Rebekah Abdeen: Tracks That Shaped My Sound

Rebekah is a DJ and producer whose sound is as rich and layered as the UK dance music heritage that shaped her. Blending techno, breaks and house with a raw, euphoric energy, she crafts sets that pay homage to underground rave culture while pushing boundaries with a signature grit and precision.

2024 saw Rebekah making waves with her acclaimed hardgroove remix of Frankie Bones’ ‘Like It Ruff’ and her breakbeat summer single ‘With You..’, both gaining airtime on BBC Radio 1 Dance and BBC Radio London. Alongside her monthly ‘Recreation’ radio show on Bloop and club residencies at Planet Wax and Notting Hill Arts Club, she’s fast becoming a defining voice in the UK’s new era of dance music.

From early bedroom vinyl sessions in Newcastle to stages in New York, Hong Kong and Montreux, Rebekah’s journey has been global—but always grounded in the vibrant DIY spirit of UK rave. With an eclectic sound shaped by a life spent between the Middle East, North America and Europe, she continues to evolve through dynamic collaborations and a deep love for the scene that raised her.

Moby, Natural Blues

Moby has had a profound influence on me since I was a kid. My Mum bought me the ‘Play’ CD back in 1999 and ever since his entire body of work has had a seismic impact on my artistic identity. His music and compositions still move me in a way unlike any other - there is a feeling of him pouring his entire soul into his work, with a raw struggle that feels totally relatable. I’ve always had a great appreciation for his ability to sweep a huge sonic spectrum too - 90s trip hop, techno, hardcore, breaks, ambient - the list goes on. Listening to a Moby album is like seeing your entire life-story flashing before you. Natural Blues has that charming and warm character, poetic groove and beautiful sampling that I’m forever aspiring to create in my own work - this was a source of inspiration for the vocal elements of Man’s World.

Kevin Saunderson x KiNK, Idyllic

Kevin Saunderson is an artist I always refer to when it comes to groove, progression and tension building. There’s such a calculated magic in his work, along with an incredible level of attention to detail and understanding of how to move a dance floor. His love and dedication to the culture pours out too, something which strongly resonates with me. Idyllic had a great influence upon the way I built the bassline and drums for my latest release, and my other work for that matter.

CULT, RATE DA FLOW

Though I would say my sound is rooted in UK rave, I’ve always been a techno focussed DJ at heart, with a commitment to the driving groove, building euphoric energy and creating space where interesting sampling can elevate a moment, or tell a story. I’ve been playing a great deal of CULT’s work in my sets lately, particularly as much of my recent work sits firmly in the hardgroove genre. RATE DA FLOW is an amazing DJ tool that was a great source of reference when trying to build a consistent groove in Man’s World - I find the brief, funky moments he created in this track really exciting.

Charly, The Prodigy

The Prodigy much like Moby shaped a great deal of my sound today. I love to explore breaks within a track - whether subtle or dominant, there’s always room for them somewhere! Charly is one of those tunes that has a lot going on - mad sampling, massive bassline, Meat Beat Manifesto’s breaks, stabbing keyboards, hoover sound - and I love it! It’s wonky and strange, pushing the boundaries, and you can’t help but join for the ride.

Lights Out, Coyu

Lights Out is a track that sits firmly on my USB when I need to lean into the deeper side of techno, and since it’s release last year, has been a go-to for me when I’m looking for a high energy driving moment deep in the middle of a set. This track has been a great source of influence when it comes to maintaining peak energy in Man’s World. The track creates enough space with breakdowns and sampling to allow you a few deep breaths, before you slam into the drops again and gallop off into the distance.