These days, to leave even the briefest of imprints on the ever-increasingly saturated orbit of dance music can be considered a feat in itself. To make a lasting mark, however, one that manages to cut through the onslaught of new music and artist profiles on spotlight each day, is another accomplishment entirely. Cue Dauwd, the US-born, Wales-raised artist who’s been releasing music for nearly 6 years on such noted labels as Ghostly International and Kompakt, and whose debut album Theory of Colours is released via Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour Records.
An integral member of the Berlin night and radio show African Acid Is The Future, Dauwd Al Hilali’s releases have been met with as much expectation as they have intrigue. Spending the last few years out of the limelight and in his Berlin studio, Dauwd’s music has continued to ripple through clubs as his singular, sometimes thrillingly uncertain process of experimentation has continued. Pulling inspiration from electronic music legends like Terry Riley, Raymond Scott, and the seminal Radiophonic Workshop period in the late 50’s and 60’s, Dauwd’s 2017 LP draws a unique line between influences as disparate as hazy Detroit house and early German Krautrock.
A skilled musical engineer, Dauwd’s ability to balance between such sprawling genres is, paradoxically, an exercise in restriction, finding creative freedom in limiting his own gear. It’s clear he’s no stranger to focus; sonically, Theory of Colours runs tightly wound, its loops intentional and layers meticulously built. Spanning a succinct forty minutes across seven tracks, Dauwd’s fondness for delays and love for vintage synthesizers characterize much of the album, which was recorded over the course of a year primarily in the Utrecht based Sonar Traffic studio that houses one of the largest collections of vintage synths and other modular equipment in all of Europe. The result is an intricate, scintillating journey that hovers between familiar and strange. For many artists, that enigmatic gap is one that’s anxiously avoided– the fear of misidentity as a musician more important than the music itself. Throughout Theory of Colours, it’s a space Dauwd comfortably renders as his own.
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Psssh 003: Dauwd
“Super happy to present to you the next release on Psssh, ‘Psssh003’ a 3 track EP to round off... Read more
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Refuge Worldwide: Seid & Dauwd
Seid & Dauwd’s set from the &So on show on for Refuge Worldwide is available to listen back. Read more
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Comme à la radio: Maryisonacid & Dauwd
Maryisonacid and Dauwd’s Comme à la radio December show for Refugee Worldwide is available to listen back. Read more
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HerrenSauna: Maryisonacid B2B Dauwd
Listen back to 3.5 hours of the 9 hours of Maryisonacid B2B Dauwd at HerrenSauna’s 6th Birthday in Funkhaus... Read more
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AAITF: Maryisonacid & Dauwd
A new episode of African Acid Is The Future show for Worldwide FM is available to listen back. The... Read more
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LWE: Dauwd
New At Home LWE feature with Dauwd is now online. Dig in. An integral member of the Berlin night,... Read more
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AAITF: From Summer with Love
“We compiled our best summer memories, sea sex and sun in this last episode of our African Acid Is... Read more
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Psssh 002: Dauwd
Psssh Records returns with the second instalment of a trilogy of releases from label owner Dauwd. The EP matches... Read more
