Zuli (4) – Terminal

For Zuli, electronic music should not be reduced to the vulgar music designed to dance in club, it must establish an artistic rank.

Originally from Cairo, it is with this conception of the night that he actively participates in the VENT nights event that Boiler Room had highlighted this year. It is with the same requirement that Zuli manufactures his music, which earned him to be spotted by Lee Gamble and sign on his label UIQ. After two EP, in 2017 and 2018, Zuli released his first album : Terminal, to hip hop roots the electronic experiment is grafted with a slice of techno music, IDM, like the Autechre’s Oversteps sound : on the title Vulnerbody or on Wreck for example, with chaotic temporalities and rhythm. To accompany his productions Zuli has surrounded himself with major elements of the Egyptian rap scene such as Abyusif or Abanob who perfectly adapt to the instrumentals, alternating grime and rap flow, autotune and raw voices.

The biggest success of Zuli on this Terminal album is probably to have managed to make a complete album, consistent, despite all the influences and styles that merge on each track (and even between tracks). This album is also a good entry point on the whole scene coming from North Africa, abounding and innovative.

“In a world that feels like it’s regressing into tribalism, many of us who don’t fit into any one specific group identity feel sidelined at best" - Zuli