Mahdi's New Release: Desert Waves on Soundcloud

This week’s episode of Poncha Talk is a rooftop brunch special with my good friend Mahdi—a DJ and musician from Tunisia who now calls Madeira home. We recorded this episode while he cooked an incredible brunch and served it with a view from his terrace.

Mahdi’s creative process is as free-flowing as his conversation. He shares how improvisation shapes not only his music but also his life philosophy. We talked about dreaming big while staying grounded, the tension between creating art for passion versus profit, and his journey toward finding his own unique sound.

Although Mahdi hasn’t released any tracks yet due to perfectionism, he made a promise on this very episode: his first track will drop with this podcast.

This is an honest conversation, made for every creative out there trying to find their way. If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure of your voice, or caught between vision and reality—this one’s for you. Expect real talk, relatable struggles, and valuable insights from someone still in the midst of the journey.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

1:30 - Mahdi’ story

7:00 - The struggle with perfection & finding your own style of music

16:50 - Dreaming big vs. being realistic

20:55 - Challenges in monetising music & art

28:05 - Finding inspiration in Madeira

30:20 - The mission of a DJ

34:35 - Planning vs. improvising

41:40 - Mahdi’s new Music Release

Follow Mahdi and his music journey here: @mahdi.hlewi

And don’t forget to check out Poncha Talk on Instagram & TikTok: @ponchatalk