Titled ‘Cairo Express’ from his latest album ‘Nomad’… but there’s more to it than just the name
The multi-platinum-selling DJ and producer, DJ Snake, real name William Sami Étienne Grigahcine, was inspired by and recorded in Cairo for ‘Cairo Express’ as part of his third full-length project titled ‘Nomad’. His Middle Eastern influence also follows his 2022 song ‘Disco Maghreb’, a track paying homage to his Algerian roots.
I have to admit, although I’m not an EDM or DJ Snake avid listener, when I saw the word “Cairo” on the tracklist, being a Cairene myself, I couldn’t resist putting on my headphones to hear that kind of take on Cairo.
What starts with a heavy bassline layered with tabla, ‘Cairo Express’ comes in with the flute mizmar and Arabic rhythms, followed by the electronic keyboard or org layered with sagat (finger cymbals), and just like that, DJ Snake checks all my boxes for making a Mahraganat track.
He adds his flair by building up these sultry-sounding organ/monica tones before dropping into a confusing yet interesting mix of heavy bass and distorted automatic gunfire. It’s not exactly clear what relevance gunshots have to the city, but maybe it’s part of his “take.” He then takes an experimental turn with autotuned vocal effects that create that Mahraganat-y, uniquely textured vocal character with Arabic vocals, and closes just as abruptly as it began.
Written alongside electro-shaabi keyboard pioneer Islam Chipsy, among others, it makes sense how the Egyptian element started to kick in.
The name “Cairo Express” feels like a wordplay on American Express and also reflects how fast-paced and high-energy Cairo can be. The track was written by DJ Snake himself alongside Sven Grummel, Nicolas Petitfrère, Te Whiti Warbrick, and Islam Chipsy, and mixed by Pete Adams.
The 17-track studio album ‘Nomad’ is intended to bridge musical genres with an array of guest stars and influences, as the French luminary ties together various sounds with his signature electro style. A fitting metaphor for an album about travel, transformation, and never standing still, he even premiered the LP inside a hangar redesigned as an airport terminal at Stade de France, complete with check-in counters, stamped passports, and a runway stretching into the dark. I’m still not sure if everyone attending had to carry their passports, but I heard planes took off outside as the crowd was hearing ‘Nomad’ for the first time.
The tracklist mirrors that idea, with collaborations that span the map: Travis Scott and Future on ‘Tsunami’, J Balvin on ‘Noventa’, Stray Kids on ‘In The Dark’, marking the first-ever partnership between the global DJ and the K-pop powerhouse, Amadou & Mariam on ‘Patience’, and Peso Pluma on ‘Teka’.
The artwork of the album taps more depth into the theme by showing two planes flying over his head. Try to zoom in on the artwork; you can spot the word “nomad” written in a circular pattern in multiple languages.
Released via Interscope Records, Nomad comes three years after his previous album, ‘Carte Blanche’. Packed with anticipated collaborations, the lengthy album also features Grammy-nominated Afro-house artist Bantu on ‘Company’, reggae legend Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley on ‘Bam Bam’, and the debut of DJ Snake’s bass-driven alter ego, The Outlaw, on Final Fantasy.
The fifth track of the album, ‘Paradise’, reimagines Phil Collins’ 1989 classic ‘Another Day in Paradise’ as a soulful, lo-fi house anthem in a bold shift from Snake’s usual heavy festival drops rather blending smooth, R&B-leaning vocals with laid-back dance production. The result feels both nostalgic and fresh, bridging generations while setting the tone for what ‘Nomad’ is delivering…. but Snake didn’t stop there.
Elsewhere, Snake returns to his trap sound on ‘Bring The House Down’ with Dillon Francis and TRXGGX, and dishes out driving techno on ‘Final Fantasy’ with his hard techno alias The Outlaw, a track that feels as long as it lasts, seven minutes and four seconds to be specific.
Over the summer, in the lead-up to ‘Nomad’, DJ Snake unveiled a series of standout singles with Paradise featuring Bipolar Sunshine, first premiered at his sold-out Stade de France show, followed by Reloaded with Space Laces, then came ‘Patience’, continuing with ‘Noventa’, reuniting Snake with longtime friend and collaborator J Balvin. Rounding out the season, ‘Something Wrong’ with Don Toliver and ‘Bring The House Down’ with Dillon Francis and TRXGGX.
DJ Snake has built one of the most globally recognized and far-reaching catalogs in electronic music. From the notorious ‘Turn Down for What’ with Lil Jon, to ‘Lean On’ with Major Lazer and MØ (Diamond-certified by the RIAA), to ‘Taki Taki’ with Selena Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B, and ‘Let Me Love You’ with Justin Bieber, his work has consistently shaped the sound of global pop.
The Parisian artist has earned over 50 RIAA-certified platinum singles, more than thirty billion global streams, and headlined some of the world’s most iconic stages, including the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where he became the first artist to perform on its rooftop.
The night didn’t end with the stadium spectacle. Just hours later, 20,000 more fans packed Accor Arena for an officially sold-out afterparty that felt more like a second headline event. DJ Snake delivered another marathon performance, joined by a powerful lineup featuring Snake Army, Boys Noize, Dillon Francis, Flosstradamus, Bellorum, Devault, and his own alias The Outlaw.
The night pushed even further with a closing back-to-back set alongside techno powerhouse TRYM, keeping the city dancing until sunrise. Pulling off two sold-out shows in one night is something no other electronic artist has dared to attempt on home soil.
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