From a chance meeting in Dahab, a seaside town on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba, during the pandemic to international electronic music stages, Egyptian-Canadian duo Husa &amp; Zeyada have developed a sound that blends deep house, indie rock and atmospheric synths with Arabic and English lyrics.
For the duo, Dahab became more than just a location; it became part of their creative identity.
During their appearance on "Let's Dance" with Nancy on NileFM, Husa &amp; Zeyada reflected on how they met, how Dahab shaped their creative process, the story behind their electronic reimagining of the late Hany Shenouda's "Hezeny", and their plans for new music and their independent label, Sound School.
A Chance Meeting That Changed Everything
For Husa &amp; Zeyada, the pandemic became the turning point that brought them together.
"We like to believe that somehow we would have found our way to each other," Zeyada said. "But no, not in its current form. We like to believe that things work out because it's fate. We met in Dahab, and that influenced the music that we make."
At the time, Husa had moved to Dahab during the pandemic, while Zeyada had arrived for what was meant to be a short holiday. Through their mutual friend and producer Hot Oasis (Mostafa), they met during one of his final jam sessions before he moved to the UK.
"We just didn't know we were going to be a duo yet," Zeyada recalled. "We met and wanted to get in the studio together."
That first session quickly led to another.
"Two or three days later, we got in the studio, and then we were like, 'Okay, again tomorrow.' And then we never stopped. It just kept happening."
How Dahab Shaped Their Sound
Dahab, a coastal town on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, became more than a location for the duo. It became part of their creative identity.
"Making music reflects you. You reflect your environment when you're making music," Husa explained. "Being in the mountains, with the simplicity and away from city life, definitely reflects in the music."
For Zeyada, who previously studied in New York after growing up in Cairo, living closer to nature changed the way she approached creativity.
"I always thought I'm a city girl. I love the mess of the city. I thrive under chaos," she said. "But I did well, not as well as I did in nature. When I was actually relaxed and surrounded by inspiration, we were a lot more productive when we gave ourselves space, time and nature. It definitely changed everything about the way we make music and our sound."
Husa added that Dahab's international community also influenced their work.
"It's a big part of the place. It has a real native culture and a community with people from different parts of the world."
Blending Two Musical Worlds
Although Zeyada came from an indie rock background and Husa built his career in electronic house music, they never saw their different influences as a challenge.
Instead, they used those contrasts to shape their sound, focusing first on rhythm and feeling.
"We were obsessing over groove," Zeyada explained, describing how a simple musical idea can become the foundation for an entire track.
Their creative process has also evolved. While they initially developed ideas separately, they now work together in their home studio, constantly refining songs until they both feel satisfied.
Why Their First Album Came Together Quickly
While many artists spend years developing their debut albums, Husa &amp; Zeyada completed theirs in just one month.
For Husa, the reason was simplicity.
"The more you know, the more complicated it gets," he said. "We made that first album right after we met each other. Everything was simple. We didn't know enough, so there weren't all these calculations."
As they have grown as artists, they have learned to accept that each song has its own timeline.
"There are albums that took much longer," Zeyada said. "Some songs are finished very quickly, while others take years. We're starting to accept that as part of the process."
Rather than forcing creativity, the duo moves between projects and returns to unfinished songs when the time feels right.
Reimagining Hany Shenouda's "Hezeny"
One of their recent projects is their electronic interpretation of "Hezeny", the classic song originally performed by Al Massrieen and composed by Egyptian musician Hany Shenouda.
While the remix introduces the track to a new audience, it also became one of the duo's most meaningful projects.
"A lot of people recognise the original, which is a brilliant track," Zeyada said. "We actually had the song for almost two years and worked with Hany Shenouda on a new version."
She revealed that Shenouda personally listened to their remix and supported the project.
"He heard it, liked our edit, and wanted to re-release an album with re-edits while keeping the original lyrics. We went back into the studio, re-recorded everything together, and had his approval. That was really a blessing. This project is very close to our hearts."
For Husa &amp; Zeyada, the remix was not simply about updating a classic. It was about celebrating Shenouda's contribution to Egyptian music while introducing his work to a new generation of listeners.
Why Fans Hear New Music Before Release
For the duo, the creative process continues beyond the studio. Many of their songs are tested live before they officially arrive on streaming platforms.
"One cool part about us is that you can always hear unreleased stuff in our live shows," Zeyada said. "We're always finishing new music, so we play it live first."
Performing unfinished material allows them to continue developing songs while sharing that process with their audience.
"We're working on things while we're performing them. They're not even fully finished. We'll go back to the studio and add things or change things."
The approach means every performance can offer something different while giving fans an early glimpse of future releases.
Building More Than a Label
To support their growing catalogue, Husa &amp; Zeyada launched their independent label, Sound School.
Rather than simply releasing music, they see it as a creative platform connecting musicians, visual artists and filmmakers.
"It's more than just a label," they explained. "It's a whole world we're trying to build through audio, visuals and a network of artists working together."
For Husa, creating the label solved a practical challenge.
"We had all this music waiting to be released. Now we have an outlet where projects can continue to grow instead of disappearing after release."
Zeyada said the label also gives them freedom to think beyond short-term success.
"A lot of the time with labels, they're looking at a song as profit now, hype and charts," she said. "I don't want my music to be considered only in that sense. Every song has a story. I don't want it to be consumed now, hit the charts and then disappear a few months later."
Instead, they want each release to remain part of a wider creative world.
New Music on the Way
Husa &amp; Zeyada are preparing several new projects, each exploring a different side of their sound.
They hope to release three albums before the end of the year, including dance and disco-inspired music, an indie-focused record and a rave-oriented project.
Zeyada is also working on a solo Arabic shoegaze project, with Husa helping develop the music.
During their NileFM appearance, the duo premiered an unreleased track titled "Kings Don't Fall".
"It's our most recently finished work," they said. "The album has more punk rock elements with some disco influences. It should start releasing in the fall and be complete by winter."
Their latest project, "To Belong", represents another stage in their evolving musical journey.
Creating Together as Partners
Being creative partners and husband and wife means music is part of almost every aspect of their lives.
"From the beginning, everything was very intertwined," Zeyada said. "Once we got past the question of whether we should mix work and life, it changed everything in great ways."
Working together has also taught them the importance of communication.
"If there's an issue, whether it's personal or music related, we have to deal with it," she explained. "If we don't fix it, everything is on pause."
Rather than separating their personal and professional lives, they have learned to allow each side to strengthen the other.
Taking Their Music Around the World
Although Husa &amp; Zeyada have performed internationally for years, one show remains particularly significant.
They recalled performing alongside renowned DJ Hern&aacute;n Catt&aacute;neo at Sunsetstrip Buenos Aires in 2023, where they played in front of one of the largest crowds of their career.
"That was the moment we looked at each other and thought, 'I think we're making it,'" they said.
The duo are now preparing for further international performances across Germany, Spain, Canada, Mexico and India before returning to Cairo this winter.
Alongside their releases, they hope to continue expanding Sound School as a creative ecosystem for artists.
"We're trying to solidify this ecosystem of artists. People that want to get together for creation."
From a spontaneous jam session in Dahab to international stages and a growing artistic community, Husa &amp; Zeyada continue to build their sound around collaboration, curiosity and connection.
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