Six emerging artists you need to hear: February 2025

If you’ve set foot in an Amsterdam club lately, chances are you’ve come across Sarkawt Hamad and her immersive, mood-altering sound. A rising favourite in the Dutch underground, Hamad has been a regular fixture at the clubs like Garage Noord, CLUB RAUM and the now-closed De School, the latter of which she credits as instrumental in shaping her musical sensibilities. She is drawn to what she calls “the red line” in sounds – her attention is captured by music that contains “a certain noise, gritty texture, abstract layers and emotive melodies, woven into nice basslines and drum patterns,” she says. “My reality isn’t crystal-clear like water, so neither is my sound. But I’m seeking to keep it fresh.”

Dub techno, breaks, bass and house have a heightened atmospheric quality in Hamad’s sets. You might hear cuts by CCL, Peach, Dustin Zahn or Polygonia, and in mixes like her recent outing for Rhyw and Mor Elian’s Fever AM there’s an almost painterly approach to her application of textures – no surprise, given her background in fashion design and art history. In terms of the artists that inspire her, she points to Donato Dozzy and Sandwell District, as well as Helena Hauff. “Back in 2016 or 2017, me and my friend were always deep listening to her sets. Her build-ups were all we could talk about. She really mastered this skill and inspired me to work on that, too”.

Growing up in the Netherlands with a Kurdish family, Hamad says that her mixed cultural background gave her a broader perspective, but she is more than a reflection of her roots. “I grew up with Kurdish and Arabic music, with lots of classical influences, which makes me drawn to classical music. But references to my inspiration don’t necessarily come back directly [in my sets],” she explains. 

When she was younger she started writing her own songs, tapping into grunge and rock music as an emotional outlet, but it was techno that made all the pieces fall into place. “I got obsessed with Soundgarden and Nirvana, and then when I moved to Amsterdam in 2014 I really got into techno and ended up in the peak days of the city. They felt magical and I consider myself so lucky to have experienced those.” 

Her reach now extends beyond Amsterdam, having played at Berlin Atonal, Lunchmeat Festival in Prague, and Nitsa Club in Barcelona. This year, she’s lined up for all three Dekmantel festivals over the summer – Lente Kabinet (on Job Jobse’s curated stage), Dekmantel, and Dekmantel Selectors. “I am looking forward to that journey a lot,” she says, and we’d be wise to join her. Claire Francis

For fans of: Polygonia, Livwutang, Naone