Bachir Salloum: "I strive to innovate while staying true to my sound"

Dec 5, 2024

Bachir is a rising Middle Eastern talent known for his deep, emotional productions and dynamic sets blending progressive and deep house. Influenced by Beirut’s vibrant music scene and inspired by his brother’s love for hip-hop, he began exploring electronic music at 16. Now based in Dubai, Bachir has shared the stage with top DJs like Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha, and Nick Warren. His music, released on labels like Sudbeat, Balance Music, and Mango Alley, has gained a strong following, making him a key figure in the Middle Eastern electronic music scene.

Your latest EP "Vivid Imagination" has just been released. Can you tell us how your collaboration with NOIYSE PROJECT came about and how you developed the concept behind the EP? Additionally, how did your connection with the Mango Alley label begin?

Hello everyone, and thank you for having me on your platform. NOIYSE PROJECT and I first met in Dubai during a show for the legendary Hernan Cattaneo, introduced by our mutual friend Zarak, a highly respected promoter from Pakistan. We instantly connected over our shared love for similar sounds, which led us to say, "Why not create some music together?" That’s how "Vivid Imagination" came to life. We’re excited to share that more releases are already in the works for next year. My journey with Mango Alley began two years ago with the DJ Ruby VA compilation. Since then, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet Alex in person during a show in Armenia.

You grew up in Beirut, a city with an iconic music scene, and now live in Dubai, an emerging hub for electronic music. How have these two cultures influenced your musical style and approach to production?

Beirut has a vibrant and ever-evolving music scene, filled with incredible talent from Lebanon. It played a big role in shaping who I am as an artist today. Moving to Dubai was a major shift—it introduced me to a diverse community of like-minded individuals and opened up so many new opportunities. It was a journey of growth and evolution for me, both personally and musically.

Your career has led you to play alongside legends like Sasha, Black Coffee, and Damian Lazarus. What has been the most significant or formative experience you've had working with artists of this caliber?

Playing alongside legends like Sasha, Black Coffee, and Damian Lazarus has been an incredible learning experience. It taught me how to craft a musical story, connect deeply with the crowd, and embrace creative risks. Each moment has been key to my growth as an artist.

You started your musical journey with mixtapes and influences like progressive rock. How has this early phase contributed to your current sound aesthetic in progressive and deep house?

From a very young age, I was deeply drawn to music with an intense passion. I would spend hours recording mixtapes from radio stations, striving to perfect each mix. Growing up listening to legends like John Digweed, Sasha, and Hernan Cattaneo greatly shaped who I am as an artist today and fueled my love for Melodies and progressive and deep house.

You have a packed release schedule in the coming months. Is there a project you are particularly excited to share? How are you evolving musically with these new productions?

I’m really excited about the projects coming up, especially the collaborations with NOIYSE PROJECT. Our track Vivid Imagination was just the beginning, and we have more music lined up for next year that I can’t wait to share. Musically, I’m focusing on pushing boundaries and exploring deeper, more emotive sounds while staying true to my progressive roots. Each new production feels like a step forward in refining my style and sharing storytelling through music.