MASTIC (Papavassiliou, Abozekry) + TERRAIN (Botic, Ziarkas, Atzakas)

Dario Papavassiliou (electric quarter-tone modified organ) and Omar Abozekry (ney, fx) improvise together as MASTIC, exploring overlapping and intertwining sounds, harmony, maqam and space against a background of drone and hypnotic rhythm, taking inspiration from sounds such as mahraganat, psychedelic rock, Arabic music and Sufi ritual music.

Dario Papavassiliou divides his interest between traditional Middle Eastern string instruments (oud, santur and others) and electric organs; currently, he is exploring a middle ground between the two by modifying organs to play quarter tones for use in traditional, dance and experimental music. He grew up in London, and now lives in Athens.

Omar Abozekry is a ney player from Cairo. He is trained in both Egyptian and Ottoman ney traditions and enjoys using this experience to inform his performances in several musical contexts. His musical practice encompasses collaborations in classical Arabic music, free improvisation, and beyond.

www.soundcloud.com/dario-omar-464971723

Dunja Botic (voice) and Thodoris Ziarkas (double bass), two longstanding collaborators, invite Thimios Atzakas (oud) to present a trio where ritualistic vocals meet deep, resonant drones.

Drawing from Eastern folk traditions and minimalistic improvisation, they create unsettling sound worlds—woven narratives that hover between memory, ritual, and abstraction.