Acid Arab

Founded in 2012 by Parisian DJs Guido Minisky and Hervé Carvalho, Acid Arab developed their sound by collaborating with numerous artists from North Africa and the Middle East. Emerging from the multicultural hub of Paris, their aim was to carve out a space for Arab culture within contemporary electronic music. They initially established their presence through a series of EPs (the Collections series) on the electronic music label Versatile, which included collaborations, remixes, and tracks by other artists.

Progressing to create their own music, they evolved into a full-fledged musical group by joining forces with Pierrot Casanova, Nicolas Borne, and, for studio and live performances, the remarkable Algerian keyboardist Kenzi Bourras. Their debut album, “Musique de France,” was released through Crammed Discs, a fitting choice given the label’s history of supporting musical cross-pollination.

There is no heavy techno merely adorned with darbouka samples, nor is there typical dance music with orientalist stereotypes. Acid Arab’s sound is genuine and profound. It is neither a collage nor an appropriation, nor even a “fusion.” It stems from equal exchanges between varying worlds, involving instruments, rhythms, melodic modes, musical technologies, and individuals.