Karim Shaaban's 'Ya Hammam' — Upper Egypt Folklore meets the Digital Underground
Egyptian director and creative force Karim Shaaban has just launched his latest musical project, "Ya Hammam,' now available on YouTube, radio, and all digital streaming platforms. The song is distributed by Digital Sound.
This unique track blends Egyptian folklore with electronic music, drawing from Karim's deeply personal and emotional vision of Egypt. The song also opens his short film "I DON'T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES", which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cleveland International Film Festival, marking a seamless artistic fusion between sound and image in building a singular world.
In crafting "Ya Hammam", Karim collaborated with artists Sayed Rekaby and Fadi Garas. Together, they fused the rich vocal tones of Upper Egypt's Jaafari folkloric tradition with contemporary electronic soundscapes, resulting in a sonic experience that seamlessly merges nostalgia with modernity.
The music video for "Ya Hammam", directed by Karim Shaaban himself, bears the signature visual language that has defined his previous works — a portrayal of Egypt as he experiences it.
The short film "I DON'T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES", starring actress Salma Abu Deif, explores the quiet yet intense conflict that arises when professional obligations collide with personal emergencies. Rather than dramatizing the struggle, the film reflects on it subtly and introspectively.
This introspective vision is also evident in Karim Shaaban's debut feature film "6 Days", starring Ahmed Malek and Aya Samaha, and written by Wael Hamdy. The film takes the form of a silent visual diary, expressing Karim's artistic philosophy that true beauty lies in fleeting, often overlooked moments.
Whether through the song "Ya Hammam", the film "6 Days", or his latest cinematic work, Karim Shaaban continues to present Egypt through a deeply personal and singular lens.
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Egyptian director and creative force Karim Shaaban has just launched his latest musical project, "Ya Hammam,' now available on YouTube, radio, and all digital streaming platforms. The song is distributed by Digital Sound. This unique track blends Egyptian folklore with electronic music, drawing from Karim's deeply personal and emotional vision of Egypt. The song also opens his short film "I DON'T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES", which had its world premiere at the 2024 Cleveland International Film Festival, marking a seamless artistic fusion between sound and image in building a singular world. In crafting "Ya Hammam", Karim collaborated with artists Sayed Rekaby and Fadi Garas. Together, they fused the rich vocal tones of Upper Egypt's Jaafari folkloric tradition with contemporary electronic soundscapes, resulting in a sonic experience that seamlessly merges nostalgia with modernity. The music video for "Ya Hammam", directed by Karim Shaaban himself, bears the signature visual language that has defined his previous works — a portrayal of Egypt as he experiences it. The short film "I DON'T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES", starring actress Salma Abu Deif, explores the quiet yet intense conflict that arises when professional obligations collide with personal emergencies. Rather than dramatizing the struggle, the film reflects on it subtly and introspectively. This introspective vision is also evident in Karim Shaaban's debut feature film "6 Days", starring Ahmed Malek and Aya Samaha, and written by Wael Hamdy. The film takes the form of a silent visual diary, expressing Karim's artistic philosophy that true beauty lies in fleeting, often overlooked moments. Whether through the song "Ya Hammam", the film "6 Days", or his latest cinematic work, Karim Shaaban continues to present Egypt through a deeply personal and singular lens.
