Motez

Last updated

Motez
Birth nameMoutaiz Al-Obaidi
Origin Baghdad
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • DJ
  • Record Producer
  • Composer
  • Installation Artist
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • Sweat It Out
  • Food Music
  • Ultra
  • Sony
  • Universal
  • Owsla
  • Armada
  • This Never Happened
  • Club Madhouse
Website www.motez.com.au

Moutaiz Al-Obaidi, known professionally as Motez, is an Australian record producer, musician, installation artist and DJ. Motez was a refugee born in Iraq and moved to Adelaide in 2006. [1] [2] [3] Motez's Song "The Future" featuring Antony and Cleopatra was certified Platinum in Australia. [4] He has won several South Australian Music Awards for Best Solo Artist (2021) [5] and Most Popular Electronic Artist (2016, 2018, 2020 and 2021) [6] [7] [8]

Contents

Touring

Motez has performed at many festivals including: Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival, Warehouse Project and Electric Forest Festival. He embarked on his own headline tour in 2017 with Tigerilla and Mickey Kojak as supports. [9] [10] [11]

Soulitude

In the wake of lockdown restrictions and the cancelation of live events due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Motez released an introspective, ambient EP called Soulitude [12] which was conceived as a "response to the global mindset of isolation". The project was touted as a "raw, minimal and emotive ambient work, encompassing his own experiences and the natural human responses to seclusion." To commemorate the release of Soulitude, Motez played and recorded a live set of the entire EP in Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia which was streamed online through United We Stream, the event was a set up to raise funds for Support Act. [13] and garnered over 25,000 plays in the first day [14] and won Best Video and Best Release at the 2020 SA Music Awards. [8]

Coalesce

In 2023, Motez released the EP 'Coalesce', dubbed as a collaborative audio-visual project with multi-disciplinary Australian artist Dave Court and features the likes of Elsy Wameyo and DOOLIE. Inspired by the imagery of a crumbling city, Motez envisioned a surreal landscape for the EP's seven tracks. The visual companion set in an imaginary realm called the "hypercube," where the essence of "Coalesce" converges. Blurring the lines between the physical and virtual realms, the aim was to dissolve boundaries and merge tangible elements with digital art, infusing warmth into traditionally industrial sounds. Drawing inspiration from Marshall McLuhan's "The Medium is the Massage," the project emphasizes the significance of the creative process in art and music, reflecting on societal and philosophical implications amidst technological advancements. [15]

The video for Coalesce's lead single 'Make Way' featuring Elsy Waymeyo, directed by Court, was included in RAGE's top 50 videos of 2023. [16]

Live Show

Motez debuted his live show at Womad Festival on March 12, 2022. [17] The show featured live instrumentation by string and brass sections, kids' choir as well as guest vocalists including George Alice. The show was subsequently broadcast on Triple J as part of their 'Live at the Wireless' [18] series which aired in May 2022. The show was dubbed as "a spectacular combination of powerful dance beats with a stunning light show" by The AU Review . [19] In an interview with Roland, Motez said "I first attended Womadelaide soon after moving to Australia and I dreamt of playing there one day. I understood that the stakes were high, the calibre of musicianship and showmanship was incredible, so I thought if I ever put on a show there it must be more than just about music. It has to be an audio-visual experience matched with a lot of live instrumentation. I am a musician first and foremost, and so presenting my live show for the first time at Womadelaide I had go all out." [20]

Installation Music & Other Ventures

In 2022, Motez along with long-time collaborators Mapped Design formed "Harsh Realities": [21] an installation and art collective described as "a creative studio specialising in immersive audio-visual experiences that evoke thought, deconstruct ideas, and reveal beneath the surface.". [22] Notable projects include ORBIT, [21] showcased during Illuminate Adelaide, BREATHE, [23] featured at Uni SA's Museum of Discovery, and PASSAGE, presented as part of Adelaide Fringe's 'Natural Wonders' series within the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

Motez also composed the score to the short film "Which Made This Place Home", written and directed by Maddie Gramatopoulos. [24]

Discography

Singles

EPs

Remixes

[43] [44] [45] [46]

Film Score

Awards

South Australian Music Awards

The South Australian Music Awards (previously known as the Fowler's Live Music Awards) are annual awards in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They commenced in 2012. [47]

YearNominee / workAwardResult (wins only)
2016MotezBest ProducerWon
2017MotezMost Popular Electronic ArtistWon
2018MotezMost Popular Electronic ArtistWon
2020"Soulitude" by MotezBest ReleaseWon
Best Music VideoWon
MotezPeople's Choice Electronic ArtistWon
2021 [48] MotezBest SoloWon
MotezBest ElectronicWon

