious energy into sharp focus: smouldering textures, peak-time pressure and three unrelenting hours of classic techno.
@chris-liebing
@jochempaap
Read the interview at ra.co/podcast/1025
RA Podcast
Has the techno industry failed Palestine?
Sama', the world's most famous Palestinian DJ, talks about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and how the music industry—and some of her peers in techno—have failed Palestine.
The most deeply divisive topic of the year is undoubtedly Israel's genocide in Gaza. The issue has prompted some artists to step boldly into the political ring and others to shield their professional identities from scrutiny and public discourse, with each camp drawing fierce backlash.
After a brief summer hiatus, the RA Exchange returns with a new season, launching with Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi, who addresses all this and more in a charged interview. The Ramallah-born artist has since gone on to tour non-stop internationally, regularly appearing alongside some of her idols growing up, such as Richie Hawtin and Nicole Moudaber. She's also no stranger to RA: in 2023, she graced the cover of this magazine and, just this summer, contributed to our drop of RA.1000 anniversary mixes.
This interview, though, is the most outspoken Abdulhadi has ever been. She shares her take on what's happened since October 7th, including her assessment of how and where the music industry, and her peers, have fallen short; the pressure she feels to be a global spokesperson for Palestine; why she feels that the revolutionary spirit has drained from a subculture built from resistance; and how, despite it all, she retains a sense of optimism and forward momentum. Listen or watch the episode in full. -Chloe Lula
