Raji Rags Announces Debut EP With Single 'Kiran's Bike'

Raj Chaudhuri aka Raji Rags is no stranger to avid fans of hip-hop, dance music and electronica coming out of UK. While the British-South Asian creative has been present as a DJ, a regular radio presenter at NTS, the former head of music at Boiler Room, an A&R at prominent labels and a party thrower, he isn't known for making and releasing his own music. Allaying that, the UK-based artist has just announced his debut EP 'Congratulations' with the first single 'Kiran's Bike'.

Named after his son's bike rides around South London, the track features Raven Bush on violins. The defining characteristic of the work, however, is Raj's focus. The presence of the violin doesn't mean spotlighting it for its own sake. Every element present is aimed at a mood that's a mix of sombreness and zaniness and not wasted any more than that. There is a short hook in everything from the metallic tuned percussion and bass synths to the strings and the guitar-like plucks – all interpolating with each other as atonal noises and hard drums keep the energy seething.

"I'm a perfectionist and I'm not a trained musician, so it makes things both extremely challenging and interesting to complete," says Raj. "If people realised the lengths I've gone to make these tracks and musicality the way they are, it has been overly excessive, to be honest. But it's part of the journey."

Releasing via Raj's own OTIH Records, the EP 'Congratulations' comes out on April 30.

Listen to 'Kiran's Bike' below and follow Raji Rags for further updates.