Sweet Music TeamRabih Rizk is a Lebanese artist who blends dramatic percussion with mystical synths and soothing melodies to create tracks that are perfect for the dance floor. He recently dropped a new EP titled ‘Come With Me’ via Baikal Nomads that features two of his original tracks alongside a remix by Dario Klein, plus a collaborative rework from Matija and Richard Elcox. Excited to learn more about his new release, we invited Rabih Rizk for this interview…
Hi Rabih Rizk, it’s nice to be talking with you today. Could you start by letting us know what part of the world you live in, and what the local electronic music scene is like?
“Hey guys thank you for having me! I am originally from Lebanon, which is a small country that is currently getting a lot of global attention for its huge electronic music scene. Day by day new collectives are on the rise with the goal of creating space for old and upcoming DJs to showcase their art and musical taste. Recently, I moved to Switzerland and have only just started discover what this journey is hiding musically.”
How would you describe your music style to those who are discovering you for the first time?
“Well, it’s really hard to describe it, but in short, it’s a mixture of organic and electronic sound that feels good in my ears.”
You have a new release out on the Baikal Nomads record label, and it would be great to learn more about those tracks?
“It’s a really exciting release that came out on the 25th of March. The tracks were highly influenced by the indie dance genre, but I made sure to also keeping the downtempo vibe in check.”
Is this your first time working with Baikal Nomads, and how did you first make contact with the record label?
“Actually, a couple of years ago I released a single on Baikal Nomads which was a great success. We first met through SoundCloud, as I enjoyed listening to many of their other releases and was very happy when they decided to sign my music.”
Talk me through your studio set-up and some of the equipment that is essential for your sound?
“Well, after moving to Switzerland I was able to bring over my Korg Minilogue XD synthesiser, but sadly my Moog Sub 37 had remained in Beirut. I really like the monitors made by Focal, so I picked up a pair from their EVO 80 series, which I’m really happy with. Since most of my hardware gear was left behind, software instruments have become the base of my recent productions. DS Thorn is the VST synthesiser I have been using for my lead sounds, then Trilian and u-he Diva are both great for basslines. Minimal Audio’s Rift VST is what I use for saturation and Ableton is the digital audio workstation that I work in.”
There are some quite impressive remixes on your new release, did you have any influence in picking who worked on your tracks, and what do you think of those reworked versions?
“Well, both remixes have their own magic, each one with a unique interpretation of the original track. Dario Klein went more melodic and up-tempo, while Matija & Richard Elcox brought the tempo down to focus on a more minimalistic approach that makes the dance floor rumble. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for better remixes.”
Do you have any forthcoming gigs or other new releases that you would like to tell us about?
“I have already had a couple of gigs in Switzerland at Hive Club, Kaschemme Basel and Sunset Groove. I also have an upcoming gig with the 7vibes collective at Viertel Basel.”
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me today, is there anything you would like to add before we finish?
“Thanks again for the chat, soon my Ritual EP will be out via Camel Riders and along with my original tracks, it also has 3 astonishing remixes, so please stay tuned for that!”.
You can buy a copy of Rabih Rizk’s ‘Come With Me‘ EP on Baikal Nomads from HERE.