Baalti is gearing up to release a new EP, ‘Mela’, next month. Listen to the first single ‘Overbit’ below.

Landing 20th February via Steel City Dance Discs, the project sees the Indian-born, Brooklyn-based duo expanding their mosaic-like approach to club music, which joins the dots between UK bass and sound system culture, and the playful, percussive sounds of their South Asian heritage. 

In particular, ‘Overbit’ – the EP’s first single – is inspired by the DIY sound system processions that members Mihir Chauhan and Jaiveer Singh witnessed growing up in West Bengal and Maharashtra, pairing acrobatic basslines and explosive rave textures with high-speed dhol tasha rhythms.

“We grew up witnessing processions like these in Bombay and Delhi, but only later drew parallels to UK bass and sound system culture as we began producing music,” the duo explain. “We saw these two worlds that were both thriving in isolation from each other, and the idea of bridging those worlds really excited us.”

The project follows the duo’s fiery October single, ‘Third Umpire’, on Club Moniker, as well as the more euphoric 2023 sophomore EP, ‘Better Together’, for Seb Wildblood’s all my thoughts imprint.

Later this year, Baalti are set to perform at Four Tet’s Under the K Bridge Park rave in Brooklyn, alongside dance music royalty including Joy Orbison, Nia Archives, Champion, Mala, Overmono and more.

‘Mela’ EP is out 20th February via Steel City Dance Discs. Pre-save the EP here, and listen to the first single ‘Overbit’ below.