Masri also ran Harara Records, the first Palestinian electronic record label.
Palestinian DJ Odai Masri, AKA ODDZ, has passed away.
Root Radio, an Istanbul-based station where Masri was a resident, broke the news on Instagram on Friday, June 30th. "Hard to find words to describe this," the post read. "Our friend, resident, brother, one of the closest people to the Root community has left us today. We were your backbone and we will always carry your fight. Rest well beautiful soul."
A lynchpin of the Ramallah scene, Masri was the founder of Exist Festival and ran Harara Records, the first Palestinian electronic record label. He was also one half of ANTS, a techno project alongside Italian producer Soulless.
Masri's cause of death hasn't been confirmed. In March, a GoFundMe page was set up by promoter Kaos London to raise money for an operation that would restore his hearing. "Last November, our dear friend Odai Masri, founder of the Palestinian electronic music festival Exist, was diagnosed with a serious ear condition that threatens to end his music career," the post read. "We started this campaign to raise £3000 to cover Odai's medical bills plus attendant costs and post-op recovery time."
More recently, Masri posted a heartfelt statement on Instagram addressing mental and physical health struggles. "The last three years were heavy, very heavy, and I always had thoughts to give up," the post read. "But I was blessed and lucky enough to have my family, friends and the community supporting my ass. People that I will be forever and ever thankful for, those who've always been there for me, lifting me up and never letting me down. Thank you."
Read some tributes and revisit ODDZ's Boiler Room from 2019.
Correction, August 14th: A previous version of this article called Odai Masri the cofounder of Exist Festival. He was in fact the founder.