Absorbing ambient from Berlin-based producer ABADIR.
Credit: Kholoud Saber
Hey Rami, How are you today?
Hi Gary, it’s 9 am, the 1st of November in Berlin, so you can imagine how gloomy and cloudy it is. No glimpse of sun, being inside a big gray plastic bag, and following the news and the disgusting daily crimes by Israel in Palestine and Lebanon. But, I’m doing ok anyway.
What was the last song you listened to?
Zero Key - “Zero Key 01”
Where’s your favourite place to listen to music?
At home, right on the sofa.
What’s a favourite music discovery you’ve made recently?
I’ve been discovering and listening to a lot of Iraqi traditional and old pop music. I’ve also been listening to The Tumbling Psychic Joy of Now by Holy Tongue meets Schackelton. After the first time I listened to it, I thought “I’m really missing playing in a band.” Somehow they reminded me of Tortoise, so this made me revisit the works of the latter.
Is there an artist or album you listen to a lot we might not expect based on your music and mixes?
Sure, Everything Must Go By Manic Street Preachers, and Coming Up by Suede.
Can you tell us a little about your Theory Therapy mix? What were you feeling when you made it? Where did you record it?
I recorded it at home. It’s been a couple of years since I've been recording two hour long ambient mixes, and this mix is part of the series. I usually record them during autumn and winter, they fit both seasons. The selection is always based on some key words or mindsets; chilling, contemplating and floating. I consider this mix and the others as a break from everything.
Credit: Amira Elmasry
Where would you recommend listening to it?
Anywhere, in a silent place.
Theory Therapy mixes are about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic, cathartic or restorative. What does that mean for you?
I can’t really relate to these emotions. The themes and their related feelings I’m dealing with in my music are different from those. My themes are driven by memory and cultural artefacts, and what I relate to is more about the feelings of joy, longing and contemplation. Maybe for some people, this could be cathartic and restorative.
Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons?
There are a lot. The ones I can recall are Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich, Dummy by Portishead, Love Streams by Tim Hecker, Waterpiano by Julian Zyklus and Protection by Massive Attack.
Tell us something exciting that's coming up in your life, music or otherwise.
I got a new A/V project ‘Kitbashing’ with my friend Nicolò Cervello. We recently had a good premiere at Lunchmeat Festival in Prague, and we’re looking forward to pitching it to more festivals and venues. I’m also working together with my agent for a tour in East Asia, so fingers crossed.
Tracklist:
Low End Activist - Lies & Deceit
Loscil - Steam
memotone - The Bus
Qow - Elhamdulilah
Tim Hecker - Live Room Out
Sophia Loizou - Fluxes
Ike Zwanikken - Lilith Ream
Shuttle358 - Melt
Ulla & Ultrafog - lame mart
Zero Key - Zero Key 01
Arovane - Echo
Daou - Worn journals
Peter Gabriel - Slow Marimbas
Alley Catss - Heel
Ura - Fugue
0N4B - Sneak-up
仮想夢プラザ - 一緒に海岸を歩きます
2047 - Cold Rain
猫 シ Corp. & t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 - Dawn over the Metropolis
The Caretaker - Past Life Regression
Robbert Fripp & Brian Eno - Wind On Wind
William Basinski - Passio
MIGUEL ANGEL TOLOSA - salon 02-01
Tegh & Adel Poursamadi - My Quiet One, You, My True One
pole - Modul
Tortoise - Ten-Day Interval
Actress - Remembrance
ZULI - Beeit
daily rituals - motion knows the way
CHANTSSSS - lose my
Mark Templeton - Languages
Lee Gamble - Emu
Florian T M Zeisig - IV
Burial - Endorphin
Brian Eno - An Ending (Ascent)
desert sand feels warm at night - 痛みはいつ終わりますか？
ABADIR - El 3ataba Interlude
ABADIR & Pie Are Squared - Mahmoud Mursy - Sultan Gamalak
Clark - Strangled In A Public Toilet
Andrew Pekler - Music To Sleep Walk By
Yara Asmar - fish can’t tie their shoelaces, silly