Sarkawt Hamad Mix
The Erbil born Amsterdam-based artist, Sarkawt Hamad is joining us for Tapes #120. Between the binaries of darker moods and bliss energies, her sound is unmistakable.
Growing up in the Netherlands, Sarkawt finds inspiration in all sorts of elements; from fascination for rock music, to dream-pop and her roots. Firmly entrenched in the Dutch underground scene, she translates this experience into a melodic flow behind the decks. Diverse in sources, her sets ebb effortlessly between genre - from breaks, to leftfield techno and house, all connected through a contagious energy. Sarkawt creates a space in which euphoria, more pensive states and deep soft noise can coexist.
TRACKLIST
Cousin - Ohm Alone
Sam Goku - Orchids (Altered by Call Super)
Bakey - 1002
Pol - Midnight
Xupid - Sound Mercenary
J. Wiltshire - gothub beginnings
Valody - Bora
Dauwd - The Yuzer (Dauwd Deep Remix)
James Harbrecht - Visions
Mathilde Nobel - Nehalannia
Dustin Zahn & Joel Mull - Vesperium Winds
Gianluca Pellerano - Problem Solving
Urania- Chemical Barriers Hold back the end of the world
Ciel - The Twirler (Central Remix)
Thrived - Aerofoil
Syz - 1E (2Es VIP)
Femin-XY - Inclusion
Nite Fleit - Delicate Balance
Hey Sarkawt, thanks so much for being a part of Origins Tapes! Can you start by introducing yourself?
My name is Sarkawt, (pronounced as Sarkaft) and I’m 27 years old. I studied Fashion & Design and later Art History, ‘specialized’ - whatever that means - in modern and contemporary art. In the meantime I’ve been working on music, and here we are now.
Tell us about the mix - where did you record it? Favourite track inside?
I wanted to make a mix for this series with a bit more air, but I also experimented a bit while recording, especially towards the end. It's recorded at home and some parts are a bit more raw than my usual stuff I would say. I like Syz’ track a lot because it mixes so nicely with every genre and with more experimental stuff. His other releases do as well. It’s a nice one to create new dynamics with.
What’s the ideal setting to listen to it?
I think it’s a nice balance between closer listening and having it in the background. Some parts are more disruptive and grasp attention, but overall it’s groovy.
Being born in Iraq but grown up in Amsterdam, tell us a bit about the Dutch music scene there and your involvement in it?
I grew up in the east of NL and moved to Amsterdam when I was 17 for my studies. Also in the east of NL people were talking about Trouw back then. So I was excited to see what’s going on there, and so it all started. Trouw closed quite fast after I moved here. Me and two close friends went often to Cruquisgilde, Studio 80, till finally de school opened and we made that our home base. We were 19 back then, and the longer you’re involved, the older you get, the more you come up with ideas and thoughts about the Dutch, and the overall music scene yourself. Before I started DJing on a stage, I was already working on music for a long time at home.
Your sound is often described as contrasting between ‘darkness’ and ‘euphoria’ - tell us more about this and how you go about achieving this is in your sets?
I achieve this by layering moods and switching somewhere in between the layers if that makes sense. It has to be harmonious, so it can be tricky to do because you don’t want it to sound like you’re jumping around (unless that’s what you wanna do). That’s why I really build towards certain points, sometimes overly sensing, and that needs patience. Furthermore I’m digging tracks with a certain in between energy. Blissful (peaceful) and darker at the same time. That’s why I don’t mind switching genres. If it has the right energy I’ll try to work with it.
Who are 3 artists that have shaped your sound?
Hard question, but thinking back, and sticking to artists from ‘this time’ that I find inspiring, I would say Donato Dozzy, Four Tet and Schackleton made big impressions when I first saw them. They made me realize like: ah this is also what you can do with it. But also stuff like Floating Points, IF and Das Ding. Kraftwerk. I’ve listened to a lot of different stuff since I was a teenager and I think they all unconsciously shape you in the end.
Lastly, what are your plans for this year - any exciting gigs in the pipeline?
Mostly excited to travel abroad to Nitsa in Barcelona, Hors Club in Brussels with Strangelove, Opium Limited Edition Festival in Vilnius and Listen Festival in Brussels.