Moktar’s debut single and video, “Silk,” is a celebration of his Arabic roots. The Egyptian-Australian DJ/producer is currently readying his self-titled five-track EP for release in the Fall on Mall Grab’s label Steel City Dance Discs. On “Silk,” the producer’s self-assured style effortlessly blends cutting edge rhythms with Arabic influences, though the artist concedes that accepting his heritage hasn’t always been easy. He explains:
“My inspiration behind ‘Silk’ has a lot to do with my struggles growing up in Australia navigating racism. I was ashamed of being Egyptian and embarrassed by my culture. I was made to believe that being Middle Eastern only came with negative connotations throughout most of my life. ‘Silk’ represents how I feel today, to have the luxury of being comfortable and the ability to move around freely, both physically and spiritually. A constant reminder that racism is only one of many obstacles to overcome in life. I wanted to be able to share my story through my music. Today I am proud to be Egyptian.”
Sam Whiteside directs the visually stunning video for the new single. Here, human forms draped in white and black silk become mysterious visual symbols capable of imparting multiple interpretations. Notions of identity are allowed to slip and slide between various meanings as these black and white forms question what it means to be seen and unseen.
