In masses of live electronic sound, Jad Atoui built an opus

It Will Take Forever moves through emotions in swells, as if pulling us through feelings. Composed and played live on modular synths from 2023 to 2025 in Beirut, Jad Atoui’s work almost sings grief through those electronics, in a world being ripped apart. Behind it, club-sized sub-bass impact rumbles like our own bodies. There’s now a video by Ralf Moussa, as well.

Ruptured’s Postcards from Lebanon, telling the world’s story in sound

“Chaos and resiliance” – the words become cruel cliché when applied on repeat to Beirut’s music scene. But the three latest releases from the Ruptured label tell a sonic story that’s not from some periphery, but the center of our world. They do so in collage — like film fragments (one from a filmmaker). That include’s today’s debut of Ripe from Postcards and in the recent sound narratives of Nour Sokhon, Stefan Christoff, and Camille Cabbabe.

Peter Kirn - March 28, 2025

Sublime, modular sonic worlds from Beirut, with Munma (Jawad Nawfal)

Jawad Nawfal, aka Munma, is in the spotlight with two transcendent releases for Ruptured Records: one album on modular, and one in an all-star trio along with Sharif Sehnaoui and Jad Atoui. This is don’t-miss music to lose yourself in, from Lebanon’s exceptional, tight-knit improvisational scene.

Peter Kirn - March 17, 2024