Exclusive First Listen: Natasha Noorani & MALIK. Collaborate On Jungle Track '2hi2'
5 June 2024
"Both Natasha and I wanted to showcase a dreamy yet hard-hitting take on the jungle, straight from Lahore to the world," Lahore's MALIK. tells us. The DJ-producer collaborates with one of Pakistan's leading alternative music figures Natasha Noorani on the single '2hi2', which comes out via Cape Monze Records on June 7 and is shared exclusively via Wild City ahead of release.
While glitch-sprinkled bass has been a salient part of MALIK.'s sound through his rise as a producer and selector over the recent years (also evident in his widely-appreciated Boiler Room set), and followers of Natasha's early work too can recall the rough edge of experimentalism in her discography, their combined stylistic voice on '2hi2' makes it a work unique to each of their discography.
The pair cites the synth-pop influence of Pakistani pop icons like Nazia Hassan and Noori as well as of modern pop-meets-d'n'b acts like PinkPantheress and Iglooghost, as they construct a track that prizes both songwriting and its ability to provide an energetic dancefloor experience.
"I remember in our very first session, both Natasha and I were jamming and she was lightly singing out ideas right behind me as I was very locked in doing some sound design," recalls MALIK.. "The very moment she sang “tu heee tuuuu” i stopped everything and rushed her to the microphone."
The titular hook ('2hi2' reads as "tu hee tu" which means "only you") defines the song's identity from the get-go. Even though the hook disappears to not return till the penultimate section, it leaves the rhythmic and melodic motifs upon which a parade of zany fizzling synth layers delivers lush rises and intimate drops.
Calling it "one of my most prized possessions as a song", Natasha adds: "To see my style of melody and lyric writing playing with MALIK’s nuanced and frantic energy has been one of the most challenging and rewarding songwriting processes of my career so far."
Listen to '2hi2' above ahead of its wider release and follow Cape Monze Records, MALIK. and Natasha Noorani for more.
Natasha Noorani image by Umar Nadeem
MALIK. image by Omer Bashir