Zahed Sultan

Zahed Sultan interviews for Bazaar Magazine, Kuwait by Khadija Hatim

“This album is a narrow portal into my dormant personality. Each track crosses borders and genres – sparking various emotions and feelings in its wake.” - Zahed Sultan

Some of us know him from high school, others, maybe, as one of the creative minds behind en.v. Or, maybe even, as part of the duo that brings us the ever-popular, ever-growing REUSE event. Now, we also know him as Zahed Sultan, recording artist. A creative chameleon, in every sense of the word, it seems nothing can stand in the way of his vision(s). From eco-friendly living, to social responsibility and now music, Zahed has proven that all it takes is a little bit of vision and a whole lot of gumption.

How did your musical journey begin?

My interest in music sparked at a very early age. I began to explore this interest at the age of 14 – playing DJ gigs for local parties (mixed as well as segregated) in Kuwait.

What/Who inspires you to write your music and lyrics?

Musically, I have developed (and continue developing) strong connections with everything from raw traditional music to underground sounds that have a cult following.

I am most influenced by producers and artists who have strayed from convention and broken musical boundaries such as Radiohead, UNKLE, Damon Albarn, Kanye West, DJ Sasha, Massive Attack, and Bjork, to name a few.

With my debut album Hi Fear, Lo Love the intention was to challenge the norm.

Is the final sound of a musical track an individual or group effort?

That decision lies entirely in the hands of the track’s “maker.” For me, collaboration is key; working with individuals that are skilled in their art form will only enhance the final output.

Who/What in your early beginnings influenced your music?

Life…in its entirety.

In your opinion, what was the hardest challenge you faced in your musical career so far?

The music industry is highly fragmented today – thanks to a handful of entities that have taken power out of the hands of corporate decision makers and put them in hands of the musicians / artists. It’s a great time to be (or want to be) in music. My hardest challenge is to be able to carve a niche for myself within a massive web of aspiring (and existing) talent – using the tools that are available to me.

How has the Middle Eastern world reacted to your sound?

The jury is still out on that (in my eyes). Feedback, in all its forms, encourages you to be honest with yourself and search deep within you to find the words, melodies, beats, and more that are a true expression of who you are in a given period of time that will best resonate with your intended audience(s).

Do you feel that music should always serve a specific purpose?

No. Music is the universal language that is open to interpretation by the listener – that’s the beauty of it.

What are some of your favorite tracks, and why?

This very minute? Haha… I’m constantly searching for inspiring, daring music in the most obvious and obscure places. My favorite up and coming / recently discovered artist is Santiago / New York based “Nicolas Jaar”.

What is your dream performance space and destination?

Royal Albert Hall, London, England (It will happen!).

What would you like to accomplish in the future?

Too much to fit into a single lifetime! Simply put, to continue to have the ability and opportunity to create – in all its wondrous and interactive forms.

Will Zahed be performing live in Kuwait? (perhaps at REUSE 5.0)

I’m in the process of planning the formation of a band. I’m hoping by late 2012 / early 2013 we can go live with a sensory / experiential “live show.” If I get governmental permission to do so is another story!

To keep up with Zahed and his music log onto www.iamzahed.com  or follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/zahedsultan.

Zahed Sultan interviews for In Magazine, Dubai “The People’s Issue” by Khadija Hatim

Below is the excerpt from the interview. To read the interview in the online magazine please click on the image above.

Zahed Sultanis a music producer / social Entrepreneur from Kuwait. Through mediums such as music, film, online, print, & more, Zahed strives to inspire differentiation in others and push the envelope on pre-conceived routes to achievement. Through his creative ventures, you’ll discover commitments to the environment & community as well as numerous entrepreneurial journeys that stem from an inherent desire to innovate and involve.

We recently caught up with Zahed who told us about his latest venture – a cross-genre, cross-cultural music album entitled “Hi Fear, Lo Love.”

1)      How did you get started in music?

My relationship with music started as far back as I can remember.  I began to explore music as a budding hobby at age 14 (as the local DJ for mixed as well as segregated parties!)

2)      When did you know you were onto something big?

While in college, it was a dormant ambition of mine to be able to write and produce music. It began to materialize in the last 6 months of my senior year – I went on a record-buying spree to master DJ-ing professionally, while I spent my graduation summer learning the ins and outs of my first sequencing software – Reason.

My passion for producing music has only intensified exponentially since.

3)      Describe your style of music.

This past spring, a good friend of mine sent my music to world-renowned DJ Stephane Pompougnac of “Hotel Costes” in Paris.  In his email, he described my music like so:

“… A true authentic melding of electronica and Arab-Indo sounds which is representative of [his] Kuwaiti and Indian heritage as well as being a global citizen. … This really is the first genuine Gulf-Electro music [of it’s kind] and I believe that its unique sound will herald in much much more.”

