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CairoScene
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Egypt's Rap Roots: Shahyn
Egypt's Rap Roots: Shahyn Long before viral hits and streaming platforms, Egyptian rapper Shahyn was making noise throughout the Bluetooth era, trading tracks through hard drives and Facebook links. Active since 2006, when the rap scene in Egypt was still considered subcultural, it's hard to overstate Shahyn's impact on the rap scene - not only as a skilled lyricist, but as a community builder. As a teenager in Alexandria, drawn in by old-school hip-hop influences like Tupac, Shahyn joined Y‑Crew Family (one of the city's foundational rap collectives) alongside the likes of Omar Boflot and Yassin Zahran. The crew's grassroots ethos defined his early years: rough demos, cultural venue gigs, and a lyrical style sharpened by satire, street smarts, and an instinct for storytelling. As the digital landscape evolved, so too did the scene. SoundCloud opened doors, YouTube offered visibility, streaming platforms emerged, and Egyptian rap expanded. Yet through all of these changes, Shahyn remained a constant force in the rap game, growing his loyal following over the years. Today, he holds a rare position in Egypt's rap timeline. He belongs to the generation that built the scene from scratch, but his music still lands with younger audiences navigating a very different landscape. That continuity matters, because while most of today's artists are more visible than ever, many still work within structures Shahyn and his peers helped create. Shahyn's story reminds us that Egypt's rap scene didn't appear fully formed. It was passed through USB ports and hard drives, burned onto discs, and played on Nokia speakers. Egypt's Rap Roots is SceneNoise's new series diving into the evolution of Egypt's most popular alternative music scene, tracing the timeline through the experiences of pioneering artists.
Stuff.tv
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
Best electronic instruments in 2025, including MIDI keyboards, drum pads and samplers
Electronic instruments have come a long way since New Order sequenced Blue Monday using binary code. Now it's all quantised beats, USB-C, and expensive noise-cancelling headphones. And if you're in the market for modern melodies, these are the machines you need. From MIDI keyboards to beat pads, below you'll find an orchestra of tools for making electronic music. Whether you're tinkering with your first track or ready to lay down another lo-fi banger, the kit listed here will help you sample, sequence and synthesise your way to a smash hit. Or at least something worth sharing on SoundCloud. Don't know your MIDI DIN from your MIDI in? We've also broken down some electronic lingo to help you out. Give it a read, and you'll know your controllers better than Jean-Michel Jarre knows his laser harp. Why you can trust Stuff: Our team of experts rigorously test each product and provide honest, unbiased reviews to help you make informed decisions. For more details, read how we test and rate products. The best electronic instruments you can buy today: The rhythm rig 1. Native Instruments Maschine Mikro Amadeus never needed drum pads. Then again, Wolfgang didn't do trip-hop beats. If your unfinished symphony is more Massive Attack than Mozart, try this groovebox. Colour-coded pads help you compose percussion parts with targeted taps, while a Smart Strip lets you mix up your kicks with Perform FX. Plus, the Maschine software has more instruments than an orchestra. The groovy grid 2. Novation Launchpad X You need light and sound for a desktop disco. Luckily, this rainbow grid does both. Like a dancefloor for your fingers, the 64-pad plinth lets you paint your tunes with RGB pixels. Designed for Ableton Live, it also functions as a fully mappable MIDI controller. Tap out patterns on the velocity-sensitive squares, and the capture mode will ensure you never miss a beat. The stealthy stepper 3. Arturia BeatStep Sometimes the biggest beats start with something small. Don't let its stature fool you: this compact controller can do it all. Use its pressure-sensitive pads for finger drumming or switch to sequencer mode to create 16-step patterns. Matching pitch knobs give you granular command of every note, while iPad connectivity means your rhythm isn't tied to a desk. The