XP Conversations: Sama' Abdulhadi

Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi has long been a defining force in the region’s electronic music landscape. From her early role in shaping Ramallah’s underground scene in the 2010s to her breakout 2018 Boiler Room set, Abdulhadi has emerged as one of the most prominent global ambassadors for Palestinian techno. In recent years, however, her focus has increasingly extended beyond her own career, centring on mentorship, community building, and championing the next generation of female DJs across the Arab world.

In the latest episode of XP Conversations, Abdulhadi reflects on this shift, from pursuing individual success to investing in the collective growth and long-term sustainability of the region’s music ecosystem. She also pushes back against the persistent narrative that electronic music in the Arab world is merely catching up to Western trends, dismissing such views as reductive and outdated.

According to Abdulhadi, the region’s electronic output has evolved to a point where local producers are crafting music that often rivals, and at times surpasses, the depth and complexity of contemporary Western releases. With international DJs increasingly incorporating tracks by Arab artists into their sets, she argues that the region is no longer simply consuming global electronic culture, but actively contributing to it.

Watch the full interview below: