MazaJ (meaning mood in Arabic) is a place of free expression that presents sonic experimentation from the Middle East and its diaspora.

The first edition of the MazaJ Festival celebrates contemporary and experimental Arabic music and Middle Eastern sonic culture, encouraging audiences to look beyond the 'world music' label by stripping bare the stereotypes of 'Arabic' or 'Middle Eastern' music. Taking the form of a one day conference and concert at City University followed by a weekend of talks and performances at Café Oto, the festival features work from Mazen Kerbaj – a founder of the Lebanese free improvisation scene, artist Hassan Khan (Egypt), Mutamassik- turntablist pioneer of Sa'aidi hardcore & Baladi breakbeats (Egypt/USA); sound artist and founder of Cairo’s 100Copies Label, Mahmoud Refat (Egypt), free improvisation by Sharif Sehnaoui (Lebanon) and composer/improviser/percussionist Michael Zerang (USA).

Video of percussionist/composer Michael Zerang at the Velvet Lounge in Chicago

Mutamassik's "Take The Hit" from their album That Which Death Cannot Destroy. All instruments (Cello, Drums, Mazhar, Keyboard, Turntables) performed, produced and engineered by Mutamassik at G.G.S.S./Rocca AlMileda Studio. Special guest vox & asst. engineer: Meroe Amade' Memphis. Video by G. LOLI

Wormholes, an ongoing improvised audio visual project by Mazen Kerbaj (drawing) and Sharif Sehnaoui (acoustic guitar). The excerpts shown here are taken from the second performance, "Wormholes #2", performed live at Brussels Les Halles de Schaerbeek.

MazaJ: Festival of Experimental Middle Eastern Music takes place at London’s Café Oto, 20-21 November, £22 festival pass.