The Mideast folk dance known as dabke began not in the wedding halls, but above them. On the roofs. According to lore, families and fellow villagers would hold hands and form a line to stomp down mud-and-stick roofs, to close off any cracks and prevent leaks. Over time, this community dance became a staple in weddings and protests throughout the Levantine region. A decade ago, four Palestinians residing in Jordan took the traditional music and added synth, rap and throbbing bass drum and took dabke to a whole new level of danceability. The electronic sound they pioneered became known as Shamstep, an instant party starter for Arab youth and beyond. Their Arabic and English lyrics call for celebration and freedom in the struggle for equality, inside Bilad Al Sham and throughout the world. The group that took dabke from the rooftops to the underground music scene wants you to get stomping and dancing wherever you find yourself.

— Jason Markusoff