02/12/2025
Toka Musik is excited to present a special feature with DÜK, a Lebanese-born, Montreal-based producer who is quickly making his mark on the underground scene. Known for his sophisticated blend of House and Minimal, DÜK infuses his productions with organic Jazz and Funk elements, creating a sound that is as hypnotic as it is groovy.
From his releases on labels like Alegria Records to his presence in Montreal’s nightlife, his work is a testament to cultural fusion and deep listening. For this feature, DÜK has recorded an exclusive one-hour guest mix for Toka Musik, taking us on a journey through the driving basslines and intricate textures that define his style.
Q: Please introduce yourself
I’m DÜK — born in Beirut, raised around music and chaos in equal measure. My sound is a blend of jazz, funk, Arabic, and minimal house influences, built around groove and emotion. I love finding a middle ground between old school and modern, organic and electronic.
My sets are all about storytelling — connecting people through rhythm, texture, and feeling.
Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?
Miles Davis. He reinvented himself so many times without ever losing that core essence of who he was. I’d love to talk to him about how he kept pushing boundaries without letting fear or comfort get in the way. That balance between reinvention and authenticity is something I always try to find in my own music.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation — easily. I’d love to just disappear and reappear somewhere else, catch a sunrise in Japan, then be back in Beirut by sunset. I like the idea of moving freely, exploring new sounds, and seeing how different cultures shape rhythm and energy.
Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?
I’d love to score something like Ocean’s Eleven. It’s got that slick, jazzy, mysterious vibe — the kind of groove that makes you feel cool without even trying. I’d mix in live brass, funk basslines, and modern electronic textures to give it a fresh twist. That balance between tension and rhythm really speaks to how I approach music.
Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?
My biggest influences came from two worlds: my family, my brother who introduced me to Arabic & Jazz, my father who introduced me to Rock & Blues, and my mother who introduced me to Soul & Disco – and one friend in particular, Tarek Hout, who pushed me to learn music theory & the technical side of producing.
I’ve been building ever since, always trying to mix cultural roots with experimentation.
Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?
It’s been a long, winding road. After my father bought me my first guitar, I started by playing around with sounds, not really knowing what I was doing, just following curiosity.
Over time, it turned into something bigger — late nights experimenting, early mornings chasing that perfect mix. I actually never listened to electronic music growing up — I didn’t come from that world at all. I also never had any formal music education or teachers; everything I know, I taught myself.
Over time, my curiosity turned into an obsession. I spent years learning on my own, making mistakes, figuring out production from scratch. Every late night, every failed project, every small breakthrough added up. The turning point came when I stopped trying to sound like anyone else and focused on what I wanted to express. That’s when everything started to click — when I realized that doing things my own way was the whole point.
Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out their career in music?
Hang in there — this doesn’t happen overnight. No one sounds great at the beginning, and that’s completely fine. The ones who make it are the ones who stick around long enough to grow into their sound.
Surround yourself with honest friends who will tell you the truth about your music. It’s the criticism that helps you evolve, not the compliments. I’ve always tried to keep people around me who’ll tell me when I’m overdoing it or when something’s missing — that feedback is how you actually get better.
Keep learning and evolving. Put yourself in uncomfortable places and never box yourself into one style, because your ears — and your listeners’ ears — will always change. Make sure your music grows with that.
And above all, stay honest to your roots. Don’t rush it, don’t chase trends. Focus on making music that feels true to you, because people can always tell when it’s real. The consistency and love you put into it will take you further than anything else.
Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?
Definitely. My first gig in Beirut at Reunion/Soul Kitchen will always stand out. It was one of those nights where everything aligned — the crowd, the sound, the energy. Beirut had just been through so much — the economic crisis, the port explosion — and to play there after all that, and still feel that raw, unstoppable energy from the crowd, was powerful. It felt like home. It felt like a dream I’d worked my whole life to reach.
Another unforgettable moment was my first show in New York with Alegria Community. During a time when I was thinking of calling it quits for my music career, a promoter in particular, Kenny Jones, who didn’t even know me personally, decided to take a chance and fly me out to play one of her events. That meant the world to me. It wasn’t about fame or private jets — it was about someone believing in my music enough to fly me out to play for a crowd that had never heard of me. That was a real turning point, where I felt like everything I’d been working for had started to make sense.
Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?
I don’t think my core has changed — it’s still Groovey, Jazz & Funk — but I’ve become more layered. I’ve learned to be patient, to let sounds breathe. My style has evolved from experimenting with sounds to actually sculpting them. It’s less about changing who I am and more about refining how I express it.
Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?
Jazz, without a doubt. It’s the foundation of how I think about music — improvisation, soul, and storytelling. Jazz has that freedom I’m always chasing, where every note feels alive and unpredictable.
One thing about me is that I try not to listen to much modern electronic music at home. I prefer drawing inspiration from original sounds — anything from the ’50s to the early 2000s. Bossa nova, Afro-jazz, old-school hip hop, bebop, disco — all of that keeps my ears fresh. Staying connected to those timeless sounds helps me approach production with a clear head and create something that, to me, feels authentic rather than recycled.
Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?
Three that changed everything for me were:
1- St Germain – Pont des Arts,
2- Moodymann – U Look Lyk Ice Cream N Da Summertime feat. Nikki-O,
3- Glenn Underground - Servants Jaz House.
Each one opened a door to a new world — groove, texture, and emotion. They taught me that electronic music could have character and spice.
Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?
Beirut — no question. The city has this mix of chaos and beauty that you can’t find anywhere else. It’s raw, it’s real, and the energy is unmatched.
Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?
I’ve got a few exciting things dropping soon. First up is a new “DÜK Production” — a 1–2 hour mix featuring about 10–15 unreleased tracks I’ve been building for years. It’s been nearly four years since my last one, and I really wanted this to represent where I am musically right now.
Then there’s the new Flat22 EP, a four-track vinyl release. The B-side dives into jazzy, funky territory with synth solos and some Japanese funk influences. The A-side marks my return to Arabic vocals — something I’ve been working on for over three years — with both tracks carrying layers of political satire and storytelling.
And lastly, I’ve got a two-track EP with Alegria Community coming soon. One track is a remix of an early 2000s Italian rap song I’ve always loved, and the other is Colour Out Your Mind — a track that some listeners have been asking me to release for years. It’s easily one of my favorite tracks from the last four years, and I can’t wait to finally share it.
Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?
Most people don’t know this, but I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to the things I love. I play a lot of chess, I cook, I do triathlons — I even swim outdoors when it’s freezing — and I’m hooked on challenging video games. I think that’s part of the reason I never gave up on music. I don’t fall in love with many things, but when I do, I go all in until it becomes part of who I am.
Toka Mix #94: DÜK