sound snatcher 4. Teenage Engineering EP 133 K.O. II The music man might be able to play the piano, but can he record a dog's bark and sequence it into a drum and bass banger? Probably not, but this distinctive sampler can. Styled like a Lego answering machine and just as fun to play with, battery power and a built-in mic mean it's made for going walkabout. Punch-in effects let you mangle samples on the fly, too. The standalone studio 5. Yamaha SEQTRAK You could build a studio in your shed. Or for a portable production setup, try this Yamaha hybrid. Part sampler, part sequencer, part synth – plus a sound effects section: the SEQTRAK is a self-contained station for crafting electronic jams. Lightweight but heavy on features, it includes a library of 2000 presets. There's even an integrated speaker for impromptu gigs. The rugged recorder 6. Roland SP-404MKII It might look like a hardcore calculator, but this button box is actually built for crunching notes, not numbers. Tough enough for any beat battle, its hands-on interface and signature sounds have made the SP a cult hit with DIY musicians. An OLED display makes it easier to layer loops, stack effects and slice samples in real time, which is a lot more fun than solving equations. The mini maestro 7. Akai Professional MPK Mini MK3 The Swiss Army doesn't need a MIDI controller. If it did, this would be the one. A fun-sized performer you can play several ways, it's a versatile utensil for tinkering with tunes. The 25 mini keys keep your fingers busy, along with eight pads, a pitch stick and a built-in arpeggiator. Assignable knobs complete the ensemble. The only thing missing is a bottle opener. The tactile tinkler 8. Roli Seaboard M When is a mini keyboard not a keyboard? When it's a haptic slab of sonic expression. Swapping regular keys for a responsive playing surface, the smallest Seaboard lets you glide, slide and press your way to organic sounds that a pitch wheel could only dream of – from swelling synths to string vibrato. Need more range? Magnetic connectors let you attach additional boards for extra octaves. Buy Now The portable performer 9. Korg nanoKEY Fold Even composers need a summer break. Pack this travel-sized MIDI keyboard for tunes wherever your next tour takes you. Lightweight at just 126g, the flat-pack piano folds in half without sacrificing features. 25 silent membrane keys mean you can rehearse without disturbing fellow passengers, while a pair of touch sliders let you perfect your melodies, whether you're taking them to Malibu or Ibiza. How to choose the best electronic instrument Looking to buy the best electronic instrument but don't know where to start? Here are some things to consider: Pads: Want to finger drum like Fred Again? Pick a tool with percussive pads. Some are velocity-sensitive for responsive beats, while others have RGB backlighting for better visual feedback when you're deep in the groove. Want to finger drum like Fred Again? Pick a tool with percussive pads. Some are velocity-sensitive for responsive beats, while others have RGB backlighting for better visual feedback when you're deep in the groove. Keys: MIDI keys come in different renditions, from plasticky plonkers to pressure-sensitive sets. If you play piano, you'll want ivories with proper travel. If you just need to trigger chords, a lighter touch will do. MIDI keys come in different renditions, from plasticky plonkers to pressure-sensitive sets. If you play piano, you'll want ivories with proper travel. If you just need to trigger chords, a lighter touch will do. Connectivity: USB-C, MIDI DIN, CV/GATE: connectivity can make or break your setup. Check what language your gear speaks before shelling out. Some instruments double as audio interfaces, with input ports for mics and other sources. USB-C, MIDI DIN, CV/GATE: connectivity can make or break your setup. Check what language your gear speaks before shelling out. Some instruments double as audio interfaces, with input ports for mics and other sources. Software: Not all tools are plug-and-play. Some need a digital audio workstation (DAW) to function. If you prefer jamming to programming, pick one with built-in brains so you can noodle without a laptop. Now check out Stuff's guide to the best creative control panels.
Atlantic
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Atlantic
Lorde Is Looking in the Mirror. Again.
