Natacha Atlas & Samy Bishai – Parallel Universe – Volume 1 (Airfono, 2026)
Natacha Atlas and Samy Bishai’s Parallel Universe – Volume 1 is the first installment in a planned series focused on alternative timelines and the musical exchange between Eastern and Western traditions.
The project combines mesmerizing electronic rhythms, 808s (deep, booming sub-bass), Arabic percussion programmed through a Music Production Center (MPC), quarter-tone analog synthesizers, Rhodes piano, and Auto-Tuned Arabic choirs.
English and Arabic lyrics appear throughout the album in a bilingual format. Atlas leads the recordings with her fabulous, elegant, ornamented vocal style, while Bishai contributes spellbinding electronics and various musical instruments.
Atlas and Bishai first met during a concert tour in 2008. Since 2010, Bishai has served as Atlas’ musical director, and the pair have co-written, produced, and arranged several of her albums, including The Inner and the Outer. Their partnership has also extended to contemporary dance and stage productions, including music for Angelin Preljocaj’s Les Nuits and Hervé Koubi’s Odyssey.
Atlas has released 15 solo albums and contributed to more than 50 collaborations. Her credits include work with Peter Gabriel, Nitin Sawhney, Nigel Kennedy, Jean-Michel Jarre, Ibrahim Maalouf, Omar Sosa, and Paolo Fresu. She has also received a Victoire de la Musique and performed at Jarre’s Millennium Concert at the pyramids of Giza.
Bishai, an Egyptian violinist, composer, producer, and musical director, has lived in London since 1999. His background includes Western classical music and Arabic classical traditions, as well as jazz, improvisation, electronic music, rock, and pop. His collaborators include Tom Jones, Shakira, Basement Jaxx, Seckou Keita, and Carleen Anderson.
Musicians: Natacha Atlas on lead & backing vocals (tracks 1-7), additional electronics & sound design (tracks 1 & 7); Samy Bishai on elctronic beats, keyboards, synths, electronics & programming (tracks 1-7), electric bass (tracks 2 & 6), electric guitar (track 2), violins & violas (tracks 2-5 & 6), 5-string Electrolin (track 7), and vocals (tracks 2-5 & 7); Andy Hamill on: double bass (Track 4 , 5 and 7); and Tuup on spoken word (track 7).
All music & lyrics by Natacha Atlas and Samy Bishai, except track 7 – additional lyrics by TuuP.
All arrangements (inc. strings, also performed) by Samy Bishai.
Recorded & mixed by Samy Bishai at Stone Cave Studios, France.
Additional recording by Andy Hamill at Emu’s Nest Studios (double bass; tracks 4,5 & 7), and by Hamid Mantu at Mantu Mansions (spoken word; track 7).
Mastered by Klaus Scheuermann.
Photography by Berberism.
Original cover photo by Blacky Mansa.
Artwork by Alison Fielding.
Buy Parallel Universe – Volume 1
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.