[Editor’s Note: Zahed’s 2^nd Single from “Hi Fear, Lo Love” entitled “I Want Her But I Don’t Want Her” appears on the Hotel Costes 15 compilation, which was released globally on Sept. 26^th 2011]

4)      Tell us about “Hi Fear, Lo Love”?

“Hi Fear, Lo Love” has been an on again off again project in the making. I went back and forth tweaking and re-piecing together the sounds you hear today. It took 5+ years to complete and it tells the cyclical story of intimate human relationships [hint: read the song titles in order from track 1 through to track 11].

5)      Why the title, “Hi Fear Lo Love”?

Settling on a title for the album was a journey in itself.  It’s a combination of a play-on-words as well as my experiences while writing, recording, and producing this album. With regards to the meaning, its open to interpretation by the listener(s) and the experiential stage of life that he or she is in.

6)      Where did you get the inspiration for the lyrics?

On “Hi Fear, Lo Love” the inspiration / themes for the lyrics was a joint effort between a young aspiring Kuwaiti lyricist, an established poet, and myself. I can relate to most of the lyrics – given the different junctures I have been through in my life. But, I guess words and music are solely relevant (or irrelevant) to the listener – in their given frame of mind.

7)      What artists do you look up to / what genres of music motivate you?

Musically, I have developed (and continue developing) strong connections with everything from raw traditional music to underground sounds that have a cult following.

I am most influenced by producers and artists who have strayed from convention and broken musical boundaries such as Radiohead, UNKLE, Damon Albarn, Kanye West, DJ Sasha, Massive Attack, and Bjork, to name a few.

With “Hi Fear, Lo Love” the intention was to challenge the norm.      

8)      Tell us about your 1^st success in music.

My first success in music came about in 2004 when I was awarded 3rd place for the Involver Remix Competition by world-renowned house music label Global Underground and DJ Sasha.  I was later signed alongside DJ Sasha to America’s no.1 TV hit series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Season 5 Episode # 519 “4 x 4.”

9)      How does it feel to have your music signed to a hit T.V series in 2004 and an internationally renowned compilation in 2011 (Hotel Costes 15)?

Its humbling, to say the least, not to mention reassuring to know that this is something worth exploring further.

10)   What can we next expect from you?

On April 1st 2011, I released “Hi Fear, Lo Love” through the digital realm and engaged in a six-month user-driven campaign to build a global following. On May 1st 2011, I launched the first of these activities; an open remix competition sponsored by my upcoming record label http://www.mousemusic.org.

Voted for by my fans, the 3 finalists’ remixes from the competition, secured a spot on the official Remix EP (for the album) as well as a bonus track by a promising music producer from Kuwait.

On Sept 1^st 2011, I released the “Hi Fear, Lo Love-Remix EP.”

 I am currently working on my 3^rd music video for “Hi Fear, Lo Love” and the 1^st single for my second Album. Not to give away too much, I’ll just say that my second album is going to be even more exploratory in nature while dabbling in more refined audio-visual production techniques.

11)    What has been the highlight for you so far?

This is the highlight for me – embarking on a courageous journey to build the foundations for the sounds of tomorrow! [dare I say]

Zahed Sultan’s music is available for download on all major online music stores: iTunes, Amazon mp3, mySpace Music, shockhound.com, Thumbplay, emusic, Zune, IMVU, Nokia Music Store, Spotify, Napster, and Medianet.

You can learn more about Zahed via his official digital properties:

•             Website: http://www.iamzahed.com

•             Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zahedsultan

•             Facebook: http://on.fb.me/dZSjMo

•             Blog: http://www.iamzahed.wordpress.com

•             MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/zahedsultan

•             SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/zahed-sultan

•             YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/zahedsultan

Up Close & Personal With Artists From The “Hi Fear, Lo Love – Remix EP” by Khadija Hatim

On 1^st May 2011 Zahed launched an open remix competition sponsored by his newly formed record label www.mousemusic.org. Through the competition, Zahed received an overwhelming amount of remix submissions from around the world. Selecting the 10 best remixes, Zahed gave his fans the opportunity to have their say – he created a poll through his Facebook Fan Page and invited his fans to sample the remixes and select their three favorites. 1500+ votes and 20 days later, three finalists were selected! The Grand Prize Winner (from France) received $1000 and secured a spot on the Remix EP. The two Runners-Up (from Spain & Hungary) also secured spots on the Remix EP.  As a special treat, Zahed threw a bonus track into the Remix EP entitled “Remixed.” Crafted by a promising music producer from Kuwait, “Remixed” is a culmination of sampling parts from five different tracks (off of Zahed’s debut album) into one!

