Skrillex taps Palestinian vocalist Nai Barghouti for long-awaited ‘XENA,’ as album rollout continues
by: David Klemow
Feb 2, 2023
While a double album seems all but certain, Skrillex‘s plans for the year remain unconfirmed. Though, two things are clear—the LA-based super producer is sitting on a potentially bottomless trove of unreleased music, and he’s committed to a steady drip of new sonics for the first time in years. What’s more, as Skrillex begins to appear on more festival lineups across the summer circuit, expect a wealth of crowd-testing opportunities as one of the year’s most anticipated projects continues to materialize. Previously teased ID, “XENA,” which has circulated in some form in the OWSLA head honcho sets for years, is now the fifth official release to Skrillex’s name in just a month’s time.
Two constants in Skrill’s catalog include his documented penchant for collaboration and his uncanny ability to keep listeners guessing with each release. “XENA” perfectly checks both boxes, with Palestinian vocalist Nai Barghouti providing the impassioned Arabic foreground to Skrillex’s blistering, percussive jungle-bass framework. The track, a layered tapestry of deep Middle Eastern influence, follows collaborative outings with fred again.., Flowdan, Trippie Redd, PinkPanthress, Yung Lean, and more, once again spotlighting Sonny Moore’s chameleonic capabilities as one of the most multifaceted producers of our day.
Featured image: Rukes
Categories: Music, News