Solomun issues apology for playing a track sampling Islamic call to prayer

Solomun has issued a public apology for playing a track that sampled the Islamic call to prayer this past weekend at Kappa Futur festival.

The Bosnian-German DJ/producer and Diynamic Music boss headlined the Italian techno festival on Saturday night (7th of June). During his set, according to a detailed statement posted on Facebook, he decided to drop a track which he had been sent shortly before. The demo, which he claims to have only given a cursory listen to before playing, featured a vocal sample of the Islamic call to prayer.

According to his statement, Solomun was not aware of what the sample was while the track was playing but he “sensed that something was off and I had a very odd feeling about the situation”. He subsequently mixed out of the track after its first break.

“I would like to apologize to all Muslims around the globe for playing a track at Saturday’s Kappa Futur Festival, which contains a vocal sample of the Islamic Call to Prayer,” his statement reads. “A big thank you to those pointed out to me that I unknowingly had just made such a big mistake.”

“Now that I was made aware of the impact of this, I want to ask for your forgiveness,” he added. “With all my heart I want to apologize for hurting religious feelings. As I am a religious person myself, nothing could be further from my intentions. I am deeply ashamed that this has happened.”

He goes on to say that he has since reached out to the producer of the track, requesting that he does not release it or play it in future. He has also sought to remove any recordings of his set at Kappa Futur from the Internet because “something like this is not supposed to be out there anymore.”

You can read his full apology below.

Solomun is not the first DJ to have made such an error recently. Last year, English techno DJ Dax J narrowly avoided imprisonment after being charged with “offending public morality” having played a track that sampled the Islamic call to prayer in a Tunisian club. The fast-rising DJ reflected on the situation in his recent DJ Mag UK cover interview.

Similarly, back in May, Beirut nightclub The Gärten was temporarily shut down by government officials after Acid Pauli played vocal samples of Quran verses during a set.

DJ mag was on the ground at Kappa Futur 2018 streaming sets with BURN Energy. You'll be able to watch back sets from Hot Since 82,Giorgia Angiul, Richy Ahmed b2b Andrea Oliva and more very soon.