Gothenburg-based DJ and multimedia creative Mamdouh313 on identity, building cultural spaces, and the power of doing things your own way.
Meet Mamdouh313 – DJ, multimedia artist, and soon-to-be graduate in International Cultural Project Management. Based in Gothenburg, Mamdouh is a creative force whose work covers music, event production, and community building. At the heart of it all is one clear mission: to create spaces where people can show up fully and express themselves freely.
In 2020, Mamdouh co-founded Not Your Habibi, a cultural initiative that highlights queer artists, especially from the Middle East and North Africa.
”…Coming from the Global South, I’ve always felt this western expectation that my art should reflect struggle, like if it’s not about pain, it’s not valuable. That’s bullshit.” Rather than leaning into those expectations, Mamdouh’s work celebrates existence, resistance, and creative freedom.”
”There’s something freeing about creating without the constant pressure to fit into someone else’s vision of what’s acceptable.." he says and continues, "I wanted to create a space where I could just exist without having to explain every move. That frustration with the lack of representation and the need for an authentic voice in the industry drove me to push harder since I became active in the scene".
When asked about what keeps him going, Mamdouh is quick to respond.
”I’ve learned that when the opportunities aren’t given to you, you have to create them yourself. The process of creating something from nothing, when no one’s asking you to, is where the magic happens. There’s a certain beauty in not having to explain or define everything - it just is, and it speaks for itself.”
Inspiration, for Mamdouh, is found everywhere - from the rhythms of everyday life in Gothenburg to the shifts in digital culture and the global art scene.
“I find inspiration everywhere. From the city I live in to the people I meet, to the sounds I grew up with.” Mamdouh explains, and adds, ”it’s all about paying attention to what's around me and then finding a way to reflect it in my work”.
Mamdouh wears Denver Worker Vest, Devon Worker Jacket and Rift jeans in Stream Sky Retro.
For Mamdouh, “good times” aren’t necessarily loud or crowded. They’re about presence.
”Good times to me are about being in the moment, surrounded by people who understand and appreciate each other without judgment. It’s about letting go of expectations and just being free, Collaborating with other creatives, self development, dancing, friends, or just having a quiet moment where you reflect on what you’re doing and why it matters.”, Mamdouh says. ”I’m happiest when I’m in a space where there’s freedom to be creative and no pressure to conform.”.
While he doesn’t point to a single idol, Mamdouh draws strength and inspiration from the people around him.
”I look up to all my friends who are carving their own path and staying true to themselves. It is so fulfilling seeing my friends and I achieving goals we used to discuss when we were younger and doing it without the need for approval or recognition” Mamdouh explains.
Mamdouh’s personal style follows the same logic: confident, instinctive, and honest.
”It’s all about owning your vibe, whether that’s in your sound or your style. For me, it’s about confidence and energy, maybe also a reflection of what I do.”, he says.
When it comes to life lessons, Mamdouh shares one he learned the hard way: the importance of letting go of the need to fit in.
”…For a long time, I struggled with the clash between my identity and the expectations of the culture I come from..” Mamdouh says. ”You can spend your whole life trying to make sense of that tension or trying to force yourself into a mold that’s not meant for you. My philosophy is simple: if you’re not doing it your way, it’s not worth it. There’s enough noise out there already. The best things happen when you let go of trying to control it all”.