LOCAL LEGEND: PATCH
Lebanese-born and Dubai-based, Patch is a key architect of the region’s house scene.
My music obsession began… as a kid. I was just a kid who listened to a lot of music. The difference is that at some point, I started listening more intentionally. My brother was an open-format DJ, and that’s how I got introduced to the craft.
Finding my sound… wasn’t instant. I drifted for years. Played whatever gigs I could get. It was a time of self-discovery. Eventually I landed on something that felt natural, groove-driven, soulful, patient. It felt less like chasing a genre and more like finding myself.
My DJ sets are… intentional. More of a journey. I love the flow state I get into, where tracks start lining up flawlessly and tell a story on their own. Sometimes that flow is emotional. Sometimes it’s groove. I love a slow, patient build that’s still groovy. I prefer the room to be flowing rather than constantly destroyed with bangers.
I set up Feedasoul Records to… fill a gap. In the region, there weren’t many platforms championing the kind of house music we loved. More platforms were needed, not just for house but for different sounds across the board. We chose house because it resonates with our soul. Feedasoul became a space to support that sound and the artists who believe in it.
All the producers I sign… aren’t the same stylistically, but they share something important: respect for their craft. No ego. No shortcuts. When you’re working within niche sounds, you have to accept that it’s a long game. We’re not chasing viral moments, we’re building catalogues.
Freehand Worldwide is… a natural extension of the label. Over the past decade, we learned the hard way about distribution, release strategy, promotion, royalties and positioning. Distribution today is easy. Strategy isn’t. Many artists just want to create without drowning in admin and algorithms. Freehand exists to give structure to that chaos and to support labels and artists with the knowledge we’ve gathered so they can focus on what they do best.
The reward of running the label has been… watching the ripple effect. Hearing our music unexpectedly in Bali. Seeing Honey Dijon play one of our records. Supporting artists at the very beginning and watching them grow to hundreds of thousands of streams. And creating parties where people leave with a bit more love in their hearts. All of these moments matter.
The biggest challenge facing DJs and producers today is… oversaturation and the constant pressure to perform online. If you’re not feeding the algorithm, it can feel like you don’t exist. It’s exhausting. Financial sustainability is also misunderstood. Artists today need to be entrepreneurs, marketers and storytellers, often at the expense of focusing purely on music. Sometimes great music gets overshadowed by great marketing.
The UAE club scene today is… evolving. The crowd is more educated and open to alternative sounds. At the same time, restaurant and bottle service culture still dominates. We need more spaces that put music first.
My goal for this year is… to celebrate Feedasoul’s 10th anniversary properly, focus more on regional artists, and release our 10-year anniversary compilation featuring more than 15 house producers from the MENA region. Personally, I hope to find more time to release music myself.
For me, success is… fulfillment. Creation and helping others create. Waking up excited to build. Feeling aligned with what I am doing. Impact and longevity matter more than numbers.
Don’t miss… the upcoming Feedasoul showcases and our 10-year anniversary compilation – it’s a love letter to the region.
