JEME’s ‘Drums & Tribes’ EP fuses family moments with art biennale soundscapes
JEME incorporated intimate recordings of his baby girl’s voice and laughter, along with sounds from the Diriyah Biennale
Saudi Arabia-based DJ/producer JEME has returned with his latest EP, ‘Drums & Tribes’, released via KNZ Records.
The EP is a deeply personal project, rooted in JEME's experiences at the Diriyah Biennale, and draws inspiration from a life-changing moment during the opening night of the Biennale, where he and his wife discovered they were expecting their first child. Two years later, JEME was invited back to contribute to a musical art installation, ‘Altariq’ by Tariq Atoui, which explores tribal musical traditions across the Arab world.
In preparing for this project, JEME incorporated intimate recordings of his baby girl’s voice and laughter, along with sounds from the Biennale itself, such as drums and metals. These elements form the core of ‘Drums & Tribes’, which serves as a sonic exploration of tribal rhythms and personal memories. The EP includes two solo tracks, a collaboration with Beast, and its Tarab remix, as well as a 13-minute full-length track.
Reflecting on the creation of the EP, JEME shared, “During the opening night of the Diriyah Biennale, an unforgettable moment in both art and personal life took place. While supporting my wife’s involvement in the historic live art performance, ‘The Sea is Mine’ by Marwa, we discovered that we were expecting our first child.
“Two years later, I was invited by the Biennale to activate a musical art installation, ‘Altariq’ by Tariq Atoui. This installation explores tribal musical traditions across the Arab world, blending history, culture, and sound.
“In preparation for this project, I visited the Biennale with my baby girl, recording her voice and laughter, snippets of our dinner conversations, and the exhibition’s sounds, including the drums and metals. These personal elements became the foundation of my new EP, ‘Drums & Tribes’. It is a sonic exploration of tribal rhythms and personal memories. Inspired by the ‘After Rain’ theme, Sarah (Beast) and I added vocals to the piece just days before the live performance, drawing inspiration from Abu Baker Salem’s ‘Fi Alsamaa Gheim’.
“I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Diriyah Biennale Foundation for being an integral part of our artistic expression and exploration. I’m grateful to everyone who supported, helped, and contributed to this project and making this journey possible.”
‘Drums & Tribes’ is available now on all major streaming platforms. Check it out here.