Has the internet sucked all the fun out of the physical world, or has it merely concentrated it in Washington Square Park? New York University's de facto campus green has long served as an open-air salon for bohemians and drug dealers, but since the coronavirus pandemic, it's buzzed with new energy—the energy of content creation. TikTokers patrol the park's paths, ambushing passersby to ask for interviews. Video-game streamers lead fans around ' like a Pied Piper.' Timothée Chalamet went there to check out his own look-alike competition. The veil between the online and offline realms feels thin as Zoomers socialize in their Zoomer way: playful, anarchic, yet always aware of the camera. Lorde is there too. The 28-year-old pop eccentric claims to have been hanging out in Washington Square Park 'every day' of late. In April, she caused a commotion there by blasting her new single to a crowd of fans while filming a guerrilla-style music video. Her propulsive fourth album, Virgin, is set amid the heat-radiating pavement of the park and its downtown-Manhattan surroundings. The exemplary voice for a generation beset by digitally induced isolation, Lorde is making a bold effort to celebrate the visceral by singing of flesh, spit, sweat, blood, and cigarette smoke. But the rush she wants to deliver is diluted by another modern problem: self-consciousness verging on self-obsession. Lorde changed the world when she was just a 16-year-old New Zealander uploading music to SoundCloud. Her 2013 debut, Pure Heroine, used hissed confessions, minimalistic beats, and a writerly sense of narrative to refute its era's abundance of body-over-brain EDM and hip-hop. Many of her listeners were kids in the very same situation that Lorde sang about: stuck in a bedroom in their anonymous town, alienated from the high life advertised on their screens. The influence of that album—and its smoldering 2017 follow-up, Melodrama —still shapes the work of Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and even Taylor Swift. The point of post-Lorde pop isn't to get faceless crowds grooving mindlessly. It's to make each individual fan feel like their life is a movie. Lorde then disoriented her audience with 2021's Solar Power, a warm sigh of an album from a star enjoying some well-deserved relaxation. Its strummy songs about fleeing Hollywood to get high on a New Zealand beach contained some of the most beautiful craftsmanship of her career. But fans who'd always related to her started to feel left out of the story she was telling: Lorde was slowing down and leaning out at a time of life, her early 20s, when people tend to speed up and lean in. For many listeners, traits that had been essential to her art all along—overwroughtness, sentimentality, affectation—stopped seeming so cute. Virgin is, as its name suggests, a purposeful regression, a return to youthful possibility. The sound is electronic and rhythmically driven; the singing trembles with desire and confusion. But Virgin also reflects where Lorde finds herself in her late 20s, and where pop finds itself in the mid-2020s. Following the example of Charli XCX's Brat and its avant-garde influences, the producer Jim-E Stack has fashioned fun beats out of distorted noise. Lorde sings about a transitional period of womanhood marked by pregnancy tests, gender-identity explorations, body-image issues, crises of confidence, and a shattering breakup with her partner of seven years. The action is as spiritual as it is physical: 'I might have been born again,' she sings on the opener. The ensuing songs are laden with so many religious references that one wonders if she's joined an unconventional church in which singing about kinky sex and party drugs is a sacrament. More likely, Lorde is just trying to lend enchantment to her 21st-century yuppie routine. The titanium water bottle she carries around is, she's said in interviews, a ' talisman.' Her smartphone is, per one lyric, 'liquid crystal.' As she pumps iron and meditates on heartbreak, she seems to imagine her younger self looking down like an 'angel.' She confesses to having treated her ex like God—but now, it's clear, Lorde's lord is Lorde. The album's best moments transmit the magic she's singing about. The bleary garage beat of 'Shapeshifter' creates a sense of twilight intrigue building to dawn-breaking revelation. On 'If She Could See Me Now,' rigid-feeling verses melt satisfyingly into swaying choruses. When Lorde's voice merges with waves of reverb on the gut-punch closer, 'David,' you might check to see if the music is coming from outside, not inside, your headphones. Throughout, she uses conversational cadences to steer through hairpin emotional turns without making anyone dizzy. Too often, though, Virgin 's thrill is muddled or muted. In part, blame Stack's production: The trappings of sonic radicalism and aggression—industrial guitars that hum like broken TVs, percussion that pounds from all directions—belie what's essentially smooth, streamable fare. Now-tired 2010 fads that Lorde pioneered, including bittersweet tropical-pop textures and moaning vocal snippets, are everywhere. Moments of genuine surprise and extremity are rare. An album that presents itself as stark and liberated feels too much like a product of creative compromise. Against this backdrop, Lorde's insularity starts to wear on the listener. This album about exciting city life is really about Lorde finding herself wherever she goes—in the aura reader on Canal Street, in the shirt her hookup is wearing, in the endorphin epiphany she has at the gym. She sings of ego death and punching mirrors, but only as part of a process of ever-more-granular inward inspection that's intense but ultimately circular. Whatever's happening in the broader world is written off as 'painted faces' babbling about 'current affairs.' As the album cover indicates, Virgin is an X-ray that highlights what's not there. So much of recent pop music is like this—hyperspecifically self-involved—precisely because of Lorde's influence. But Virgin suggests this once-exciting approach is starting to become redundant and rote, reflecting a culture in which introspection has supplanted any sense of common purpose, and no one can tell the difference between living life and performing it. In Lorde's early days, she sang a lot about 'we,' a generational cohort beating back alienation together. Virgin is all 'I'—but a breakthrough awaits when she or one of her talented contemporaries turns their lens outward.
