Proudly introducing the latest addition to the Astral People roster, Moktar! Today marks the release of the Egyptian-Australian producer's debut release, “SILK”.

A hybrid style, Moktar effortlessly combines techno with traditional Arabic instrumentation, sampling and producing to celebrate the sounds of his background.

Moktar’s heritage has always been at the forefront of his identity. Navigating racism and abuse was an everyday reality growing up in Sydney's Shire region, especially in the years surrounding the Cronulla riots. Regardless, Moktar’s Middle-Eastern roots have become a source of pride and inspiration expressed in his music.

Signed to Mall Grab’s label Steel City Dance Discs, Moktar will release his debut self-titled EP, an expansive and expressive exploration of techno and IDM through the lens of Arabic percussion and instrumentation. 

His first single, “SILK”, is a microcosm for this sound, embracing complex and traditional rhythmic ideas while traversing emotive melodic states. With a debut Australian tour around the corner, Moktar’s music is beginning its journey and is taking everyone with it.

"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 - 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 this single...today I am proud to be Egyptian."

We can't wait for you to hear Moktar's debut single "SILK", and stay tuned there's plenty more in the works

PREMIERE : Moktar - Slik

Taken from SBKT043: Prettybwoy - Tayutau
Release date: 17th September 2021



Prettybwoy’s debut is entitled Tayutau ( 揺蕩う), a traditional Japanese term often used in haiku and literature, meaning ‘waver’ -  a state of indecisiveness, to lose determination or purpose, often temporarily, or to drift or sway to and fro. Made over the last two years whilst dealing with isolation, job loss, burnt hard-drives and almost losing the whole project, the album has seen several phases and degrees of anxiety, uncertainty, hope and frustration.

‘Too many things have changed since starting to make this album, and I think that is reflected in the production. The album can be split into three parts – tracks I made before the pandemic when things felt stable, tracks made during lockdown in isolation, and tracks made during the cautious and conflicted opening up and the lead up to the Olympics. There has been so much confusion and changes back and forth, but I want to have hope and try to keep focused, which at times hasn't been easy’

As well as drawing from external causes, 'Tayutau' also comes from a place of internal uncertainty.

'This is a trip in search of my new identity, or maybe to understand my current one. I am Japanese, living in Japan, but my music is only released by labels from other countries. I am a member of SVBKVLT (China), and also Polaar (France), but where or who am I in Japan?’

Tayutau is a 10 track album, featuring two vocal appearances from lIlI and a collaboration with Primula, and comes with artwork and video from Wang Jingxin. A separate EP of remixes will be released shortly after the album.



Cover Design: Wang Jingxin 
Mastering: Raphael Valensi

Tayutau

Prettybwoy - Destination feat. lIlI

IDONTCORE_MIX

Lol y Pop

The literal meaning of alter ego is "real or fictitious person in whom one recognizes, identifies or sees a transcript of another". 

Sometimes we chase it and do not find it. Sometimes it pursues us and we repel it. 

Sometimes it caricatures us. Sometimes it defines us.

I was finally able to catch up with him, chat with him, and ask him who he really was.

However, I still struggle to know if that second person in me is who I really am or who I want to be and can't be.

Alter ego (FREE DL)

xv-3 (ªitunz Remix)

xv-3

ME ENCANTA SALIR DE NOXE

𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

SOPOR 2025 es una serie de mixes de música electrónica contemplativa curada por @didacta, presentada como residencia del colectivo bogotano Mariposa. A partir de la segunda semana de enero, y con una nueva entrega cada dos, este espacio acogerá exploraciones sonoras profundas y conceptuales.

𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗢𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱: 𝗭𝗶𝘇𝗶 𝗞 (@ziziik)

El ambient siempre ha sido un género con el que conecto desde un lugar más íntimo, una pausa necesaria frente al desborde de emociones y pensamientos. No sé si es casualidad que este mix haya llegado en un momento crucial y de cambios en mi vida; se vuelve en tanto un proceso natural traducirlo en música, casi como un diálogo interno que genera calma y narra lo que ahora experimento. Traducir lo que no siempre sé expresar en palabras y compartirlo de una forma genuina. Un mix cargado quizá, de atmósferas y texturas tensionantes, pero a su vez tan digno de ser ignorado.

🦋

SOPOR 2025: Zizi K - Residencias Mariposa

Carlos Rizzi llega al éter con una selección que transita los límites del ambient y el idm, emergiendo desde la fricción misma del sonido. Lejos de la contemplación pasiva, esta mixtape articula una poética de la distorsión: una herramienta que aquí no embellece, sino que tensa, sugiere fisuras.

La primera mitad está compuesta por piezas inéditas, ensambladas con materiales dispersos y narrativas en estado de formación: bocetos que no buscan completarse, sino sugerir umbrales. Entre ellas, se cuela una colaboración en proceso junto a Las Hermanas, como un eco de lo que aún está gestándose. La segunda parte del mix despliega una cartografía de influencias que han moldeado su escucha reciente, tejidas con sensibilidad y cuidado. El cierre con su track “Policroma”, funciona menos como epílogo y más como umbral de algo por venir: una vibración suspendida que anuncia el pulso de un álbum futuro.

Bienvenidxs al firmamento y buen viaje.

Carlos Rizzi - en el éter - ÉterLab

Carlos Rizzi

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