Exist Festival pays homage to ODDZ with London special

In an emotional nod to its co-founder Odai Masri, known in the music circles as ODDZ, Palestine's iconic Exist Festival is curating a special edition in the heart of London in September.

Active in Ramallah's underground scene since 2006, Masri was a vibrant figure who pushed the boundaries of the dance music scene in Palestine.

Masri was not just a passionate event organiser, significantly contributing to the growth of electronic music within the region. He was the co-founder and curator of Exist Festival along with Bint Mbareh, a celebrated platform in Palestine's dance music scene.

Odai Masri was also one half of ANTS, an industrial techno project known for its relentless beats and heart-stopping kick-drums. In an effort to bring Palestinian electronic music to a global audience, he ran the first Palestinian electronic record label, Harara Records. He was also the force behind Radio Nard, an online radio station dedicated to promoting Palestine's burgeoning electronic scene.

Mark your calendars for the festival's seventh instalment, set to enliven east London's famed venues - Cafe OTO in Dalston and The Yard - from the evening September 8, wrapping up on September 10.

Cafe OTO is gearing up to serve three sonic feasts each night, showcasing the likes of Nicolas Jaar (taking the stage as Jaar), Rrose, Drew McDowall, Maria Eichberg, Zahra Malkani, Kujo and Sami El-Enany, among others.

Meanwhile, the vibrant Hackney Wick's The Yard is all prepped for a rousing Saturday evening, headlined by Lee Adams (a.k.a Choronzon), Oxhy, Dahc Dermur VIII and the entrancing Renata.

The festival's crew, in a heartfelt Instagram post, reminisced: “After the untimely passing of founder Odai Masri aka ODDZ on June 30th, 2023, Exist Festival stands as a potent legacy to Odai’s pioneering vision that has been instrumental in shifting the cultural tide in the region.

“The festival has been a beacon of unity between Palestinian and global artists, and this year’s events promise to continue that tradition with an expansive lineup.”

Head to cafeoto.co.uk to find more about the festival.