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WOMADelaide</span>

WOMADelaide is an annual four-day festival of Music, Arts and Dance, which was first held in 1992 in Botanic Park, Adelaide, South Australia. One of many WOMAD festivals held around the world, it is a four-day event that presents a diverse selection of music from artists around the world, as well as side events like talks and discussions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Novy</span> Musical artist

Tom Novy is a DJ and producer from Munich, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booka Shade</span> German house music duo

Booka Shade is a German house duo. It is made up of Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier, described as veterans of the Frankfurt electronic music scene. They have released 7 studio albums, including Memento (2004), Movements (2006), The Sun & the Neon Light (2008), More! (2010), Eve (2013), Galvany Street (2017), Cut the Strings (2018), various EPs and a mix album for DJ-Kicks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dash Berlin</span> Dutch band

Dash Berlin is a Dutch electronic music group started in 2007 in The Hague by Eelke Kalberg and Sebastiaan Molijn. Dash Berlin were voted the seventh most popular DJs in the world according to DJ Mag in 2012; Kalberg and Molijn were record producers. Kalberg and Molijn left the group in 2019 and returned in 2021 after winning a legal dispute against Jeffrey Sutorius over the "Dash Berlin" trademark. Since 2022 Ryan Fieret is the frontman of the group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breakbot</span> Musical artist

Thibaut Jean-Marie Michel Berland, known professionally as Breakbot, is a French musician, record producer and a DJ who has been signed with Ed Banger Records since May 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ørjan Nilsen</span> Norwegian producer and DJ

Ørjan Nilsen is a Norwegian record producer and DJ ranked inside the Top 250 DJs in his genre by the annual DJ Mag Top 100 poll. His debut studio album In My Opinion was released in 2011, followed by No Saint Out of Me in 2013 and Prism in 2018. His discography features collaborations with Armin van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, Fingerling among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armin van Buuren discography</span>

Armin van Buuren is a Dutch DJ and record producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Trash</span> Australian DJ, record producer, and remixer

Thomas Matthew Olsen, better known by his stage name Tommy Trash, is an Australian DJ, record producer, and remixer. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California and signed to Ministry of Sound Australia.

Matthew James Burns, known mononymously as Burns, is a British musician, record producer, songwriter, and DJ. His recent writing and production credits include Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Liam Payne, Little Mix, Louis Tomlinson, Pitbull, Ellie Goulding, Kacy Hill, Ariana Grande, Anitta, Bebe Rexha, Ava Max, and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarity (Zedd song)</span> 2012 single by Zedd

"Clarity" is a song by Russian-German DJ Zedd featuring the vocals of British singer Foxes. It was released on 14 November 2012 as the third single from the former's debut studio album of the same name. The song was written by Zedd, Matthew Koma, Porter Robinson and Skylar Grey. It was released as iTunes Single of the Week on 2 October 2012, and as an 4-track remix EP on 12 February 2013, by Interscope Records. Zedd released an extended mix of the song exclusively on Beatport on 18 February 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Above & Beyond discography</span>

The discography of Above & Beyond, a British progressive trance group, consists of five studio albums, three remix albums, two compilation albums, twenty-six mix albums, two extended plays and eighty-five singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galantis discography</span>

Galantis is a Swedish electronic music production and songwriting duo consisting of Christian "Bloodshy" Karlsson from Miike Snow, and Linus Eklöw aka Style of Eye. They are best known for their biggest hit singles "Runaway ", "Peanut Butter Jelly" and "No Money".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yotto</span> Finnish DJ, songwriter and record producer (born 1986)

Otto Yliperttula, known professionally by his stage name, Yotto, is a Finnish DJ, songwriter, and record producer. Currently residing in Helsinki, Finland, Yotto is signed to an English Deep house label, Anjunadeep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illyus & Barrientos</span>

Illyus & Barrientos are an electronic music duo from Glasgow consisting of Illyus Brown & Ivan Hall Barrientos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Cox discography</span>

The discography of Carl Cox, British house music and techno producer and DJ, consists of four albums, twenty-five singles, twenty-six compilation albums, and sixty-six remixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playback 808</span> Australian independent record label

Playback 808 is an Australia-based independent record label and creative movement founded in 2011 by recording artist, activist and poet Gabriel Akon. The imprint is independently distributed and releases most of its content digitally.

The South Australian Music Awards, also known as SA Music Awards, commonly SAM Awards, formerly Fowler's Live Music Awards (FLMA), are annual awards that exist to recognise, promote and celebrate excellence in the South Australian contemporary music industry. They take place in Adelaide, South Australia every November. The venue has varied over the years.

