“Kabul’s identity is fragmented; its attitude has always been a mix of conservatism and liberal ideas, with the younger generation promoting the latter. As an Afghan working at the Kabul airport rightly put it, Afghanistan is sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy all at once. While the younger demographic was extremely receptive to musical experimentation and improvisation; the religious demographic was against music and actively worked to subdue public musical performances for they viewed them as ‘bad influence’. I spent a couple of years in Kabul and experienced some incredible emotions there – from DJing at music festivals, lounges and after-parties to being in close proximity of insurgent attacks and everything in between,” said Haroun Omar, who has been consciously working towards nurturing an influential movement globally with respect to electronic music.

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A Discussion With Travis Beard

You’d be forgiven for thinking, on cursory introduction, that the Australian Travis Beard is simply a photojournalist – that, after all, is how he’s bound to introduce himself.

Although he initially began his journey into Afghanistan as one, however, this job description only scrapes at the tip of his relationship with the country. Beard, who has been a constant fixture (in one form or another) of the erstwhile expat-driven alternative scene of Kabul, has also previously written about his experiences hosting Sound Central, the first rock music festival in the country for BorderMovement. …

To most people, Afghanistan invariably and understandably conjures up the same few images: war, suicide bombings, austere bearded men who banned music, laughter and repressed women during their short stint in power, and, until he was found wrapped in a blanket watching reruns of himself in a neighbouring country three years ago, Osama Bin Laden.

It is safe to say that Caribbean music is not the first thing that comes to mind. It has probably never been played in the country, save maybe for a few expats jamming on rare open mic nights at the few Kabul bars where they gather to escape the boredom of barbed-wired compounds and to enjoy grossly overpriced liquor. …