The British-Pakistani DJ/producer, now based in London and whose real name is Ahad Elley, has a distinctly kaleidoscopic sound — seamlessly fusing genres from far-reaching corners of the globe. From D’n’B to bhangra, to grime and Kuduro, it’s made him a firm favourite on festival line-ups and club nights internationally, while his work behind the scenes championing the depth of South Asian talent is helping to change the face of the UK’s music industry.
Ahad, who moved to London from Pakistan when he was 13, cut his teeth running a club night while studying for a chemistry degree at the University of Surrey (Ahad’s parents had wanted him to be a doctor, but he had other plans). Shortly after that time, he started releasing some of his own tracks on SoundCloud, gradually building up a significant following for his infectious, drum-heavy beats.
ALONGSIDE MAKING CLUB BANGERS, Ahad has established his own label , the club night , and he also co-founded — a London festival showcasing the spectrum of talent from South Asian artists. And, last year, he travelled to Karachi to host the first ever Boiler Room there, with a livestream spotlighting Pakistan’s emergent dance music community. After returning, he released g — an EP drawing on characteristically eclectic influences from Pakistan, the UK, and a few places in
