Roots & Beats: Yemen | DJ Promise & Meriem S

This month, Roots & Beats brings us to the soul of Yemen.

We trace a short story of Yemeni music: how songs came alive from the simplest tools: strings, hand claps, and tabla. How rhythms shift between north and south, and how dances move with them. We explore the places where music lives: weddings, cafés, even buses, and unearth some rare Yemeni gems on vinyl.

Joining me is DJ Promise (he/him), Yemeni-born and Berlin-based sonic storyteller. Known for weaving heavy basslines with cultural roots, his sound bridges Yemeni heritage and Berlin’s underground energy.