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Maryisonacid & Dauwd on WWFM
Listen back to the duet radio show for Worldwide FM with Maryisonacid and Dauwd. Two hours of groovy and... Read more
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Refugee Worldwide: Maryisonacid & Dauwd
“Listen back to a piece we made for Concentric Records from our residency in Bassam Ivory Coast that was... Read more
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AAITF on Worldwide.FM November
Two hours of slow, fast, smooth, furious tunes with Maryisonacid and Dauwd on the November African Acid is the... Read more
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AAITF on Worldwide.FM September
Maryisonacid and Dauwd present the September edition of the African Acid is the Future show on Worldwide FM. From... Read more
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Phonica Mix: Dauwd
Berlin-based DJ, producer and African Acid Is The Future affiliate, Dauwd, joins us for the 75th edition of the... Read more
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AAITF: Heads Radio
Maryisonacid and Dauwd presented an African Acid Is The Future 2 hour mix / composition / performance on Heads... Read more
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Worldwide.FM: Dauwd & Z Lovecraft
Dauwd was joined by Z Lovecraft on the July edition of the African Acid Is The Future show on... Read more
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Inverted Audio Mix: Dauwd
Dauwd’s contribution to the Inverted Audio mix series features 41 multi-layered tracks, showcasing a wide range of electronics from... Read more
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Worldwide.FM: African Acid Is the Future
Maryisonacid and Dauwd’s African Acid Is the Future April show on Worldwide.FM. From Afro to techno, and a lot... Read more
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5elect5: Dauwd
Dauwd shares his essentials and source of inspiration between tours during self-isolation. When he is not touring around the... Read more
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Psssh Records Launch
Psssh Records is a new joint venture between Dauwd Al Hilali and Dave Redmond with art direction by visual... Read more
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AAITF at Rush Hour
African Acid Is The Future played a Rush Hour in store last week during ADE, check out part of... Read more
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Dauwd on WorldWideFM
Some previews of the new ‘Ambiance II’ record on ‘African Acid Is The Future’, plus a little CHASSOL to... Read more
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African Acid Is The Future: Ambiance II
African Acid Is The Future celebrates Niger’s Taureg groove and gwo ka from Guadeloupe on Ambiance II 2×12″. Featuring... Read more
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Dauwd: Dublab
Following releases for Kompakt, Pictures, and Ghostly, Dauwd released his debut album Theory of Colours on Ninja Tune imprint... Read more
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Solid Steel: Dawud
In the run-up of his return to Ninja Tune’s Technicolour with “Theory of Colours – Versions” EP due out... Read more
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Dauwd Joins Sweat Lodge
Sweat Lodge is happy to welcome Dauwd to its roster. His prolific music can be heard on labels such... Read more
04 Mar Okeechobee Festival, Florida
2022
31 Dec Zenner, Berlin
09 Dec AAITF, Berlin
04 Dec Echos to Earth, Bangalore
03 Dec Antisocial, Mumbai
02 Dec Antisocial, Puna
01 Dec Prana, Goa
19 Nov Zener, Berlin
05 Nov Printworks, London
09 Oct Eagles, Seoul
08 Oct Fauset, Seoul
07 Oct Circus, Osaka
01 Oct Oppa La, Kanagawa
