Zeid Hamdan on the Collaborations That Shaped His Creative World

There's a specific kind of alchemy required to pioneer an entire musical landscape, and for over two decades, Zeid Hamdan has been its chief architect. Often hailed as the godfather of the Arab underground indie scene, the Lebanese producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist didn’t just participate in the regional movement; he practically built its foundation when he co-founded Soapkills alongside Yasmine Hamdan in late-90s Beirut.

By grafting a bold combination of rock, trip-hop, and experimental electronica onto classical Arabic modes, he forged a sonic template that continues to inspire successive generations of Arab musicians to this day.

Yet, listening to Hamdan discuss his trajectory during a candid sit-down at the inaugural edition of Beirut’s TEMPO summit in February 2026, one quickly realises that his vast discography - stretching from iconic collaborations with Maryam Saleh and Maii Waleed to his latest avant-garde outfit, Bedouin Burger, alongside Lynn Adib - was never guided by strategic calculation. It was driven entirely by passion.

For Hamdan, every major artistic era of his life has been sparked by an intense, almost magnetic infatuation with raw talent. It was his desperate urge to find a reason to sit in a room with Yasmine Hamdan that birthed Soapkills and altered Arab alternative music forever, a recurring pattern of falling for a voice, an aura, and a performer’s sheer power that has dictated his trajectory ever since.

His unyielding romanticism is paired with an uncompromising, old-school ethic toward the craft itself. Thus, it was fitting to ask someone of his remarkable stature for advice to the next generation of regional artists. According to Hamdan, it’s as simple as: If music justifies your existence, you hustle, you invest every scrap of your resources into the work, and you trust the process regardless of financial instability.

In an era where regional music is increasingly sanitised for streaming metrics and global appeal, Hamdan remains a vital reminder that real culture isn't built on market strategies or viral hooks. It is forged in the volatile, beautiful space where raw devotion meets relentless hustle, a space he continues to inhabit, redefine, and protect for everyone who comes after him.

Watch the full interview below: