A key member of South Asian collective Daytimers, producer and DJ Darama steps into a bold new creative chapter with the announcement of Refractions, an ambitious three-part EP series beginning with the release of its first single, “CRYSTALS” featuring Nine Levels, arriving May 8.
On “CRYSTALS,” Darama leans heavily into the language of hip-hop production while filtering it through the lens of UK club music and South Asian sonic textures. Inspired by the rhythmic swing and futuristic bounce of classic Timbaland productions, the track fuses degraded South Asian string samples, spiraling digital arpeggios, and deep 808-driven low end into something immersive and emotionally charged.
The result feels simultaneously nostalgic and forward-facing — memories rendered through distorted textures and futuristic club energy. Floating above the production, Nine Levels delivers reflective verses centered on ambition, impact, and legacy, exploring the emotional tension between striving to leave a mark on the world and the personal cost that often comes with it.
Throughout the track, shimmering synth patterns create what Darama describes as a “portal” sensation — not necessarily an escape, but a departure into unfamiliar emotional and sonic territory.
“CRYSTALS is the lead single from Refractions 01, my first body of work in a new direction,” Darama explains. “Over the past year I’ve been pulling from more of the sounds I grew up with, and this track is the perfect introduction to that. Drawing on old Timbaland production, it ended up swirling and bouncy in a way that Nine Levels’ vocals sit perfectly inside. Hoping to set a marker for what’s to come.”
Rooted in UK dance music but intentionally resistant to strict categorization, Darama has steadily built a reputation as one of the more adventurous emerging voices within the UK underground. His sound draws from UK garage, hip-hop, experimental electronic music, and South Asian musical influences, combining them into productions that prioritize atmosphere, evolution, and emotional depth over formula.
Earlier releases through labels including More Time Records and Pound Shop Edits helped establish that identity, earning support from influential platforms such as Boiler Room, HÖR, and Rinse, alongside appearances at major events including Glastonbury and The Warehouse Project.
Rather than revisiting familiar territory, Darama’s catalog has consistently evolved from release to release, with each project expanding the scope of his sound and artistic identity. Refractions appears set to continue that trajectory on an even larger scale.
As the opening statement of the trilogy, “CRYSTALS” introduces what may be Darama’s most fully realized vision yet — a project rooted in personal history while pushing toward a more futuristic interpretation of club music. Across the forthcoming EP series, he continues carving out a distinct space within the UK electronic underground, creating music that feels emotionally immersive, culturally layered, and unconstrained by genre boundaries.
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