Abe Hathot is a music entrepreneur, composer, and Arabic music expert. He started his music career as founder and guitarist of Khalas Arabic Rock Orchestra, winner of the MetalHammer & Orange Golden Gods Award for Best Global Metal Band. Abe’s music production work includes composition for television and film, and he has written music for movie trailers, documentaries, corporate films, and commercials. Abe co-founded The Palestine Music Expo (PMX), where he brings international music industry leaders to Palestine, and connects Palestinian artists with international music industry executives, including major record labels and internationally acclaimed festivals. Abe is also founder of Levantine Music, a music publishing company that promotes artists from the MENA region in the US.
Through these different initiatives, Abe seeks to create business opportunities for musicians and music professionals from the MENA region around the world.
“I think it was the hunger that really propelled PMX forward, and it is what will continue to drive us all throughout the years ahead. Our goal since day one has been to establish a sustainable independent cultural infrastructure on the ground in Palestine so that artists have a home base and a platform upon which to take their creations to the rest of the world.”
- Abe Hathot, 2017
“Back in the day, when you wanted to start a band, you couldn’t just start a band and expect to build a fanbase, you have to build a whole scene. No one knew what rock-and-roll or metal was at the time and you’re bringing something new in Arabic, so people didn’t know how to react to our shows.”
- Abe Hathot, 2010