Emirati-Egyptian singer-songwriter Mayah Alkhateri doesn't believe identity is something you construct. Like energy, it is constantly shifting, carrying the imprint of everything it encounters while remaining unmistakably its own. That philosophy runs through her work as one half of Kiss Facility, the Paris-based project she shares with Irish-Chilean producer Salvador Navarrete, also known as Sega Bodega. Together, they blur shoegaze, dream-pop and experimental electronics with Arabic lyricism, creating haunting, ethereal, immersive and emotionally resonant soundscapes that feel less composed than uncovered.
Twenty years after Escentric Molecules revealed the expressive power of a single aroma-molecule, C0DE WITHIN turns to creatives whose practices are guided by something equally intangible: an inner code that resists definition but shapes their creative expression.
Alkhateri's music gives form to memory, instinct and emotion, translating the invisible into something deeply felt. Like scent, it becomes a language of presence – revealing what has always existed beneath the surface.
Tell us about Kiss Facility.
222.70:50.79:396.69: Kiss Facility is an Arabic shoegaze and indie rock band. It's a lot of things. It's about empowerment, intimacy, and finding your identity through freedom.
What is your personal code of conduct?
222.70:50.79:396.69: My personal code of conduct is singing as therapy and transforming that into music to help heal people.
Is identity fixed or constantly reacting?
222.70:50.79:396.69: Identity is constantly reacting. It reminds me of the first law of thermodynamics, where energy keeps transforming.
What part of your identity has stayed constant over time?
222.70:50.79:396.69: A part of my identity that has stayed constant is being a rebellious person, because it pushes me towards where I need to be and away from fear.
What are the markers of your identity?
222.70:50.79:396.69: Kohl, the traditional eye cosmetic. They would put kohl on babies to cleanse and protect their eyes. Even back in the day, in the desert, the Bedouins would put kohl on to protect themselves from the sand. And then it became part of being beautiful. I like the darkness of it.
Do you have any pre-performance rituals?
222.70:50.79:396.69: I have to light my incense. I just have to smell really good because that gives me confidence.
How would you describe your relationship to fragrance?
222.70:50.79:396.69: My relationship to fragrance is very personal because it's part of my Arabic culture. And it's not just smelling good; it's about hospitality, spirituality, and religion.
Does skin remember things?
222.70:50.79:396.69: I think skin remembers things because it holds pieces of our memories.
What draws you to someone?
222.70:50.79:396.69: What draws me to someone is scent, because it's an extension of personality and another way to build attraction.
How would you describe the world of Escentric Molecules to someone who has never encountered its scents before?
222.70:50.79:396.69: Escentric Molecules smells like intimacy and love.
How does scent connect to your practice?
222.70:50.79:396.69: The scent connects to my practice as a form of ritual.
How does Escentric Molecules become part of your self-expression?
222.70:50.79:396.69: Escentric Molecules help me express myself by just pushing boundaries and being a rebel.
If scent was a feeling, what would it be?
222.70:50.79:396.69: I think scent is close to love at first sight.
What does individuality mean to you?
222.70:50.79:396.69: Expressing myself freely without fear.
Three words to describe your practice.
222.70:50.79:396.69: Rebellion. Empowerment. Healing.
Three words to describe Escentric Molecules.
222.70:50.79:396.69: Confidence. Power. Love.
