News Happa

: Samir Alikhanizadeh
Based: Leeds
Listen: Soundcloud.com/halfpersianprinceand
Similar to: Four Tet

Happa is a force that moves when everyone else is distracted. Being ridden with Crohn’s disease and spending weeks off school, where all his mates would slave away at mathematics problems, Samir began the project as a means of curing isolation. Similarly, while everyone feasted and exchanged presents on Christmas Day, Happa unveiled his latest track ‘Freak’ as a free download. You have to pay close attention to pick up on his movements, but this producer, at the age of 15, is unlikely to be lurking in the shadows for much longer.

‘Freak”s sharp, propulsive style suggests as much. Following on from the ‘Beat Of The Drum EP’, the self-professed ‘Persian Prince”s unique delivery is developing at an alarming rate. ‘Freak’ spans to almost eight minutes. Not a second goes by without a gnawing beat jolting you out of your slump, or a tense collision of sounds adding further life to the piece. It’s focused, meticulous in craft, and it signals an astonishing achievement for an emerging name such as Happa.