Under Frustration - Volume 1 (various artists)

25 May 2018 • Vinyl & digital • Shouka/InFiné • Buy/download
Under Frustration is a three-volume compilation project establishing a picture of the contemporary electronic music scene in the Arab World. This musical journey stands for the diversity of this scene, and deconstructs the occidental perceptions of the Arab World as a culturally united and homogeneous entity. It is a manifesto for the burgeoning wave of post-revolution futurism.
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       Arabstazy’s vision is to create an autonomous and singular form of mindset, that is aware of its representations. An identity quest immersing its roots into the future, while highlighting and transmuting its traditions. This mindset is to evolve into a new artistic language, that would have been released from the colonialist and orientalist perspectives. A process that will eventually focus on the interactions and connections rather than shape or style.

        With this objective in mind, the idea of a musical compilation emerged. It would be the assessment of how diverse, shattered and intricate the Arab World actually is. Paradoxically, it would be the cement of an independent Arabic underground electronic scene. A scene that doesn’t need common aesthetics nor similar codes to build a sense of belonging, because that belonging eventually relies on the similarities found in the constant struggle from which the creative process arise. In the frame of political, social and religious dictatorships, this is a creative process that is born under frustration.
 
      The spectrum of questions that this peculiar theme arises is broad: personal, political, sexual, religious, familial, societal... From ways to free ourselves from this frustration, to ways to accept it as it is. We have to deal with a lot of mutual misunderstandings, binary shortcuts and manichaean attitudes that have long proven unsuccessful to overcome these situations. Amongst all who experience frustration, some will cope through artistic expression. We decided to relate to this frustration as a great source of inspiration.
 
      All the benefits of this project will be donated to the Lebanese NGO Basmeh & Zeitooneh, and most specifically to their yearly art event - « Seen » - which highlights unseen artists and break stereotypes about refugees.