Su Real, Jayhaan & MC Zulu Mix Bass, Trap & Shehnaai On 'Hands Up'

Maharashtrian percussion and morphed shehnai hook lead the way to booming basslines and trap drums as MC Zulu rouses the listener on 'Hands Up', the collaborative single by the Chicago-based electro-reggae artist, Mumbai-based DJ and producer Jayhaan and Indian dance music circuit veteran Su Real.

While neither booming trap nor recontextualising India's native sounds for electronic music is anything new, the trio manages to conjure an unmatched energy on the single. Though Jayhaan, Su Real and Zulu function from their confident position of knowing exactly what works in their chosen genres, the result isn't sterile. 'Hands Up' is a tightly structured composition with the oomph of trap and hip-hop but is tailored to the dancefloor with its risers, drops and a four-to-the-floor-adjacent groove in its inviting chorus.

Listen to 'Hands Up' below and follow Su Real, Jayhaan and MC Zulu for more.

Artwork by Nayanika Chatterjee