What We Learned About Music in Egypt at XP Music Futures' XChange Cairo

Amid what some called an "unique cultural moment," the country is now a veteran at the table when it comes to the growing Middle East and North African music industry

- ANURAG TAGAT

As annual conference XP Music Futures arranged its XChange Cairo workshop in Egypt in late May, they realized they were about to deal with a culturally different kind of music industry personnel in their sessions.

Saudi Arabia-centered XP Music Futures’ head of programming Yasmine Rasool says, “We were excited about Cairo because they’re known to be so brash with their comments and they go all out and be like, ‘This is my opinion!’ We were told the workshops are going to get a bit heated up, because everyone has such strong opinions.”

We’re seated outside the main room where XChange Cairo’s workshops are taking place, in an upscale sort of co-working and gallery space in Egypt’s capital. From the importance of safe spaces to the shortage of managers and labels and even eco-friendlier events, the room is full of opinions from the new and established voices of Egypt – a country that often evokes ideas of civilization, revolution and more. “It’s like a focus group,” Rasool says.

Launched last year, XChange has since also set up in Amman and Abu Dhabi, leading up to the main XP Music Futures conference in Riyadh in December. What feels like a gathering of voices and talent from Egypt also seems to be an extended hand from Saudi Arabia’s growing music and entertainment industry, one that has the blessings of the government. Call it a flex of soft power or just necessary PR, XP Music Futures is trying to build bridges in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and they received a warm, even if slightly discerning welcome in Cairo.