Ahad Elley, known professionally as Ahadadream, has emerged as a prominent architect of the contemporary British south Asian music landscape, working as a DJ, producer, label head, and promoter. His debut album, titled P★KI, marks a significant milestone in his career trajectory, which has garnered attention from established dance music artists including Fred Again, Caribou, Peggy Gou, and Four Tet.
Elley’s album title references a racial slur historically directed at people of Pakistani descent. The artist has stated his intention to reframe the term through a lens of pride, confidence, and self-love, while acknowledging that the word carries histories of racist violence. He emphasized his responsibility as an artist to engage in perspective-sharing regarding the decision, noting he understands various viewpoints on the matter.
Elley’s path to full-time music production followed a decade spent balancing corporate employment with underground music activities. His pursuit of music as a primary career was influenced by electronic music producer Skrillex, who encouraged him in 2023 to leave his job. Prior to this transition, Elley had established himself within British club culture while studying chemistry at university, attending notable venues and engaging with various musical genres ranging from grime to UK funky and international styles including South African gqom and Brazilian baile funk.
In 2017, Elley co-founded the More Time record label and has since launched multiple platforms for south Asian artists, including the No ID club night and the Dialled In platform, which has expanded from a London festival to international events and mentorship programs. The P★KI album features percussion-driven compositions that blend global rhythmic influences. The project’s visual identity, developed with his wife architect Esha Sikander, draws inspiration from the Radio Pakistan logo. The album opens with Elley’s reworking of qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s composition Tere Bin, which has resonated emotionally with audiences.
Elley described the visual presentation as emphasizing being “loudly visible,” reflecting his artistic philosophy of rejecting the impulse to minimize aspects of his identity. The album is now available through Dialled In and Island Records.
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