The Needle / United Arab Emirates - Underground

"The Needle / United Arab Emirates - Underground" is a genre-blurring dive into global underground sounds with a distinct pulse rooted in the UAE’s vibrant and evolving scene. The playlist weaves through Arabic trap and alt-pop like Stou’s “9oli 3leh,” and finds space for meditative ambiance in tracks like “Told” by Kiasmos and Ólafur Arnalds. It fuses international voices, rhythms, and moods, from the emotional weight of “deathwish” by guccihighwaters to the dancefloor energy of "Tshwala Bam X Soweto - Mash Up" by Xtofa.

You’ll also hear a mix of slowed-down edits, drill, amapiano, and European rap influences, riding through tracks like “Praise the Lord ☥” by MACE and “G Wagon” by Gzuz. From North African ballads to Latin remixes and indie-electronic blends, this playlist curates a sound collage that reflects a new kind of underground: hybrid, borderless, and constantly shifting.