16 Years Old Producer Happa

The 16-year-old Leeds producer already has an enviable catalogue, appearing on labels like Bleep, Domino, Text, R&S and Boomkat Editions. He also recently teamed up with Manni Dee as Habits Of Hate for an EP for Rob Booth's Electronic Explorations.

Now he's starting his own label with Gill, which they describe as an extension of their Orthodoxy Is Unconsciousness Tumblr. They've asked Leicester duo Witch to provide the first release, with two seasoned UK techno producers—Shifted and Truss—chipping in with remixes.

Samir Alikhanizadeh is 16 years old. He wrote his breakthrough track, "Boss," when he was 14, and he travels to gigs accompanied by an adult. Much of the discussion about Happa has (understandably) centred on his age. But strip away the child star hype and you're left with a gifted producer who has an innate understanding of moving dance floors. Happa's music is coloured by powerful industrial techno textures, but his rhythms and arrangements are influenced by UK bass music. "I do like a lot of aggression in dance music," he says.