A women-only Ableton Live workshop took place in Cairo
Six women with no prior experience took part in a workshop led by Berlin-based Algerian DJ and producer Acidfinky in collaboration with Dhamma and Maison Sot
A two-day beginner music production workshop for women recently took place in Cairo, bringing together local participants for an introductory programme focused on Ableton Live. The initiative was led by Berlin-based Algerian DJ and producer Acidfinky, in collaboration with Cairo’s female collective Dhamma and the Berlin-Cairo interdisciplinary platform Maison Sot, and supported by Ableton.
The workshop brought together six women with no prior music production experience. Over the course of two days, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of Ableton Live, including Session View and Arrangement View, recording techniques, drum programming, sampling, effects and basic automation. Ableton supported the initiative by providing free Ableton Live licences to all attendees, enabling them to continue working with the software beyond the workshop.
Held across two sessions on 15 and 16 January, the programme was designed as an accessible entry point into electronic music production. Participants were asked to bring their own laptops and headphones, using the free Ableton Live trial during the sessions before receiving full licences at the end of the workshop.
The workshop aimed to address this imbalance by creating a women-only learning environment, offering space for new voices and participation within the local ecosystem.
Although not Egyptian, Acidfinky has longstanding personal and artistic ties to Cairo, through both family connections and sustained involvement with the city’s music community. The workshop also marked the first public event under Maison Sot (Maison صوت), a new interdisciplinary series operating between Berlin and Cairo. Further sessions are planned throughout the year, including additional in-person workshops in Cairo and online masterclasses.
