Halal Sol Drops The Blazing First Single Off His Debut Dijamin EP With Darker Than Wax

Halal Sol is finally about to drop that long-awaited EP (Credit: Photo by Samuel Foo)

When it comes to house whizzes breathing new life into the local electronic scene, Halal Sol is a groove-slinging spark plug. In the past couple of years, the rhythmic producer has displayed a consistent deluge of dancefloor beauts laden with buoyant beats and deep, melodious riffwork. His old-school, musical disposition has earned him admiration even as the party scene remains shut, with live performance slots on digital programmes like United We Stream Asia and Uploading Now. You get the gist – Halal Sol is hot property right now.

The cover art of Dijamin is inspired by motifs from medieval Islamic structures (Credit: Darker Than Wax)

Fanning the flames further is a huge piece of news that the deft artiste just dropped. After an incredible string of singles, Halal Sol will be unveiling a new EP, titled Dijamin, with the distribution backing of Darker Than Wax. This partnership isn’t their first rodeo together, as the Singaporean label’s previously supported several of his past releases. The label describes Dijamin as an embodiment of “the producer’s promise that each track on the record is genuinely crafted out of love and passion”, and will introduce excursions into broken beat, acid, jazz and garage. The six-track offering even includes edits from Ice Cream Sundays’ Bongomann, and the label’s co-honcho, Kaye.  

To drum up hype, Halal Sol has dropped the EP’s first single, “Don’t Feel The Bass”. The track begins with a throbbing pulse considerably heavier than the producer’s past forays, galloping forward with a running low synth arpeggio, pattering claps and seething hi-hats. The complex number eventually lunges into deeper, Detroitian territory that bears Halal Sol’s signature, morphing in form and mood as it pumps out lush, spacey chords that entrance. The journey-centric flow of the track is a sign of Halal Sol’s maturation in the studio, and a preview of an EP that many have eagerly waited for.

Dijamin by Halal Sol will be released by Darker Than Wax on 28 May 2021.