For our second EP of the year, MOSHTRQ is proud to present ‘Bab Hwita’ from Paris-based Tunisian Drum n’ Bass purist Hmenou, who we were blessed to link with during his residency in Cairo earlier this year

Bab Hwita marks Hmenou's second journey into the intersection of drum and bass and cultural memory, this time through a portal that's both literal and metaphorical. This three-track EP showcases Hmenou's evolving sound palette, from cross-Mediterranean collaboration to melodic experimentation.

The opening track, 'Studio 22,' brings together the pulsating energy of drum and bass with the raw poetry of Elos Byuri, a rap artist from Ramallah, creating a sonic bridge between Tunis and Palestine forged in shared rhythm and resistance.

'Zaretna el Barka' ventures into uncharted melodic territory, weaving together layers of Tunisian radio archives and political speeches around the haunting voice of Habiba Msika, the legendary 1920s singer whose strength and artistry continue to resonate through time. It's a delicate yet powerful homage to Tunisia's cultural giants, filtered through contemporary production.

The EP closes with 'TU722,' a minimal yet massive statement named after the chronically delayed Tunis-Paris flight that embodies the reality of living split between places. With crushing basslines that transform frustration into catharsis, it's both a personal memoir and universal anthem—turning the exhaustion of living between places into cathartic sound.

Through 'Bab Hwita,' Hmenou continues his exploration of identity and belonging, proving that doors aren't just points of passage but spaces where cultures, memories, and frustrations can be transformed into something entirely new. 

Hmenou X Elos Byuri - Studio22

MOSHTRQ