12 September 2024
Saudi Arabia-based DJ and producer JEME’s “Drums & Tribes” EP includes his baby daughter's voice and laughter, captured alongside the raw tones of drums and metals reverberating through an exhibition at the Diriyah Biennale
DJ and producer JEME has released an evocative new EP, which unfolds as a deeply intimate sonic journey, interlacing personal milestones with the auditory landscape of the Diriyah Biennale.
The inspiration for “Drums & Tribes” traces back to a poignant moment on the opening night of the Biennale, when JEME and his wife, in the midst of the event’s immersive art, discovered they were expecting their first child. Two years on, JEME was invited to contribute to Altariq, a musical installation by artist Tariq Atoui, delving into the tribal musical traditions of the Arab world.
In crafting this project, JEME intertwined fragments of his own life with the sounds of the Biennale. The inclusion of his baby daughter's voice and laughter, captured alongside the raw tones of drums and metals reverberating through the exhibition, brings a personal layer of warmth and resonance to the EP. These recordings form the core of the EP, which spans two solo tracks, a collaboration with Beast, and its Tarab remix, concluding with an expansive 13-minute track.
JEME reflected on the project’s inception, saying, “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’.”
JEME further expressed his gratitude: “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.”
In “Drums & Tribes”, the echoes of tribal beats harmonise with intimate moments, capturing the essence of JEME's evolving artistry and life journey, merging the boundaries between music, memory and visual art.
The “Drums & Tribes” EP is out via KNZ Records. Listen to it below.