We recently caught up with these producers to tell us a little about their remix experiences – in their own words…

Grand Prize Winner – Björn Albyon


Hello my friends, I am Björn Albyon (but my real name is Martin Veyrier). I am a 19 year old French DJ and Producer. I am currently finishing my Networks & Communications studies in Nice. If everything goes well, I hope to live in Canada next year!

When did you start working on music and what programs / software do you use?
I started creating music on my computer in September 2009, influenced by three of my friends (Alex Wackii, L5WHERE and Marty Lake). I then released for free a self-produced EP called “Microcosmos” in March 2010 with a bonus track I made with Stanton. Then I met Irish Steph who vastly contributed to put a dirtier feeling to my basslines. To produce, I use Fruity Loops 10 because it does everything I want it to do, Sylenth1 for the synths, Harmless for the bass, zet3+ for the pads, and all sort of sample packs for the percussions.

Why did you enter Zahed’s Remix Competition and choose to Remix the track that you did?
At first, I had my dirty electro synth at BPM 134 but I thought it was too fast. I did not know what to do with it but luckily I found on internet the Zahed Sultan Remix Contest! I downloaded the track I liked most – I Saw Her I Fell For Her – and I was so happy it fitted to my bassline. I played with the samples a bit and slowed down the BPM to 104 to give it a more “headbanger” style, added a heavy kick and some groovy percussions and there it was!

If you could give one piece of advice to your peers (in music), what would it be?
I know I will maybe sound very generic and useless by saying this, but my advice to people who want to start making music is to BE THEMSELVES! Learn from your fellow producers, share techniques, work together, never be afraid of the things that come out of your head, don’t produce what people want you to produce but instead enjoy yourself making your own sound. I don’t mind not being famous as long as I’m proud of what I do. And I can tell you, I’m proud of my remix for Zahed Sultan!

Runner Up – Domscott


Domscott is a UK born and bred DJ / Music Producer with many years of intense musical experience. Domscott commenced his mixing talents at the age of 14 with interests in all aspects of music, well produced with plenty of groove and musically inspiring. The main music genres in his career that have influenced his unique mixing /producing style have been a mixture of Funky/ Deep House steering towards the Funky/Melodic creations of these forms of music.

When did you start working on music and what programs / software do you use?
I started producing round about the age of 16 using reason slaved with cubase.  Currently I use ableton live to create my projects and expand my ideas, I then transfer it to logic where I work on obtaining a deep clean sound as I find the sound engine in logic is much more concrete and crystal clean and its the key to a good mix down and blend within the mix, accompanied with the help of plugins of all types

Why did you enter Zahed’s Remix Competition and choose to remix the track that you did?
I chose the track as I felt the sample pack fitted nicely to my style; a deep base with plenty of groove with ambient, emotional vocals / effects that give the contrast to the deep groove.  The sample pack was varied and gave me plenty of opportunity to express my creativity,  I really like the final outcome of  the track,  I’m playing it and its been fitting nicely into my sets.

If you could give one piece of advice to your peers (in music), what would it be?
Don´t over complicate the mix, keep it clean, separate everything so you can control each and every element, kick, snare hat, bongo whatever! Fewer elements, well controlled and stimulated with effects are more effective than overcrowded channels.  Each frequency needs space to breathe and fluctuate.

Featured Remix Artist – Aziz AlHumaidhi


Born March 2nd 1979. Began messing around with electronic music production in 1997. Graduated with an architecture degree in 2001.

When did you start working on music and what programs / software do you use?
I started Djing during high school and began working on music production during my freshman year in college. I first worked with Rebirth and Cubase and then onto reason, Ableton live and Logic.

Why did you enter Zahed’s Remix Competition and choose to remix the track that you did?
When I was asked to enter the competition I was given the available choices. I found parts that I liked to develop in several of tracks and so chose to reinterpret the different elements in all the music into one track.

If you could give one piece of advice to your peers (in music), what would it be?
It’s not about the equipment and software you have, it’s really just about you.

Watch The Remix EP Promo Video: http://youtu.be/vxMEAtEckLU

Buy The Remix EP on iTunes: http://bit.ly/q8n8iI

Zahed Sultan Official Web Properties:

Website: http://www.iamzahed.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zahedsultan

Facebook:http://on.fb.me/dZSjMo

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/zahedsultan

SoundCloud:http://soundcloud.com/zahed-sultan

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/zahedsultan