30 Sep Circus, Tokyo
23 Sep Ishinoko, Ishikawa
15 Sep Documenta, Kassel
10 Sep Short Theatre, Rome
03 Sep TBA, Brooklyn
02 Sep Flash, DC
28 Aug Mutek Afterparty at Piknic Electronik, Montreal
27 Aug Live at Mutek, Montreal
26 Aug Sub Division, Toronto
19 Aug Opium, Vilnius
06 Aug AAITF at Loftus Hall, Berlin
23 Jul Herrensauna at RSO, Berlin
15 Jul African Acid Is the Future, Berlin
26 Jun ELSE, Berlin
11 Jun Gottwood Festival, Wales
14 May Zenner, Berlin
13 May AAITF at Loftus Hall, Berlin
23 Apr Prozak 2.0, Krakow
15 Apr The Carpet Shop, London
19 Mar Antisocial, Mumbai
13 Mar Koramangala Social, Bangalore
11 Mar Ring Road Social, Indore
04 Mar Antisocial, Pune
26 Feb Switch, Istanbul
2021
06 Nov Renate, Berlin
30 Oct Herrensauna at Funkhaus, Berlin
24 Sep Paloma, Berlin
12 Sep Aeden, Berlin
03 Jul Les Vivres de l’Art, Bordeaux
2020
06 Mar Fuchs2, Prague
29 Feb Daphnia, Osaka
28 Feb Cauliflower, Osaka
23 Feb Cafein, Tokyo
22 Feb Vent, Tokyo
21 Feb Oppa La, Kanagawa
15 Feb Cakeshop, Seoul
07 Feb Aqua, Bangalore
01 Feb antiSOCIAL, Mumbai
17 Jan About Blank, Berlin
01 Jan Bret, Amsterdam
2019
20 Dec Badaboum, Paris
14 Dec Le Salon Daomé, Montreal
13 Dec Untold Stories, Toronto
12 Dec Magick, NYC
07 Dec AAITF at Loftus Hall, Berlin
26 Oct AAITF Loftus Hall, Berlin
19 Oct Bret ADE, Amsterdam
12 Oct Printworks, London
02 Oct Griessmühle, Berlin
20 Sep Freetown at Five Miles, London
15 Sep AAITF at Volksbuhne, Berlin
23 Aug Nou Le Morne, Mauritius
27 Jul AAITF, Berlin
19 Jul Empty Brain Resort, Vilnius
06 Jul Ruigoord, Amsterdam
29 Jun Dizonord, Paris
27 Jun Rex Club, Paris
22 Jun SSFB Festival, Amsterdam
19 Jun Summer House Cafe, New Delhi
15 Jun Sanchez, Bangalore
14 Jun Leather Bar, Chennai
13 Jun Khar Social, Mumbai
30 May Distortion, Copenhagen
29 May Nuits Sonores, Lyon
18 May Bret, Amsterdam
27 Apr African Acid is the Future, Berlin
26 Apr LARM, Budapest
25 Apr Electric Brixton, London
13 Apr Astin/Nitsa, Barcelona
12 Apr Volt, Milan
15 Mar SoHo House, Berlin
17 Feb Wilden Renate, Berlin
02 Feb Bret, Amsterdam
19 Jan Sweat Lodge 12 x About Blank, Berlin
2018
15 Dec African Acid Is The Future at Luftus Hall, Berlin
24 Nov Cubo, Manchester
15 Nov Contact, Tokyo
11 Nov Far Out Left, Mumbai
09 Nov TBA, Bangalore
26 Oct African Acid Is The Future at Luftus Hall, Berlin
06 Oct Floyd, Miami
05 Oct 1720, Los Angeles
18 Aug Baka Gaijin Open Air at Zeche Zollverein, Dortmund
04 The Standard, Los Angeles
03 Aug Modular at Gray Area Theater, San Francisco
02 Aug Good Room, New York
07 Jul The Reeds, Liverpool
30 Jun African Acid Is The Future at Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
17 Jun Lacquer, Pennsylvania
15 Jun Brooklyn Mirage, New York
29 Apr The Travel Almanac vs. African Acid Is The Future at OHM, Berlin
28 Apr African Acid Is The Future / Eclecticism on Vakulism at Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
01 Apr Birgits Frühlingserwachen Tag 3 at Birgit, Berlin
24 Mar Andy Live, Castiglione Olona
17 Mar Idiom presents: Dauwd at Versions, Manchester
04 Jan Hot Concept at Paloma, Berlin
2017
22 Dec Sugarfactory, Amsterdam
02 Dec Blijdorp Festival, Rotterdam
28 Oct African Acid Is The Future at Strelka Bar, Moscow
07 Oct Rhythm Section Meets African Acid at Corsica Studios, London
30 Sep Garajistanbul, Istanbul
08 Sep FNY Festival, Munich
19 Aug Corsica Studios, London
21 Jul Faust, Seoul
15 Jul Kilo Lounge, Singapore
09 Jul The Tao Terraces, Bangalore
08 Jul blueFROG, Bangalore
07 Jul Summer House Cafe, Delhi
17 Jun Kajama Sunset Cruise, Toronto
16 Jun Newspeak, Montreal
06 Jun Studio Spaces E2, London
02 Jun African Acid Is The Future Live at Funkhaus, Berlin
13 May Good Room, New York
06 May Monarch, San Francisco
05 May Lights Down Low LA, Los Angeles
09 Mar Charlatan Club, Gent