Jarreau Vandal: The Dutch Producer Mixing Moroccan Rhythms with Global Bass
An exclusive conversation with Jarreau Vandal on his transformative trip to Marrakech, his viral experiments with Moroccan rhythms, the creation of "Ganga Riddim", his collaborations with local artists, and his love for cultures and global music.
When Moroccan rap first began weaving traditional sounds into hip-hop, the movement remained largely contained within the Kingdom’s borders. But in recent years, Moroccan rhythms have started to resonate beyond Morocco, entering global conversations about music and identity.
One of the most exciting examples is Jarreau Vandal, a Dutch DJ and producer celebrated for his genre-defying style. By blending Gnawa grooves, Chaabi energy, and Amazigh melodies with the heavy low-end of global bass, Vandal has captivated Moroccan listeners online as well as helped open fresh conversations about Moroccan music as a global sound.
In an exclusive interview with DimaTOP magazine, Vandal sat down to unpack his creative journey with Moroccan music, from his transformative trip to Marrakech and viral experiments with traditional rhythms to his collaborations with local artists and his respectful approach to cultural exchange.
VIDEO: Watch Jarreau Vandal | Boiler Room x AXE Music One Night Only | Rotterdam
From Amsterdam to Marrakech: How a Birthday Trip Influenced Jarreau Vandal
Vandal, born and raised in Amsterdam, had always been surrounded by Moroccan culture through classmates and friends from the large diaspora community in the Netherlands. But it wasn’t until his first trip to Morocco, to celebrate his birthday in Marrakech, that he experienced the country’s sonic depth firsthand. In Jemaa El-Fna square, he encountered Gnawa music for the first time: the hypnotic gimbri basslines, metallic qraqeb claps, and trance-like chants.
Fascinated, he bought a gimbri from a local shopkeeper and began experimenting. “At first I didn’t know how to play Gnawa traditionally, so I started adapting it into other grooves I knew, like Brazilian funk and samba,” Vandal recalls. The result? A series of videos blending Moroccan rhythms with global beats that quickly went viral in Moroccan online circles.
Ganga Riddim: Vandal’s Experiment with Moroccan Music
What began as personal curiosity turned into something bigger. His track “Ganga Riddim” with Moroccan gnawi Mehdi Nassouli showcased a daring fusion of Gnawa patterns with Nigerian Fuji percussion, South African 3-step (close to amapiano), and hip-hop sensibilities. Moroccan audiences embraced it, with even legendary gnawa group Oudaden acknowledging his work when he sampled one of their songs.
But Vandal didn’t want to stop at reinterpretation. “I’m not Moroccan, so I wanted to include Moroccan artists on the project, people who live and breathe the culture,” he explains. Through connections, he collaborated with Mehdi Nassouli and began exploring Morocco’s music more deeply, listening to Chaabi, Amazigh masters like Mohamed Rouicha, and even re-editing Abdelaziz Stati’s classic “Visa Oul Passport” for a DJ set in Marseille.
VIDEO: Watch Jarreau Vandal Ft. Dave Nunes & Mehdi Nassouli – GANGA RIDDIM (VISUALIZER)
Jarreau Vandal: A Global Force in Genre-Defying Music
Beyond his Moroccan experiments, Jarreau Vandal’s importance on the global stage cannot be overstated. Born Ellroy Jarreau Uyleman, the Dutch producer carved out his place in Amsterdam’s thriving club scene before breaking internationally with the Los Angeles-based Soulection collective. His 2014 debut, The Jarreau Vandal White Label, was called “ground-breaking” and helped establish him as one of Europe’s most exciting genre-defying talents.
What makes Vandal stand out is his refusal to be boxed in. His style is often described as “eclectic” and “unpredictable,” seamlessly weaving together jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, R&B, rock, and electronic music. This versatility has earned him global respect: his edits and remixes have gone viral on Spotify, his single Small Talk hit international charts, and his 2020 album Suburb Superhero: The Villain Within was praised as a vulnerable, soulful distillation of his artistry. He’s toured the world, from New York to Tokyo, Cape Town to Melbourne, always incorporating local sounds to honor and engage with different cultures.
Vandal’s work has also been recognized by major tastemakers like BBC Radio 1Xtra and Complex, who named him “One to Watch.” His collaborations with artists such as Kojey Radical, Col3trane, Tay Iwar, and Gaidaa further cement his role as a cultural bridge-builder. And through his trademark “VANDALIZED Edits,” he has reimagined classics across genres, creating new entry points for audiences while expanding the limits of electronic and hip-hop fusion.
This global pedigree is what makes his experiments with Moroccan sounds so significant. When an artist already celebrated for innovation and authenticity chooses to highlight Moroccan instruments and traditions, it signals that Morap is not just a local curiosity — it is a sound with the potential to inspire and influence on the world stage.
VIDEO: Watch Jarreau Vandal – Westside + Scintilla ft. Luna Mae | Red Bull Music Uncut
Cultural Respect: Jarreau Vandal’s Response to Appropriation Critics
Of course, such cross-cultural projects sometimes spark debate. Some critics accused Vandal of cultural appropriation. His response is clear: “I’m not claiming to invent Moroccan music. I do it out of love. I study, I respect, I collaborate, and I always credit the culture.”
This attitude has won him respect among Moroccan musicians and fans. He sees music as a universal language, pointing out that even Gnawa itself originated from Sub-Saharan Africa before becoming central to Moroccan identity. “Art evolves through exchange,” he says. “Just like Marco Polo brought noodles from Asia that became Italian pasta, cultures adapt and transform sounds over time.”
Beyond the Borders: Jarreau Vandal's Global Impact
Ultimately, Jarreau Vandal’s story is a compelling blueprint for the future of global music. By authentically engaging with Moroccan sounds and collaborating with artists who live and breathe the culture, he demonstrates that cross-cultural fusion can be a powerful force for amplification, not appropriation. His success with tracks like “Ganga Riddim” proves that Moroccan rhythms, far from being a niche curiosity, hold universal appeal and can captivate audiences from Amsterdam to Tokyo. As a revered figure in the global music scene, Vandal’s decision to spotlight and honor Moroccan musical traditions sends a strong signal: this is a sound that deserves a central place on the world stage.
Jarreau Vandal’s work transcends simple genre-blending; it’s a masterclass in cultural bridge-building. He has not only introduced new audiences to the hypnotic power of Gnawa but has also provided a new model for how international artists can respectfully and creatively interact with diverse musical heritage. As Morap continues to grow and evolve, his story will stand as a testament to the idea that music’s true power lies in its ability to connect us, transforming local stories and sounds into a shared, borderless language that everyone can understand.
What's Next? Jarreau Vandal’s Future with Moroccan Artists
Vandal’s next moves include deeper collaborations with Moroccan artists and possibly recording with Gnawa masters like Hamid El Kasri. His story is part of a larger momentum where Moroccan music and diasporic creativity are converging into a sound both rooted and borderless.
