SceneNoise x Sandbox Festival 'SelectBox' Stage Returns for 2025
In the region's festival circuit, the lineup curation tends to focus on the 'biggest' international acts or the most well-established regional names, where artists are typically booked based on how revered their reputations are in the electronic scene, their social media presence, or visibility within preexisting music circles. Three years ago, SceneNoise decided to flip the script, and teamed up with Egypt's Sandbox Festival to launch its 'Select' live concept on the sandy shores of El Gouna, Red Sea, with #SelectBox, an intimate space carved out to amplify the raw talent of the region's freshest upcoming selectors.
Over time, that unassuming little box of noise, with its bolstering grungy after-party vibes, gained a cult-following as a renegade escape from traditional festival stages. It became a pleasant surprise amidst the beachside shenanigans of Sandbox, where festival-goers could stumble in, sandy-footed and sun-kissed, to let loose, dance in a cozy space, and discover a wide variety of new sounds the algorithm hadn't yet chewed up and spat out. The SelectBox stage evolved into a crucible, a launchpad, and a catalyst for some of the region's most exciting talents, regardless of their festival track record, welcoming the likes of OT, Kurls, Jiffy, Saoud, Azzouni, and more.
As we gear up for the third edition of SelectBox at Sandbox 2025, running from May 8th-10th in El Gouna, I had a little chat with some of the selectors who previously graced SelectBox –and have since commanded bigger stages at major gigs and festivals worldwide- to unpack their SelectBox experience and its impact on their careers.
Mira, an Egyptian DJ and resident at Cairo's Yellow Tape Records, who played SelectBox last year in 2024, calls it 'a stepping stone' for emerging artists: 'Sandbox is a massive festival in terms of lineup curation, so trying to get yourself out there can feel intimidating. But, SelectBox does a great job of giving lesser-known artists a platform amid the large-scale backdrop of the festival.' She explains, 'On a personal level, it definitely inspired me to step outside of my comfort zone, play more openly and not shy away from being recorded.'
Then there's Lana Mawlood, a force of nature with British-Kurdish roots who, mid her SelectBox debut set in 2023, dropped a balie funk edit of Nancy Ajram's sugar pop 'Ya Tab Tab' –a jester that propelled her into the local clubbing spotlight. For her, SelectBox felt like a house party where anything could happen. 'It definitely was a massive turning point in my career, an opportunity to prove myself, which opened so many doors for gigs across Cairo and the North Coast.' She pauses a second before continuing, voice feverish with nostalgia, 'Before that, I had only played a handful of gigs. Months later, people would still come up to me saying, 'I saw your set at Sandbox'.' She recalls.
As for Egyptian-Russian DJ Nova Retra, her SelectBox debut in 2023 not only marked her first festival gig, but also her first-ever set to be recorded in full live. 'It was a huge milestone in my career; it was nerve-wrecking and fulfilling. My musical style has developed a lot since then, but looking back, it's a memory I will always cherish,' she tells SceneNoise.
'It [SelectBox] was a game-changer for local talents in Egypt. Previously, locals needed to break a certain barrier and gain a lot of followers so they could be on the radar, or even considered to play at Sandbox…So, it was a big feat, considering we don't have the kind of nightlife infrastructure for electronic music that you mainly find in Western countries. It opened up a space for underground electronic artists like me to have a seat at the table.' Following her debut at SelectBox, Nova was later booked on the festival's main lineup in 2024, with a slot right over the Sandbox stage.
Meanwhile, for Ramez Naguib, a seasoned Egyptian producer and sound designer, who also played SelectBox in 2023, the appeal was all about the intimacy of the setting. 'At the time, I was also playing one of the main stages at Sandbox, but honestly, I had so much fun at SelectBox. I liked how intimate it was; it made it a very special experience,' Ramez tells SceneNoise. A viewpoint shared by the Saudi trailblazing DJ, Vinyl Mode, whose SelectBox gig was the same year as Ramez, and had his fair share of playing at a handful of Sandbox's biggest stages. When I asked him to recall his experience at that little hotbox of noise, he told me he remembers it as one of the best experiences he's had so far, 'I'm for cozy vibes when partying; you know, being close to people…I like how everything is raw about it. I always say let's drop a booth randomly in the middle of the street and just play music, don't hide it, make it a room with easy access where people come in vibe, boom boom, and just leave from the other side.' He says.
'Personally, when I get to any festival as a raver, I like to listen to music and discover artists whom I have never heard about. I feel SelectBox gives that kind of vibe; I saw a lot of great artists there, and was very impressed with the different sounds and how it was always packed the whole time, man.. It's a benchmark to follow.' Vinyl Mode tells SceneNoise, adding, 'I can't wait to go back, man and dance again with all of these people.'
But, when I called up Youssef Yasser, a Cairo-born fresh young talent who was on the SelectBox roster last year in 2024, and is now the artist booking manager and stage curator of SelectBox, he told me, 'I would say my set at SelectBox helped me get the right type of gigs. My sound was still maturing, and it just took shape afterwards, and bookers started to get it and approach me with opportunities that suited my sound identity.' This year, Youssef is slotted to open Sandbox's infamous GrooveBox Stage on day three, Saturday, May 10th. Sharing his own perspective regarding the SelectBox stage, he says, 'Festivals need more stages like this, a space where local and regional talents can showcase their sounds openly; go all out without limits or genre rules. Just pure freedom to mix, match, and show what they have.'
After speaking with those who have already spun their stories on the humble stage, it only felt right to also hear from some of the selectors set to take over the SelectBox reins at Sandbox this year, ready to make their own marks and unleash yet another torrent of unforgettable sounds.
Take Acid Finky, for instance, a German-Algerian DJ and producer, and co-founder of the feminist collective BLVSH, who has been making waves in the underground electronic scene across Berlin and Europe with her crisp sounds, heavy basslines, sharp drums, and ear candy. Looking ahead, she sees her debut at SelectBox as a pivotal moment in her career: 'This is my first festival outside of Europe, so it's very different! I am excited to connect with the regional scene, share my sound in a new context, and represent the Amazigh people,' Whilst Lyss, a Lebanese-Algerian DJ whose high-energy sets have established her as a burgeoning force in the region's electronic scene over the last few years, adds: 'I see SelectBox as a space to grow–the setting, the context, the vibe, it all carries so much cultural weight. I can already tell performing there is going to stay with me.'
Similarly, Rish, one of the cornerstones of the Jordanian underground scene, sees SelectBox as a crucial step in his career. 'It's a much-needed platform focusing on the idea of intimate clubbing rooms, which, you know, have the best energy. I can't wait to experience it in such a large-scale festival for the first time,' He tells SceneNoise.
As the cult-favourite SceneNoise x Sandbox 'SelectBox' stage returns for the 2025 edition, its focus on diversity and talent discovery remains as razor-sharp as ever, further contributing to a more accessible and dynamic festival experience with out-of-the box selections, offering artists the chance to reach new audiences and develop their sound in a supportive environment.
This year's edition is coming through with a hefty roster of brilliant rising and seasoned acts from across the Middle East and North Africa region and its diaspora, including Megatronic, DINA, Acid Finky, Lyss and Rish, along with Ali Youssef, Delrady, Frogmoose, Jana, Khalil, Martina, Kokla, Joumana, Marwan, Rajia, Salma, RJ and Reham Mansour. You don't want to miss this one. See you inside.
To book your tickets for Sandbox Festival 2025, head to www.sandboxfestival.com.
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