7 Moroccan artists select their standout tracks from MOGA Festival 2025

MOGA is the mid-sized festival born in Essaouira, a town on the west coast of Morocco, a festival built with an added focus on culture and, should you wish, wellness. 

You don’t get cattle-pen queues but decent curation, a beautiful setting and a Moroccan magic that makes the journey more of a holiday with incredible music, DJs, nature and food. As opposed to a gruelling three-day bender in a chalet at Butlins. 

Now we’ve nothing against  a messy Butlin’s weekender sesh, there’s a certain charm to the stench of the communal Papa John's and the pride of making it through three no sleep. But for those wanting to swap the greasy pepperoni for tagine, the car park for a 2km stretch of beach, and possibly come back feeling better than when you went…. 

Essouira is a medina - a maze of  old town with local food, speakeasy cocktail bars and during the three days leading up to the festival site opening (aka MOGA OFF) you can catch Romanian minimal masters laying down sets on sunset smeared rooftops, live acts from Moroccan legends (a treat for sample hunters and crate diggers) and hidden parties that continue to 5:AM.

Read this next: People at the centre: MOGA was so much more than sun, sea, sounds and scenery

The day times are perfect for paddling out to glassy waves, yoga sessions and using camels for taxis. Once the festival really comes around, the  line-up hits this sweet spot between global heavyweights and the best local heads: Folamour, Bonobo, Bedouin, all make sense to the location with african rhythms within their disco and house remits. DJ Tennis, Patrick Mason and Appolonia bring straight up house and techno for a more European edge. 

But the real gem is discovering the Moroccan DJs and labels at the smaller stages. Many pushing a deep organic sound that’s a nod to the tech house era of the early 00s, acts like Molyness came through with a killer set, and Casablanca’s own Kosh, whose releases on Kalahari Oyster Cult and Casa Voyager already speak for themselves, reminded everyone why this country in North Africa is quietly becoming a hotspot for razor-sharp techno.So we decided to speak to seven Moroccan artists who played MOGA, to get the tracks that rocked their sets and share their thoughts on why the scene is so special to them.

For more information on MOGA Festival, click here.

We live in a world where it’s still hard for some local Moroccan DJs to expand internationally, and this kind of festival gives them access to worldwide visibility, which they definitely deserve. I am from Morocco, but I’ve been living in Montreal for the past eight years - it’s great to come back, and I’ve been impressed by the DJs I’ve heard. Big respect to MOGA for valuing and creating opportunities for the local scene.

The Moroccan scene is evolving, as is the musical taste and the openness of the audience. For a long time, I made the mistake of ‘adapting’ to the crowd by playing more accessible music for the Moroccan audience, but once I started being more authentic with my musical taste, I had some of the best nights I could have imagined. People are hungry for realness; intuition is more efficient than overthinking.

I was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, and I’ve been part of the local scene for the past fifteen years. I’ve watched it evolve from a small underground community, with a few artists throwing parties in basements in downtown Casablanca, into a thriving ecosystem with international festivals and a distinct sound identity.

What’s great about the Moroccan scene is its constant movement and adaptability. It’s raw, resilient, and driven by passion. There’s a solid nucleus of artists who keep pushing boundaries, merging tradition with modern electronic influences, and giving the scene its unique soul.?

I played a live set, so all the tracks were my own productions, and most of them are still unreleased. Each of them holds a special place in my live set and my heart, and performing them at home in Morocco is always something special.

I’ve always been attracted to electronic music from a very young age and felt a strong connection with it ever since. Over the past 15 years, I’ve watched the music scene in Morocco grow and evolve. One of my earliest and most memorable experiences was attending a Carl Cox set in the small coastal town of Bouznika when I was 14 years old. It was my very first electronic music event, and at the time such a rare event in Morocco. I remember enjoying every single moment!

The Moroccan crowd is definitely one of the best for me. What makes it so unique is their energy, they’re always up for a good party and are fully present in the moment. It’s something that many DJs I’ve hosted through my personal collective Reload & Alternative have also noticed and loved.
 

I felt a deep appreciation for Morocco’s natural beauty and the genuine warmth of its people, which clearly enriched my personal connection to the country. My experience at MOGA Festival showed the unique openness in the Moroccan music scene, where audiences embrace diverse and experimental sounds beyond mainstream trends. I felt like the sky was the limit for my DJ set

I am Moroccan, I was born in Morocco, and if anything, my main inspiration for all my music is coming from my Moroccan roots that I take pride in mixing with the different cultures I get to know through touring the world.

Morocco will always hold a special place in my heart when it comes to the music scene. It introduced me to incredible artists and a community that welcomed me with open arms. What makes it truly special is its sense of potential — so many talented collectives, artists, and festivals are steadily building what I believe will become a beautiful, vibrant scene rooted in respect and connection.

Born from a desire to bring people together, our label stands for unity, authenticity, and passion. Every event is crafted with care, driven by a genuine love for music and human connection. Here, every detail matters. Le Matin Records exists for those suspended moments when music becomes a language of its own.