Wahid Bayar on Cultural Fusion and Latest Single, “Summer Love

With 25 years of experience under his belt, Bayar chats about his new single, his approach to genre fusion and what’s next.

Injecting his own cultural roots into his music, Wahid Bayar has dropped a new single, “Summer Love.”

The Afghan-Dutch artist has stripped away the ornate production that sometimes bogs down crossover records, instead operating on a simpler frequency. Unpretentious warmth meets competent craftsmanship in the new track, which blends house rhythms with breezy production that sounds like sunshine after a long winter.

Bayar’s East-meets-West approach finds comfortable middle ground between traditional Afghan melodic sensibilities and Western pop structures. His background in hip-hop fusion and theater occasionally surfaces in unexpected rhythmic pockets, excavating deeper wells of creativity than a post-summer single typically demands.

We caught up with Bayar to chat about the influences behind “Summer Love” and what’s next for the artist.

EDM.com: You recently won the Gold Medal at the 2025 Global International Music Competition – Open Category, Versatile Musician Division. How does this honor shape your vision for future EDM and cross-cultural projects?

Wahid Bayar: This award validates my approach to combining multiple music styles, including hip-hop, pop, classical and world music. It motivates me to push boundaries and collaborate on projects that integrate electronic music with dance and theatre for global audiences.

EDM.com: “Summer Love” bursts with energy. How has your background in dance and theatre influenced this EDM track, and how do you translate emotion into electronic music?

Wahid Bayar: Dance and theatre have taught me to turn emotion into rhythm. In “Summer Love,” I fuse EDM with hip-hop and world music. The melody expresses the emotion, while the rhythm supports it, creating an immersive experience that resonates even without a live audience.

EDM.com: Since 2000, you’ve appeared on worldwide stages as a dancer, choreographer, composer and producer, earning international recognition. How have these experiences shaped the way you integrate movement, music and storytelling in your EDM and cross-cultural projects?

Wahid Bayar: Movement, music and storytelling are at the core of my creative DNA. Performing globally in theatre has taught me to blend rhythm, emotion and energy to craft experiences that resonate with diverse audiences.

Often, I create music inspired by choreography, or choreograph to existing tracks—each medium feeding the other. This holistic approach shapes my EDM and cross-cultural projects, allowing me to craft music that is not just heard, but felt, bridging genres, cultures and audiences worldwide.

EDM.com: Looking back on your influential work introducing hip-hop and dance-fusion to Afghan and European audiences, what were the key milestones in your journey, and which early works best illustrate your impact?

Wahid Bayar: I was one of the first Afghan artists to bring hip-hop and dance-fusion to both Afghan and European audiences. A major milestone was my first rap/hip-hop track, Birahmi (‘Cruelty’), released in 2002, followed by Bo Man Bego Ey Ghoda (‘Oh God, Tell Me’). After my 2005 performance at a refugee demonstration for children from war-torn countries, both tracks were included in the CD and book Een Royale Gebaar, presented to Dutch Queen Beatrix and government ministers.

These works launched my international career, and since then, I have performed worldwide, collaborated with globally recognized artists like Mozdeah, DjRoshan, DjMir2 and released tracks reaching tens of thousands of streams, continuing my mission to connect cultures and inspire youth through music, dance and storytelling.

EDM.com: Your music is reaching audiences across the globe. How does this international reach reflect your impact on the EDM and dance-fusion scene?

Wahid Bayar: Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube allow my music to connect globally. Even without a live audience, the response proves that cross-genre EDM resonates worldwide.

EDM.com: You’ve performed in over 1,500 theatre shows worldwide, including a 4,000-person show in Amsterdam in 2009. Looking back, which of these experiences had the greatest impact on your artistic growth and career trajectory?

Wahid Bayar: Every performance or theatre/dance show is a unique experience, as you encounter a new audience each time. The 2009 solo concert remains unforgettable because I was the first Afghan artist to combine dance and theatre elements with my own music on such a large stage for a large audience, who were visibly impressed. Additionally, international theatre festivals, benefit productions, and collaborations with other artists reinforced my belief that music and dance can transcend boundaries.

EDM.com: Looking ahead, which projects excite you the most, and how will you continue blending EDM, music, theatre and dance globally?

Wahid Bayar: I focus on cross-cultural collaborations, expanding EDM experimentation, and creating immersive projects that integrate music, theatre, and dance. My goal is to inspire audiences worldwide and pave the way for other artists exploring fusion genres.