Kice on new single "Al Ain" and his sonic homecoming

Chicago house architect Kice has spent two decades mastering the art of the dancefloor, building a reputation that earned him chart success when his debut album Something Real hit #4 on Beatport's Dance/Electro-Pop charts. His latest single "Al Ain" doubles as a sonic homecoming that sees the producer embracing his Jordanian roots while helping to shape a fresh Arabic house sound.

The third-culture kid is using his newfound momentum to explore something deeply personal. "Al Ain" respectfully reimagines Samira Tawfiq's timeless classic, crafted in collaboration with Canadian duo Kazdoura to bridge ancient melodies with contemporary club culture.

Through his Sirocco Sessions events and this new musical direction, Kice creates what he calls "cultural bridges"—spaces where Mediterranean heritage meets the modern dancefloor. It's a permanent shift that sees the entrepreneur channeling his business acumen into building something he believes could add some flair to the electronic scene.

As Arabic and Mediterranean house scenes continue to emerge globally, Kice positions himself as a pioneer, using his platform to honor the sounds that shaped his identity while inviting diverse communities to connect through rhythm and melody.

We caught up with Kice to discuss this transformative moment, the intersection of cultural identity and club music, and why authenticity—rather than commercial trends—drives his most exciting creative chapter yet.

Your debut album Something Real just hit #4 on Beatport's Dance/Electro-Pop charts (congrats!), and now you're pivoting to Arabic house with "Al Ain." What inspired this cultural shift at such a peak moment in your career?

KICE:
Thank you, it's an incredible feeling to see Something Real resonate so strongly. For me, Al Ain isn't a pivot as much as it is a natural evolution and a deeper dive into my core identity. Something Real was about exploring Piano House through an accessible electronic sound. While it found success, there was always this underlying whisper of my heritage that I knew I needed to truly embrace.

Releasing Al Ain at this peak moment felt less like a risk and more like a statement of authenticity. It's about showing that artistic growth isn't always linear; sometimes, the most impactful direction is inward, to what really defines you. This isn't just a new song; it's a sonic homecoming, and doing it now when I have this momentum feels like the perfect time to share this vulnerable, powerful part of my artistic soul.

As a third-culture kid with Jordanian roots living in Chicago, how has your identity influenced your approach to house music, and why did it take until now to fully embrace that heritage in your productions?

KICE:
Being a third-culture kid is a constant dance between worlds. My Jordanian roots gave me this incredible foundational rhythm and melodic sensibility from Arabic music, while growing up in Chicago immersed me in the birthplace of house.

For years, I was learning those cultures subconsciously, letting them shape my groove and emotional depth without explicitly bringing in the traditional Arabic elements. The reason it took until now to fully embrace it is multi-layered. Part of it was finding the right collaborators like Kazdoura, who truly understood how to bridge those worlds authentically.

Another part was simply a matter of personal growth and confidence; feeling truly ready to lay bare and to say, "This is who KICE truly is, and this is the music that truly resonates with me." It's about shedding any preconceived notions of what my sound should be and embracing the full spectrum of my identity.

"Al Ain" represents what you're calling a "sonic homecoming." Can you walk us through the creative process of blending traditional Arabic elements with contemporary house music?

KICE:
The process was both organic and meticulous. Al Ain itself is a timeless classic and approaching a song so beloved requires immense respect. With Kazdoura, it was a true collaboration. They started by deeply dissecting the original Samira Tawfiq track, especially its vocals and melodic intricacies.

My role was then to build a house framework around that. It wasn't about simply layering Arabic instruments over a beat; it was about finding points of synergy on the dance floor. I focused on lightening those ancient melodies, giving them space to breathe within a House groove.

For example, the interplay between the traditional Arabic vocals and the driving house elements had to feel seamless, almost as if they were always meant to coexist. Then I experimented with subtle rhythmic shifts that hint at Arabic percussion without being overtly traditional, and used new production techniques to give those rich Middle Eastern textures a dance and vibrant feel. It's about respecting the past while pushing towards the future.

Your Sirocco Sessions events are creating "Mediterranean house sanctuaries" in Chicago. How do these live experiences inform your studio work, and what role does community play in this new direction?

