Egyptian DJ, producer and founder of YALLA EDM, Marko Meko has spent the past several years doing something quite radical; he has been building an international music identity from Hurghada, a city whose nightlife runs more on commercial tourism than underground electronic sound, this creating his own entry points. Not just that, but also a DJ set filmed in front of the Pyramids of Giza, a music label built on quality, and a community concept called Coffee Rave that gave emerging artists a place to perform and connect. And then, this year, at IMS Ibiza, one of electronic music's most significant industry gatherings, he was selected among the Top 50 in the Pete Tong DJ Academy.

 

"IMS Ibiza was a major milestone," he says. "It gave me direct access to industry professionals, media platforms, label owners, artists and mentors. You cannot wait for opportunities to come to you. You need to actively create them."

That philosophy runs through everything Meko does. The Pyramids DJ Set - a creative vision he had carried for years, made a clear and definitice statement. Filmed with JB Production and set against one of the world's most iconic backdrops, it created a visual and cultural bridge between his Egyptian identity and the global electronic music language he works in. "I've always loved the concept of DJ sets in unique locations," he says. "Being able to perform in front of such an iconic landmark created a connection between my music and Egyptian culture."

His label, YALLA EDM, named for the Arabic word that means movement, energy and bringing people together, operates on a philosophy that feels increasingly rare in an industry driven by algorithms and follower counts. "The most important thing is the quality of the music and the emotion behind it," he says. The label works across melodic house, melodic techno and modern dance-driven sounds, with artists from the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

 

What makes Meko's story particularly resonant right now is its timing: Egypt's electronic music scene is growing fast, especially in Cairo and the North Coast where a generation of artists is beginning to push Arabic identity into global genres on their own terms. Meko is part of that shift, and YALLA EDM is proudly one of its platforms.

 

The next chapter is already taking shape. On May 8th, the official Pyramids DJ Set drops on YouTube. On June 11th, the Egyptian film The Crush, in which Meko appears as a DJ alongside Ahmed Dawood and Mariam El Gendi, arrives in cinemas. And the international collaborations that began at IMS Ibiza are gradually developing in the background. From Giza to Ibiza, and from Ibiza, to somewhere further still, Marko Meko knows the direction – and is already on the road.

www.markomeko.com | @markomeko | Listen: Spotify | Watch: Pyramids DJ Set on YouTube