Daily Record
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Paisley primary school pupils hit the right notes with songwriting project
Youngsters at Todholm Primary have been taking part in a project which has seen them write and record music. Todholm Primary pupils in Paisley have hit the right notes with a songwriting project. The school has been alive with creativity over the past six months thanks to a unique music class. It was open to pupils from primary four to primary seven – and even two enthusiastic girls from Todholm Nursery who joined in with their families. Since January, these young musicians have been working hard on a very special project; writing and recording an original song all about their school. Led by inspiring music teacher Scott MacDonald, the group learned not only how to sing and harmonise but also how to craft lyrics, understand musical structure and play instruments. The children came up with the lyrics themselves and chose words that captured the spirit and joy of life at Todholm Primary. Scott, alongside one of the pupils' talented grandfathers, John, composed the music and accompanied the sessions on piano and acoustic guitar. He told the Paisley Daily Express: 'Each week, the sessions brought laughter, learning and connection, not just for the children but for the parents, too. Together, they rehearsed and refined the song, gaining confidence and having a brilliant time along the way.' This week marked the project's grand finale – a professional recording session at Loud n Proud Studios. Scott added: 'The excitement was electric as the children stepped into the studio, learning first hand what it's like to record vocals, layer harmonies and bring a song to life. 'One of the most rewarding moments was hearing the children confidently sing in harmony – a milestone that made everyone beam with pride.' Scott brought a wealth of experience to the project having previously delivered music therapy in schools. He adapted his songwriting programme to suit the Todholm community, encouraging creativity and collaboration between pupils and parents. The initiative was made possible thanks to the generous support of Renfrewshire Council which Scott was quick to praise. He added: 'The delight on the children's and parents' faces at the recording studio said it all.' The finished song is expected to be released on SoundCloud in August, pending permissions and approvals. This project has not only given pupils a taste of professional music-making, it has also strengthened school community ties, boosted confidence and shown what's possible when creativity and collaboration come together in harmony.
