Last Friday, we attended another FutureScope event — this time featuring Palestinian techno star Sama’ Abdulhadi, who was joined by local talents: rising artist SKA and Boogaloo club residents Shipe and DJ Jock.
The night kicked off at 11 PM, with the increasingly popular SKA opening an evening full of anticipation. I’ve heard SKA perform before in Boogaloo’s smaller room, and she’s always brought a playful energy to her sets. This time, performing in the main hall and opening for a major headliner, she truly rose to the occasion. The beginning of her set was a bit tentative, but with only five of us in the empty room for the first 40 minutes, she had the space to find her rhythm and decide on the direction of her sound. As more people trickled in, SKA became more confident behind the decks — relaxed and playful, which was easy to see and hear. After an hour and a half of warming up the crowd, she passed the decks to Shipe.
Shipe took over, playing some groovier techno rhythms and gradually raising the BPMs to set the stage for the night’s headliner.
And then came Sama’ Abdulhadi. I might not be the most objective observer — I deeply admire her as both an artist and a person — but I’m genuinely not sure she’s even from the same planet as the rest of us.
It’s hard to say what stood out more: her instinct for reading the crowd, her expressive face and movements, her unique playlist, or the effortless way she combines unexpected sounds. Sama’s energy behind the decks is unmatched — the rhythm completely takes over her body, and she fully immerses herself in the music. She engaged with the crowd as if she plays at Boogaloo every weekend. Her set was pure techno, enriched with unexpected elements, and she managed the energy perfectly — building it up and breaking it down at just the right moments. Relentlessly and unapologetically, she hyped up the entire room, proudly wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh. Her techno has strength, it’s full of attitude and a voice of its own — just like her.
Sama began her journey in Ramallah, Palestine, organizing underground raves in an abandoned kitchen below ground. She brought electronic music to her city — and her country — and gained worldwide recognition after her Boiler Room set in 2018. That performance made her a household name among techno lovers and inspired many to fall in love with the genre. Since then, Sama has tirelessly used the attention her fame brings to raise awareness of the horrific genocide her people in Palestine continue to endure under Israeli rule.
Sama’ Abdulhadi truly uses music as a channel through which she expresses herself and spreads her message.
What pleasantly surprised me was that after finishing her set and handing over the decks to DJ Jock, she stayed at the party—dancing, socializing with people, and even coming down to the crowd to greet the loyal partygoers in the front rows. I even witnessed something rare: the headliner this time outshined my favorite Croatian DJ, DJ Jock, who is often the standout of Boogaloo nights. This time, Jock brought a slightly different sound than what I’m used to, but the crowd was still asking for more. He wrapped up the night on the main floor with the playful track, I Want You To Know by Kyle Starkey and Sam Alfred.
The night ended in the early morning hours in Boogaloo’s packed small room, where Shipe and SKA did the after — I think for the first time in a b2b combo. They clicked perfectly. There was real synergy between them, and it looked like they were genuinely having fun behind the decks, which they passed on to the tireless crowd.
The evening was marked by a powerful stamp from headliner Abdulhadi. She proved her greatness not only by showcasing the perfection of mixing skill, but her attitude towards everyone around her.
Photos: @shootinglikepablo
