“I confess My love for you I can’t rest I’m confused by the way that we move.” The debut EP by Ziyad Al-Samman delves into what might be one of life’s most fundamental themes—the unpredictable energy, the beauty and turbulence surrounding love, and the chaotic waves that drive human connections. Pleasure Complex explores these emotions, layered with Ziyad’s distinct mix of indie-disco and psychedelic pop.
Raised between London and his Middle Eastern roots, Ziyad Al-Samman’s musical journey began with a guitar in his hands at thirteen and a deep love for melody in his heart. His music reflects his Syrian and British roots, blending soulful expression with creative experimentation and drawing influence from Egyptian pop as well as Western indie legends like Prince and Pulp. One of his earliest memories—singing along to Amr Diab’s iconic “Habibi Ya Nour El Ain” on a family trip through Jordan—has left an unforgettable influence on his work. This experience inspired the EP’s lead single, “Ya Habibi,” which pulses with the energy of youth and carries the weight of his cultural past.
“Trying to understand my ever-evolving and complex relationship with love and pleasure.”
In “Pleasure Complex”, Ziyad offers a whirlwind of sounds, balancing upbeat, disco-laden tracks with introspective, almost melancholic pieces. “The songs came together out of necessity, a deep desire and impulse to create something immediate, direct, and joyful. Trying to understand my ever-evolving and complex relationship with love and pleasure,” he explains. “A warped yet playful mirror image of human emotions, relationships, and inspirations I’ve been soaking. Ya Habibi wrote itself pretty instantly with Jules, it just exploded! We tapped into some childlike innocence and energy. We were just lucky to tap into that energy, and I’m so grateful to have this song in my arsenal. It’s so infectious and special to me, and I hope others will feel that,” he continues, describing his collaborative process with French multi-instrumentalist and producer Jules Apollinaire.
Director: Katya Ganfeld | DOP: Jed Darlington-Roberts | Assistant Camera: Darius Helvadjian Williams | Spark: Joe Sampson | Edit: Piers Crosby | Grade: Evo Boeck | Dancer: Mathilda Woodward | Music, Lyrics & Production: Jules Apollinaire & Ziyad Al-Samman | Additional Vocals: Natalie Findlay | Mixed: Caesar Edmunds | Mastered: Jonas Westling | Label: Yotanka Records
The accompanying video, directed by Katya Ganfeld, was shot on 16mm film under the blazing Sussex sun, capturing love’s raw, fleeting beauty. “I sought to transcend conventional storytelling by embracing the visceral beauty of chaos and romance, grounding it in the tactile immediacy of 16mm film. Shooting in the 38-degree Sussex countryside, we weren’t just capturing a love story; we were immersing ourselves in an unrepeatable moment, where the heat and spontaneity became intrinsic to the narrative’s pulse,” shares Katya. “The field became our canvas, the blistering sun our collaborator, as we crafted something that is both intelligent and surreal—a dialogue between the conscious and the subconscious. This film is as much about what we didn’t say as what we did, a celebration of the unspoken and the visual poetry that emerges when you let the environment dictate the rhythm of the story.”
In summary, Pleasure Complex is a journey through the highs and lows of love, friendship, and self-discovery. Backed by bouncing synthesizers, high-energy rhythms, and moments of melancholy, it’s an invitation to dance, reflect, and feel—embodying Ziyad’s hope that listeners will find a colorful, energetic vision of everyday life within his songs.
Photography by Austn Fischer
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