Rashid Ajami: I think keeping it simple is important

Following the critically acclaimed release of his five-part Elephant Rock EP in March 2022, burgeoning Saudi Arabian electronic music producer BluePaper now looks to expand on the early success of his debut release on WTR, as he delivers a double-sided remix package for two of the EP's lead singles – Riyadh at Twilight and Elephant Rock. Out now via MDLBEAST Records' subsidiary label WTR – a home for organic, arabesque, electronic music – this latest record sees BluePaper welcome two new interpretations of tracks from the original EP – one from himself, and one from hotly-tipped British producer Rashid Ajami.

First up to the plate is Rashid Ajami, who arrives on WTR for the first time armed with a slew of standout career releases on the likes of Anjunadeep, Armada, Get Physical, Einmusika, Noir, Tale & Tone and Selador. Delivering a stunning rendition of the EP's second single Riyadh at Twilight, the epic seven-minute cut sees Rashid breathe a majestic, pulsating energy into the original mix, imparting an impressive tapestry of organic polyrhythms, warm basslines and dynamic production techniques. We caught up with Rashid from his home in London to find out more.
— Hello Rashid and welcome to Radio Intense. How are you today?
— Hello! I'm very good.

— Where in the world are you right now?
— London.
— We've got your upcoming remix release of Riyadh at Twilight on repeat. Can you talk to us more about this record?
— When I heard the original, I felt it had many rich and organic layers. It was a track I could relate to and I was excited to do the remix. I added some of my own signature sounds whilst staying true to the original.
— What kind of emotion did you look to invoke with the record?
— I wanted to use the piano to add some nostalgia and uplifting emotion. Hopefully this comes through in the remix :)
— Going back to your early days, can you tell us when you fell in love with electronic music?
— I've loved different genres of music from a young age. I've been listening to Electronic music since I was 13 years old! I naturally fell into producing electronic music while I was at university.
— Why did you choose to pursue house music over other genres of electronic music?
— I try not to think of genres when producing music so as not to get boxed into something particular . A lot of my music would probably not be labelled as house. I like to keep it mix multiple genres and to create whatever comes naturally and in the moment.
— What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
— I feel lucky to have an outlet to create and share with the world. It's great to be able to tell stories and invoke emotions through a medium like music that transcends language and cultural boundaries.
— And what do you struggle with the most?
— Today, there are so many sounds, technologies, and ways to create music. I sometimes struggle with the overwhelming number of options. Sometimes, it's better to keep it simple and not over complicate the process. I think keeping it simple is important.
— Looking forwards, do you have any specific goals or objectives you would like to achieve this year?
— My goal is to go further and deeper into audiovisual exploration.
— Finally, do you have any other projects coming up soon that you'd like to share with us?
— This year, I'm fully focused on my metaverse project which will be officially going live in July.

It's called Metropolis World. Stay tuned.