Solomun issues apology after playing track with sample of Islamic call to prayer

Diynamic label boss Solomun has publicly apologized for a track misstep during his July 7 Kappa Futur Festival set in Turin, Italy.

Taking to Facebook to address what he’s called his “big mistake,” the globetrotting DJ claimed he was unaware he’d played a demo that contained a sample of the Islamic Call to prayer, though recognized that “something was off” during the set.

“First and foremost I would like to apologize to all Muslims around the globe for playing a track at Saturday’s Kappa Futur Festival, which contains a vocal sample of the Islamic Call to Prayer. A big thank you to those pointed out to me that I unknowingly had just made such a big mistake,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Now that I was made aware of the impact of this, I want to ask for your forgiveness: With all my heart I want to apologize for hurting religious feelings. As I am a religious person myself, nothing could be further from my intentions. I am deeply ashamed that this has happened…. Music is there to connect people, and this is what it has always been for me… I am devastated and full of sorrow that I did not achieve this last Saturday.”

Last year, a Tunisian club was asked to close its doors after the UK techno DJ Dax J played a similar track with a sample of the Islamic Call to Prayer. Just this summer, Beirut’s Gärten nightclub was closed temporarily by authorities after Acid Pauli played a track that sampled verses from the Quran.