“I got rid of all my guitar equipment and became totally fascinated with the oud. I became sort of like a Sufi for a while and worked with the music and culture, the religious devotional aspects of the music,” says Stott. Taking an anthropological approach to music, Stott has studied with teachers from all over the Middle East, including Iran and Algeria, traveled to Turkey and plans to visit Morocco this year.
While Stott initially focused on the traditional aspects of Middle Eastern music, he found himself missing electronic music, and began fusing his two passions. Stott is now signed to Six Degrees, the San Francisco record label that includes world music luminaries like Cheb i Sabbah and Karsh Kale.
Stott hopes people who watch the show will be exposed to the different possibilities in fusion music.
“It doesn’t just have to be an American guy playing the oud or Asian dancers who do Egyptian belly dance,” he says. “What we are trying to do is encourage people to open up a bit.”
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