ISMA’s ‘NAR’ Fuses Ghettotech and Bass with Traditional Iraqi Rhythms

ISMA, an Iraqi DJ and producer based in Paris, has been steadily injecting Arab influences and traditional Iraqi sounds into Europe’s futuristic club scene. His latest EP, NAR, released on the No Future Berlin imprint, dives deeper into his Arab heritage, taking a personal approach that solidifies his singular sonic identity.

Across three dark, club-ready tracks, ISMA fuses techno, left-field bass, and ghettotech with classical Iraqi instruments, melodies, and haunting vocals, creating a soundscape that feels like a surreal trip through a nightmarish cemetery.

The opening track, ‘IRAQI’, loops like a haunted warehouse rave: metallic synths clash with gritty 808 bass, layered with Middle Eastern percussion and jagged, scratchy textures. ‘Koulchi’ leans fully into ISMA’s roots, opening with a hypnotic vocal refrain that rides atop crisp tabla rhythms for the full 4:30 runtime, punctuated by trance-y interludes and dark synth buildups. It’s a claustrophobic immersion, like intrusive thoughts amplified to a dizzying pitch.

The EP’s title track, ‘NAR’, thrives on aggressive bass kicks and fast-footwork Jit rhythms, layering raw, high-energy percussion over electric zips and hypnotic synth lines.

With EP NAR, ISMA showcases a bold, forward-looking club sound, defined by cohesive arrangements and innovative production, establishing himself as an artist to keep an eye out for.