Gabriel Erjok Majer Akon, known professionally as DyspOra, is a South Sudanese-born Australian rapper and activist. He is the founder of the music collective and independent record label Playback 808, and released the 8-track EP, The AustrAlien, in partnership with the not-for-profit organisation Music in Exile in April 2020, after a series of singles and shorter collaborations. He calls his brand of hip hop "Sonic Activism", as he uses his music as a tool to influence social change.

Elsy Wameyo, also known as ELSY, is a Kenyan Australian singer-songwriter and rapper, whose style ranges from hip hop to the fusion of traditional African music with contemporary rap and R&B. Based in Adelaide, South Australia, Wameyo was awarded Young Kenyan of the Year in 2018, and won People's Choice Best Hip Hop Award at the annual South Australian Music Awards in 2019. Her first studio album, Saints Sinner, was released in July 2024.

Northern Sound System (NSS) is a dedicated youth centre focused on music, broadcasting, and other creative industries, located in Elizabeth, a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

References

  1. Williams, Vanessa (1 December 2016). "DJ with a Worldly Attitude". thewest.com.au.
  2. Murphy, Sam (30 May 2016). "Adelaide Producer Motez Has penned An Impassioned Facebook Post About Australias Refugee Crisis". musicfeeds.com.au.
  3. "Triple J YouTube". YouTube .
  4. "StackPath". amnplify.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  5. "2021 Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  6. "Past Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  7. "2018 Award Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  8. 1 2 "2020 Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. Williams, Tom (21 June 2017). "Motez Announces Biggest National Tour Date". Musicfeeds.com.au.
  10. "Motez Makes a Sophisticated Return on His Late Thoughts Ep Out Now Sweat It Out".
  11. Daly, Rhian (19 July 2017). "The Warehouse Project reveals full line-up for 2017 edition". NME. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  12. 1 2 Soulitude , retrieved 19 October 2020
  13. "Motez presents: Soulitude Live x United We Stream Australia". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  14. Motez presents: Soulitude Live , retrieved 19 October 2020
  15. "Motez Explains the Concept Behind His Collaborative Audiovisual EP 'Coalesce'". Yahoo Entertainment. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  16. "rage FIFTY 2023". ABC Rage. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  17. "WOMADelaide Celebrates 30 Years - Heralding the return of major festivals in Australia". cashless.womadelaide.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  18. "Motez Live At The Wireless". triple j. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  19. Goodridge, John (14 March 2022). "Live Review and Gallery: WOMADelaide Day Two featuring Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Motez and Courtney Barnett". The AU Review . Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  20. "Motez Interview - The Womadelaide Performances". Roland Resource Centre. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  21. 1 2 Keller, Lisa (20 June 2022). "Motez will takeover Illuminate Adelaide with new out-of-this-world installation". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  22. Leovic, Anjelica (22 April 2023). "Harsh Realities brings a STORM to Coffin Bay this week". Glam Adelaide. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  23. "Breathe". MOD. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  24. 1 2 Which Made This Place Home (2021) - IMDb , retrieved 20 March 2024
  25. "Toggle (Extended Mix) by Motez on Beatport". beatport.com. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  26. "Where Have You Been (Extended Mix) by Motez on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  27. "Patience (Extended Mix) by Motez on Beatport". beatport.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  28. "Slow Down (Original Mix) by Motez, Qrion on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  29. Give Your Heart Away , retrieved 19 October 2020
  30. "Motez - Andes". Armada Music. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  31. "Give Me Space (Feat. The Kite String Tangle), by Motez". Motez. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  32. "ReSet (Extended Mix) (Original Mix) by Motez on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  33. Stag, Acid (22 April 2022). "Motez - 'Submission'". Acid Stag. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  34. "Motez Releases New Single, 'Get It Done', Feat. London MC Scrufizzer". Music Feeds. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  35. "Motez Serves Up A Rave-Ready Banger For First Single For 2023, 'Be Prepared'". Life Without Andy. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  36. Simmons, David (16 August 2023). "Motez' latest is a heavy-hitting Adelaide affair". CityMag. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  37. "Motez, Doolie - Work Me (Extended Mix) [THRIVE MUSIC] | Music & Downloads on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  38. "AK SPORTS shares debut V/A on Club Madhouse imprint". Mixmag. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  39. "Itunescharts".
  40. "ReSet from Sweat It Out on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  41. "Motez, Doolie, Elsy Wameyo, Dave Court, Rebel Yell - Coalesce [Own Your Chaos] | Music & Downloads on Beatport". www.beatport.com. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  42. "Shelf Life". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  43. "Discogs". Discogs .
  44. "Discogs". Discogs .
  45. "Dicogs". Discogs .
  46. "Discogs". Discogs .
  47. "Past Winners". South Australian Music Awards. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  48. "South Australian Music Awards 2021 Winners". scenestr.com.au. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.