KICE:
Sirocco Sessions are absolutely crucial to my studio work; they're my living laboratory. When I'm playing at a Sirocco event, I'm not just a DJ; I'm observing, feeling the energy of the room, seeing how specific melodic phrases or rhythmic patterns resonate with the super diverse crowd. It's where I test ideas, see the joy, and connection people experience when these sounds blend. That feedback loop is invaluable.

But, my community plays an enormous role. These sanctuaries aren't just for dancing; they're spaces where people connect over shared cultural appreciation, where third-culture kids feel seen, and where anyone can discover a new sound. This connection fuels my drive to create music that serves that community—music that celebrates our heritage, provides a sense of belonging, and invites others into this beautiful fusion.

Al Ain is a direct result of the need to serve and expand that community feeling, taking the energy of Sirocco and bottling it into a track.

From building Treblemonsters as a sonic branding agency to being recognized as a USA Today Top 10 entrepreneur, how has your business background shaped your artistic vision?

KICE:
My business background with my old corporate jobs, Treblemonsters, Treble Recordings, and Sirocco Sessions—it all goes hand-in-hand with my artistic vision; it doesn't detract from it. I have DJed for almost two decades now. It's about understanding the ecosystem of music and what people want to hear.

Being an entrepreneur teaches you strategic thinking, problem-solving, and resilience. For my artistic vision, this translates into being able to approach creativity with a clearer sense of purpose. I understand the importance of building a distinct brand, connecting with an audience, and consistently delivering high-quality experiences.

It’s not just about making a great track; it’s about how that track fits into a larger narrative, how it’s distributed, marketed, and how it translates into a memorable live experience. Taking a timeline for my goals and reverse engineering it to be achieved. My business acumen allows me to navigate the industry effectively, ensuring my artistic message reaches its intended audience without compromise, and that the "Arabic House" sound I lead can truly grow.

You've earned support from major artists like Showtek and ALOK with your previous work. How do you expect the dance music community to receive this Arabic house direction?

KICE:
I’m incredibly grateful for the support from artists like them and more; it shows that good music transcends genre. With Al Ain and this Arabic House direction, I expect an overwhelmingly positive reception from those who truly appreciate innovation and cultural fusion within electronic music.

The beauty of dance music is its global nature, its openness to new sounds and rhythms. The dance floor is a melting pot, and I believe Al Ain offers something fresh, vibrant, and deeply soulful that can resonate with people worldwide. It's about introducing familiar dance music sensibilities to the rich, inviting textures of the Middle East.

There will always be those who prefer the familiar, but I believe the forward-thinking segment of the dance music community will embrace this as an exciting evolution.

The Mediterranean and Arabic house scenes are still emerging compared to other electronic genres. What do you see as the potential for this sound to grow globally?

KICE:
The potential is insane and it’s why I’m so passionate about it! We’re sitting on a goldmine of untapped melodic and rhythmic inspiration from the Middle East and Mediterranean, waiting to be repurposed with house music.

As the world becomes more interconnected, people are actively seeking out diverse cultural experiences and music is a powerful conduit for that. The success of artists blending African sounds or Latin American influences with electronic music has paved the way.

Arabic music carries deep emotion, ancient stories, and incredibly rich instrumentation. When that’s woven seamlessly into House, it offers a refreshing alternative to what’s currently dominating the charts. I see it expanding far beyond niche communities, reaching mainstream audiences who are hungry for authentic, soulful, and evocative electronic music.

Looking ahead, is this cultural exploration a temporary project, or are we seeing the new permanent direction for Kice's sound?

KICE:
This is absolutely not a temporary project. This is a permanent for as long as I can forecast and the foundational direction for KICE. Al Ain is just the beginning of this sonic homecoming!

My intention is to continue to delve deeper into my heritage, exploring the plethora of Arabic melodies, rhythms, and vocal styles, and weaving them into the fabric of house music. This isn't just about making individual tracks; it's about building a genre, cultivating a scene, and creating a legacy of Arabic House.

My work with Treble Recordings, Sirocco Sessions, and Treble Squad will all be dedicated to this vision. I believe this fusion is where my most authentic and impactful contributions to electronic music will lie—and I'm incredibly excited for the journey ahead.