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Sara Dziri releases debut album ‘Close To Home’

The LP dropped yesterday

Belgian-Tunisian producer, DJ and artist Sara Dziri has released her debut album, ‘Close To Home’, via Optimo Music.

It follows on from her single ‘Fille De Racaille’ - which connects to her North African background - and touches upon themes of belonging, representation and prejudices in her own introspective way.

"’Close To Home’ is a highly personal 'get-to-know-me' musical statement where I draw from my own identity into a club-friendly output,” explains Dziri.

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“After DJing for a few years and a first EP release last year, with this album I want to present myself more as a producer and composer. It is also a way for me to question our perception of music and its origins within a Eurocentric techno scene.”

On releasing Dziri’s album via Optimo, labelhead JD Twitch says: "I was delighted to sign Sara’s unique and original vision that breaks away from so many overused tropes, which often overwhelm dance music.”

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Dziri’s varied musical influences and tastes are displayed in her debut album: it incorporates elements of techno, trance, ambient, darkwave, krautrock and elements of orchestral music too. The combination of North African sounds being married with Western influences allow feelings of anger and injustice to be channelled throughout, allowing Dziri to explore these themes.

Sara Dziri is a known figure within Brussels’ electronic underground scene, and co-founded Not Your Techno in 2019, a platform and party dedicated to increasing diversity within the Belgian underground scene.

You can check out Sara Dziri’s debut album, ‘Close To Home’, now.

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Niamh Ingram is Mixmag’s Weekend Editor, follow her on Twitter