We Speak Alternative
Ethno Set Releases “Sheikh, Yalla !!!”: A Thoughtful Ode to Dubai’s Rhythm of Life
When Ethno Set drops a new record, it’s never just a song – it’s a cultural postcard. With his latest release, “Sheikh, Yalla !!!”, the Poland‑born, UAE‑based multi‑instrumentalist and producer Darius delivers a joyful, genre‑blending party anthem that doubles as a thoughtful meditation on balance, leadership, and the art of slowing down in one of the world’s fastest‑moving cities.
Blending ethno‑inspired instrumentation with modern production, “Sheikh, Yalla !!!” captures the spirit of Dubai through a lens that is both playful and deeply respectful – a love letter from an expat who has found creative and cultural belonging in the Emirates.
A Song Born From a Rhyme – and a Realisation
The spark for “Sheikh, Yalla !!!” arrived in an unlikely moment: half‑asleep, just before bed.
“One night the rhyme ‘Sheikh, take a break’ popped into my head,” Darius shares. “And in that pre‑sleep delirium, I started imagining what the life of such a model Sheikh must really be like – not eternally happy just because he’s rich, but carrying enormous stress, responsibility, and pressure.”
From that simple rhyme grew a bigger idea: a humorous yet heartfelt party song that reflects on leadership, responsibility, and the universal need to pause, breathe, and reset.
As an expat in the UAE, Darius wanted to honour the rulers of the Emirates – leaders he believes are doing a remarkable job in a complex world, while also gently reminding us that behind power and prestige lies humanity.
Musically, the track came together organically. A spontaneous riff on the saz — an instrument Darius simply “liked the sound of” — became the foundation. The rest followed naturally, except the vocals, which he carefully shaped into a cultural fusion: English lyrics delivered with Arabic stylistic influence, symbolising how expatriates slowly root themselves in local traditions while bringing their own cultural identity with them.
That cultural meeting point is the heart of Ethno Set.
Ethno Set: Where Cultures Meet in Sound
Hailing from a small town in southern Poland and now based in the UAE, Ethno Set is the musical alter ego of Darius – a classically trained guitarist, multi‑instrumentalist, and cultural explorer.
His journey began under the guidance of a passionate father who dreamed of shaping him into the next Santana. After a rocky start (including a broken guitar), music found him again at 14 – and never let go.
Today, Ethno Set is a rich fusion of roots‑inspired sounds and global ethnic textures, drawing from Arabic, Greek, Indian, and Latin influences. Darius plays over 20 instruments, including guitar, oud, bouzouki, mandolin, ukulele, and saz, crafting a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic.
Every release is fully created by Darius – from songwriting and production to engineering and visual storytelling – making Ethno Set a singular, immersive creative vision.
A Fully AI‑Crafted Music Film: Dubai as a Living Artwork
Alongside the single, Ethno Set unveils a fully AI‑produced music film for “Sheikh, Yalla !!!” — a cinematic, imaginative journey through Dubai that transforms the city into a living, breathing art piece.
Rather than using AI as a gimmick, Darius treats it as a creative collaborator, designing and directing every frame to tell a deeply human story.
The video follows a charismatic sheikh moving effortlessly between tradition and modernity – navigating the dazzling rhythm of Dubai life, from illuminated city streets and towering skyscrapers to golden deserts and high-energy nightlife, before stepping into moments of reflection and embracing the joy of life with a knowing smile. Playful, poetic, and visually rich, the film reinforces the song’s central message: that power and progress mean nothing without balance.
Together, the visuals and music create a world that feels innovative, humorous, and quietly profound: a reminder that balance is the ultimate luxury.
A Global Sound, Rooted in the UAE
“Sheikh, Yalla !!!” is more than a party track – it’s a cultural bridge.
It reflects Darius’ European artistic soul meeting Arab influences, and the way life in the UAE reshapes identity, creativity, and perspective. That fascination is what led him to name the project Ethno Set – his European musical soul, set to ethno.
With this release, Ethno Set steps confidently onto the global stage, inviting listeners to experience music without borders – where tradition meets technology, humour meets depth, and culture meets celebration.
Out Now
We Speak Alternative
Hey, Sinner sees CARRIE ABYSS reimagining myth and spirituality through a powerful feminist lens
London-based Assyrian-Armenian artist CARRIE ABYSS, the project of Bernadette Lara, delivers a strikingly intense and immersive experience with her new EP, Hey, Sinner. This four-track concept record marries mythological and religious imagery with contemporary electronic and industrial soundscapes, creating a narrative that interrogates morality, faith, and the consequences of societal judgment.
The opening track, “Hey, Sinner”, immediately sets the tone with an atmosphere of confrontation and despair. The protagonist, a young woman, faces divine condemnation, and the track’s dramatic production mirrors the gravity of her predicament. Lara’s ability to combine narrative depth with sonic intensity ensures the listener is both emotionally engaged and intellectually stimulated from the outset.
In “Seraphim”, Lara explores the tension between divine beings and human suffering. Drawing inspiration from ancient mosaics and angelic mythology, the track depicts a world where celestial forces offer solutions that are detached from human reality. The production balances ethereal choral elements with industrial undertones, reflecting both the beauty and the incomprehensibility of the spiritual realm. The song captures the paradox of awe and alienation, inviting reflection on the limits of empathy and the burden of faith.
“Sacrifice” confronts the harshness of communal judgment. Through a story of a village ready to condemn one of its own, Lara critiques historical and contemporary systems that scapegoat women and enforce conformity. The track’s driving rhythms and layered textures underscore the tension and urgency of the protagonist’s desperate situation, transforming the narrative into a visceral sonic experience.
The EP closes with “Father, Forgive Me”, a deeply personal and inventive track. Born from a story of creative theft and reclamation, the song strips back instrumentation to focus entirely on Lara’s voice, producing a haunting and intimate effect. It explores themes of defiance, survival, and complex moral choices, showing the artist at her most vulnerable and inventive. The track exemplifies Lara’s capacity to turn personal experiences into universal statements about power, loss, and resilience.
Hey, Sinner stands out not only for its narrative ambition but also for its musical sophistication. Lara blends alt-pop, industrial, and electronic elements into a cohesive sound that is both modern and timeless. The EP demonstrates her ongoing evolution as an artist, combining fearless experimentation with emotional and thematic depth.
Ultimately, Hey, Sinner is a compelling exploration of human vulnerability in the face of moral and spiritual authority. It challenges listeners to confront uncomfortable truths while offering a cathartic, immersive experience. Lara’s voice, simultaneously fragile and commanding, is the throughline that binds the work, turning it into a haunting, unforgettable journey through sin, sacrifice, and the search for survival.