In recent years, New York-based DJ Haram has brought her idiosyncratic fusion of Middle Eastern instrumentation and club music to new realms. Through her 700 Bliss work alongside Moor Mother, she crafts noisy, dark-sided music that flits between gritty hip-hop and tripped-out punk. Her solo work deepens her range further, reflecting the cultural milieu of the East Coast DIY scene, where hardcore, experimental rap and Jersey club can all be found in one club night.

‘Handplay EP’ is DJ Haram's first solo record on Hyperdub since her 2019 label debut, ‘Grace’. While both records are suited for adventurous dance floors, ‘Handplay’ offers a lyrical glimpse of Haram as a lover, daughter and comrade.

Across the EP's two tracks she speaks from the contradictions of feminine archetypes, letting loose over some of her most expressive solo material to date.

Over flute and industrial 909 rhythms, she ponders pleasure and reward on the title track, an ode to and celebration of sex workers. ‘No Funeral’ is equally critically engaged, honouring the disruption of toxic relationship cycles. The track channels feminine resilience through volatile guitars, distorted vocals and a sludgy beat. ‘Handplay’ makes a good case for poetic vulnerability in electronic music.