Middle Eastern Undergrounds: From Beirut to Istanbul – How Politics, Fanzines and DIY Pressing Built a Global Punk Network

This episode follows the rise of punk scenes across the Middle East—from clandestine rehearsal rooms in Beirut and Aleppo to underground basements beneath Istanbul’s ancient ruins. It traces how musicians pressed records on battered reel‑to‑reel machines, forged independent labels like Turkey’s ‘Turkish Underground Records’ and Israel’s Beer City Records, leveraged diaspora networks and email chains, and navigated censorship while crafting a distinct sound that blended raw distortion with regional musical motifs. The conversation also explores how these movements shaped the international punk ecosystem and remain a living example of DIY resilience in hostile environments.

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