In a region where most genres of music are overshadowed by the surge of rap and hip-hop, finding cool artists standing behind DJ decks rather than a microphone is rarer than we’d like. Given the current state of things, it’s clear that record-spinning culture in the Arab World is struggling to establish a presence as loud as its lyrical counterpart. That said, on the rare occasions when your algorithm bumps someone worthy to the top of your Soundcloud feed, you make sure to keep an eye out for them. Enter Geneva-based Tunisian producer and DJ, Pekodjinn.
Blending the sounds of his native Tunisia with trap-inspired beats and dub-like rhythms, the up-and-coming artist aims at reclaiming parts of his family heritage through music that can appeal to the younger generation he is part of while simultaneously honoring the sonic influence of his elders. At the helm of a style of his own, which he aptly calls “Afromaghreb,” the recent Boiler Room collaborator prides himself for capturing the essence of youth culture while “avoiding any form of orientalism and kitsch,” which he believes “is a necessity in our practices (as artists) if we want to break free from the codes imposed on us.”
Voir cette publication sur Instagram
Following the release of his debut album last year, Pekodjinn has just announced his comeback through the unveiling of another project, expected to drop on streaming services on Sept. 20.
His third full body of work— after Dharba in 2023 and Alaiz in 2018— his next EP, titled TN Tape, pays tribute, once again, to his North African roots only this time with a distinctive street approach. Eponymously named after Nike’s cult classic sneakers, his forthcoming record wants to tell “the madness of the streets of North Africa, where street vendors rub shoulders with gleaming counterfeit shops, where makeshift sound systems blast the latest trendy production (…) and where scooters speed off in clouds of dust,” per a shared statement.
Recorded between his two homes in Tunis and Geneva, Pekodjinn’s new project dropped its first single, Mansit, this week, giving us a taste of what’s to come. With much to share and an intriguing story to tell, we sat down with the rising DJ to chat about who he is, where his music comes from, and his journey in the industry so far.
Could you introduce yourself?
“My name’s Pekodjinn and I’m a Swiss-Tunisian producer and DJ. I make organic and hyper-groovy North African Afro house music. My stage name comes from the contraction of “djinn,” which are pre-Islamic beings, and “peko” which comes from an old graffiti name I used to have when I was a teenager.”
Where does your story with music start ?
“I started by playing the guitar as a kid. Then, when I was a teenager, I started getting involved with my local rap and graffiti scene which is where I began DJing on the side. I remember listening to a DJ back then called Sango, who I’d credit for making me want to make music myself. I first started by trying to emulate Sango’s sound and then co-founded my own crew called Ozadya. After some time, I wanted to make music that nodded back to my Tunisian heritage. Now, I’d say that I produce my own style of music which is Afro house with North African influences and a strong club culture construction.”
How did you settle on becoming a full-time DJ?
“I started DJing because in high school people loved the music I had on my MP3. But I began taking things more seriously once I started producing, which is my main activity right now.”
How would you describe your specific sound?
“I’d say that my sound is quite unique. I love the music that the label Principe makes and I want to create music just like theirs only with a North African touch, which feels more exciting to me. I strive to be as authentic and underground as possible while avoiding the exoticization of North African and Arab music along the way. Ultimately, I’d like to create my own genre and be recognized for it.
“I also love European club music and Brazilian funk, and I’d say that my music is a mix of all these altogether. I make music by thinking of how it would sound once it’s played live as there’s a specific feeling that I’m looking for people to feel whilst listening to my music that I can only achieve this way.”
What does your creative process look like?
“Every morning, I try to produce. I drink my coffee and get to work. I use a loop method and visualize myself playing the track in a club because my music is meant for the club. Sometimes, I’ll take a two or three weeks long break to freshen up and get inspired again.”
What weight does Tunisia have in your music-making process?
“It’s because I come from Tunisia that I produce this kind of music. I am very close to my family there. I want my music to reflect who I am, so I incorporate elements from Tunisia like violins and darbukas. But I don’t want to be seen as kitsch; I want to keep my music underground and street, like me, I guess.”
At what point in your career does this new EP come?
“This EP comes a year after a residency in Tunis, where I worked on it most. It represents my desire to express my underground and street influences with North African elements. This EP is a statement: I can be from North Africa and make underground music without conforming to the clichés of how some people in the West view Arab music.”
What do you expect from it?
“I hope people will like it, that fellow DJs will want to play some tracks in clubs and that radio stations will feature them too!”
Where did you draw inspiration for this project from?
“I took inspiration from the streets of Tunis, from the drift guys in La Marsa (Tunis), and from the Nike TN shape.”
How is this project different from your previous releases and what do you hope to achieve with it?
“This project is different because it is not a political statement album like my last project. It’s an artistic development I want to showcase. It’s a piece of me that I give to everyone. I want to be booked by clubs as an artist who produced this EP. I don’t want to be booked just to play my remixes; I don’t care about them. This project represents my current style of composition and what you can expect to hear when you see me in the club.”
