Ghenwa Nemnom – ‘Story of a Battle’ feat. Chris Zippel Remix (Downtempo 2022/Organic House 2022) [Astarte]

Hailing from Lebanon, Ghenwa Nemnom is an artist following her own path by blending a unique style of modern electronic music and organic house with her supreme skill of incorporating the Mediterranean instrument called a Qanun.

Ghenwa’s tracks have been released on labels like Melody of the Soul and Café De Anatolia, but this month she is taking on the mammoth task of launching her own record label called Astarte. The name is said to mean the Goddess of love, hunting and fertility as she plans to introduce a merging of indigenous classical sounds with deep and organic house, which makes for a special recipe of styles.

Titled Story of a Battle, the debut release has two tracks forming a balance of styles, allowing for Ghenwa Nemnom’s experimentation of production and the majestic, string plucking journey of the original. Breath-taking and captivating, the cinematic style switches half way with additional elements, vocal chants and a huge synth bass that many will adore.

The only included remix is by Chris Zippel, a Berlin born, versatile German producer who has worked with highly respected acts like Steve Lawler to even the Pet Shop Boys. Having appeared on a variety of imprints such as Tresor to Mango Alley, he transforms the original into a much more dance floor focused take, by adding extra percussion with haunting atmosphere. Allowing the beauty of the Qanun’s delicate soul to shine through in the breakdown, he sharply takes it straight back to the groove. There is so much detail and care in his masterful rework it makes for repeat listening and it will no doubt appeal to fans of labels like Lee Burridge’s All Day I Dream or Sabo’s Sol Selectas.

Get Ghenwa Nemnom – ‘Story of a Battle’ feat. Chris Zippel Remix from Beatport