Saudi Arabian dance music festival MDL Beast has released a song celebrating the kingdom's 90th anniversary.
Dropping on the day of the occasion, Wednesday, September 23, Watani 90 (My Country's 90th) is a collaboration between two stalwarts of the fledgling Saudi dance music scene, producers Ali Al Sharif and Vinyl Mode.
The duo released two versions of the track, which has them taking vocal samples from Saudi traditional songs Fawq Ham Alsahb and Yaslamy Ealaykum Yal-Saudia, and updating them with modern day EDM synths and beats. Both versions feature the work Saudi vocalists Lulwa Al Sharif, Sultan Alkhalid and Badr Hakeem. The Saudi Men and Women's Choir were also on hand to provide soulful backing vocals.
Both versions come with an accompanying music video full of momentous snapshots taken from the country's history. Directed by Saudi filmmaker Mohammed Hammad, the visuals include of royals King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in addition to legendary singers Mohammed Abdo and Rabeh Saqr. Also featured is Saudi Arabian football player Saeed Al Owairan's wonder-goal against Belgium in the 1994 World Cup.
Taken all together, the project serves as another showcase of the kingdom's rich and vibrant cultural scene.
"The song draws on nostalgic elements that show people's love for the land and its rich cultural history. Our mission is to create a remix of cultures and Watani 90 is a testament to that, [in that we are] incorporating vocalists and producers from different fields and genres, coming together to create something fresh," MDL Beast chief creative officer Ahmad Alammary said in a statement.
“It's taking Saudi heritage and history, and repackaging it into something fresh.”
Watani 90 is part of a growing soundtrack celebrating the country's anniversary.
This week already saw number concerts in the capital Riyadh and coastal city of Jeddah to mark the occasion.
Shows coming up include singers Angham and Tamer Ashour on Thursday, September 24 at Jeddah's Abdullah Sports City. The same venue will host Egyptian stars Mohamed Hamaki and Amr Diab on Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26, respectively.
Riyadh's King Fahd Cultural Centre will also see a concert by Rabeh Saqr on Friday, September 25.