Scottish Sun
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The highs and lows of Lewis Capaldi – from Love Island girlfriend to Tourette's and shock comeback
There's exciting times ahead for the Scots singer. SOMEONE WE LOVE The highs and lows of Lewis Capaldi – from Love Island girlfriend to Tourette's and shock comeback Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEWIS CAPALDI released a new single today after it was revealed he has a secret set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury. It marks a sensational comeback story for the Scots singer two years after he broke down on the very same stage and had to cut his set short. 6 Lewis Capaldi performs at Glastonbury before walking off due to his health struggles. Credit: Getty The Someone You Loved star, 28, quietly warmed up for the gig by joining Tom Walker, Dermot Kennedy and Nathan Evans for impromptu performances at charity concerts last month. It's been a whirlwind journey for the Bathgate-born singer after he burst onto the scene in 2019. Here's a look at the highs and lows of 'Scotland's Beyonce.' EARLY DAYS 6 Performing in 2017 before finding fame. Credit: Getty - Contributor With supportive parents in fishmonger Mark and nurse Carol, Lewis grew up in Whitburn, West Lothian, with siblings Anthony, Danielle and Warren. The singer started playing guitar aged nine and graduated to gigs three years later - hiding in pub bathrooms until his time to perform because he was too young to be there. He was discovered at 18 when his manager heard a recording he'd made in his bedroom that was uploaded to SoundCloud. Soon after he graduated with an HND in Music from New College Lanarkshire, Motherwell. RISE TO FAME 6 He was catapulted to superstardom. Credit: The Mega Agency Lewis released his first single, Bruises, in March 2017 and it was an immediate success as he became the fastest ever unsigned artist to reach 25 million plays on Spotify. The following year his EP called Breach launched him to superstardom - with the track Someone You Loved spending seven weeks at number one and ending up the year's top selling song. He became the first artist ever to sell out an arena tour before dropping an album. Lewis Capaldi's highly-anticipated comeback -- and who will be Charli XCX's Apple girl? | Showbiz Fix But that all changed in 2019 with the release of Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent. It was the biggest selling album in the UK in five years, spending five weeks at number one. He then played festivals and shows all over the world as he got to grips with his sudden fame. But he took time off in 2021 to focus on recording his second album Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent. It eventually came out in 2023 and topped the album charts again - spawning three number one singles in the process. HEALTH WOES 6 He took a break from music after struggling on stage. Credit: AFP The musician started showing nervous tics and increasing anxiety as he popularity grew. Fans became concerned by his struggles on stage and he revealed in September 2022 that he'd been diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. The episodes could be so severe that his mum had to sleep in his bed as she was the only person that could talk him out of a panic attack. He even cancelled a trip to the USA because he thought he had a brain tumour - paying for an MRI scan only to find out that there was nothing wrong with him. His family urged him top consider quitting music when his twitches were so bad they thought he was having a seizure. During his performance at Glastonbury two years ago, he was coming out of a three-week mental health hiatus he had taken to 'rest and recover'. But he confessed that he was struggling with his Tourette's and said his voice had 'packed it in', after coughing throughout the show. He had to walk off stage and later took a break for the foreseeable future to get his mental and physical and health in check. Lewis released just three singles between his second album and now due to his struggles. RELATIONSHIPS 6 Lewis used to date Paige Turley. Lewis dated fellow singer and Love Island winner Paige Turley after the pair met in college. They were on and off between 2014 and 2016 before calling it a day. In 2023 he went public with Edinburgh-born actress Ellie MacDowall, at the Brit awards. They split a year later and he was then linked with glamorous influencer Remy O'Brien. But a source later claimed they were just friends. FRIENDS AND FEUDS 6 Niall Horan and Lewis Capaldi perform at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend 2023. Credit: Getty Lewis is best mates with former One Direction star Niall Horan, 31. While he gets on so well with Ed Sheeran, 34, that the Shape Of You star sent the Scot a link to a house for sale - which he then bought. He's hung out with Harry Potter fave Emma Watson, 35, at Wimbledon and partied with Stormzy, 31 at the Brits. However, he found himself embroiled in a hilarious feud with Oasis legend Noel Gallagher, 58, in 2019. Gallagher said "Who's this Capaldi fella?" and branded him an idiot on radio - only for Lewis to call the rocker old and past his prime. The Wonderwall artist responded by posting a video of his son weeping to Lewis' hit track Someone You Loved, advising him to "find some joy" in his music. Lewis then wore a T-shirt with Gallagher's face inside a love heart at Glastonbury - and later posted with his rival brother Liam, 52. FUTURE It remains to be seen how Lewis will cope when he returns to the stage at Glastonbury. But if all goes well, fans will be clamouring for a third album and a major tour. He was previously overheard saying he wanted to bring out an album this year. Music megastar Yungblud has also revealed that he's heard some of the Scot's new music - and that it sounds great.
