Hidden Gems Records Unite 15 Arab Artists on First VA Compilation

Hidden Gems Records, a newly-launched label by trailblazing Saudi nightlife visionary Jeme, brings together 15 different electronic DJs from across seven Arab countries for its debut VA compilation record, From Our Region To You, showcasing the rich diversity of the MENA’s underground scenes.

Less of a label showcase and more like a borderless nocturnal map, the 16-track album bypasses the lazy orientalist clichés that Western listeners often expect from Arab electronic music. There are no tacky, pasted-on oud loops or predictable darbuka drops here. Instead, the compilation leans heavily into an authentic, deeply psychological regional identity, capturing the distinctive and expansive range of the region’s DJs and producers.

"This VA took a year to build. It was worth every moment," Jeme tells SceneNoise. "We wanted to prove that the underground scene in our region has something real and lasting to say,  and I think this compilation does exactly that."

The curation reads like a meticulously assembled who’s-who of the regional underground circuit, featuring Saudi heavyweights Vinyl Mode, Jeme, and K.LED, who anchor the project alongside Bahraini tastemaker Zone+ and the elusive Bood, delivering a masterclass in deep, warm, and highly sophisticated minimal grooves. Egypt’s cutting-edge studio wizardry takes center stage with raw, atmospheric contributions from Omar Fayyad on ‘Good Frame (of Mind)’ and Ramy Mishraky on ‘Gammal’, while a standout collaboration between producer Mustafa Ismaeel and vocalist Reem injects a haunting, organic vocal presence that lingers long after the track fades. Rounding out this pan-regional powerhouse are sonic heavy-hitters like BRQ, DUK, Fulltone, Hats & Klaps, Mista Safwan, Omar C, and Pan-J, each pulling from the distinct nightlife identities of Lebanon, the UAE, Iraq, and Tunisia to create a cohesive, late-night journey.

While the compilation is dominating streaming platforms, the label has pressed a highly limited run of physical vinyl, in a move that honours old-school crate-digging culture. While the compilation is dominating streaming platforms, the label has pressed a highly limited run of physical vinyl, in a move that honours old-school crate-digging culture. The wax is available to order via the link in Hidden Gems Records' Instagram bio, and also sold exclusively as merch at their physical showcase events across the region. It’s a beautiful, heavy-hitting love letter to the MENA nightlife ecosystem, a defiant reminder that our underground doesn’t need external validation when it’s already busy building the future.

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