Ahadadream, Skrillex & Raf-Saperra — "Bass Dhol" Fuses Punjabi Rhythms With Peak-Time Club Energy

In a club landscape where cultural fusion often feels calculated or surface-level, "Bass Dhol" arrives as something genuinely rooted. Pakistan-born, London-based producer Ahadadream links up with nine-time GRAMMY winner Skrillex and British-Pakistani vocalist Raf-Saperra for a track that doesn't dilute its cultural identity for dancefloor accessibility. Instead, it amplifies traditional Punjabi dhol rhythms at full volume, surrounding them with chest-rattling low-end and propulsive electronic production.

The Origin Story

The track's roots stretch back to early 2023, when Skrillex invited Ahadadream to work on music together in Miami. During those sessions, Ahad played Skrillex some Raf-Saperra material. The vibe clicked immediately, and they knew they'd found the right vocalist for what would become "Bass Dhol." Early versions have been circulating in DJ sets since then, road-tested extensively before the official release.

The three-year development period wasn't about perfection through endless iteration. It was about letting the track prove itself in the environment it was built for—clubs, festivals, and peak-time moments where cultural specificity and dancefloor effectiveness aren't opposing forces.

Cultural Context

Ahadadream has been steadily building his reputation as one of the UK's most distinctive voices in club music. His production style blends signature skittish drum patterns with cultural references drawn from his Pakistani heritage and the wider South Asian diaspora. This isn't fusion for its own sake. It's an artist pulling from lived experience and musical tradition to create something that sounds like nothing else in the scene.

The support he's received from artists like Fred again.., Four Tet, Eliza Rose, and Pete Tong speaks to how his approach resonates beyond novelty. In a moment when South Asian representation in UK dance music is more important than ever, Ahadadream isn't just participating—he's setting the standard for how to do it with integrity.

The Production

"Bass Dhol" centers around the thunderous pulse of traditional Punjabi dhol drums. These aren't decorative elements or one-bar loops thrown in for flavor. They're the foundation, anchoring the entire production with their unmistakable power. Ahadadream's percussive approach wraps around the dhol with skittering hi-hats, driving kicks, and basslines that hit with physical force.

Skrillex's influence shows up in the track's coiled intensity and production clarity. Everything has space to breathe while maintaining relentless forward momentum. Raf-Saperra's vocals add another layer of cultural specificity, delivering lines in Punjabi that aren't translated or explained—they simply exist as part of the track's DNA.

The result is a production that works on multiple levels. It's technically accomplished without being sterile, culturally specific without being exclusionary, and designed for maximum dancefloor impact without sacrificing its identity.

The TAKA Legacy

This isn't the first collaboration between Ahadadream and Skrillex. Their previous track "TAKA," featuring Priya Ragu, went viral during Ahad's debut Boiler Room when Skrillex appeared on screen to debut the record live. The moment captured something genuine—two artists with massive platforms using them to push forward music that doesn't fit neatly into existing categories.

"TAKA" received BBC Radio 1's rare triple crown: Hottest Record, Essential New Tune, and Track ID. That kind of institutional support, combined with early backing from Peggy Gou, Dixon, and Chris Lake, proved that there's appetite for club music that brings cultural specificity to the forefront rather than burying it under generic production.

"Bass Dhol" builds on that foundation while pushing further. Where "TAKA" introduced the collaboration, "Bass Dhol" shows what happens when artists get more confident in their approach.

Why It Matters

The significance of "Bass Dhol" extends beyond its effectiveness as a club track. It represents a broader shift in how electronic music engages with cultural identity. Rather than treating South Asian sounds as exotic flavor to be sprinkled sparingly, Ahadadream makes them central to his sonic identity. The track doesn't ask permission or apologize for its cultural specificity—it demands that the dancefloor meet it where it is.

For a new generation of producers from South Asian backgrounds, this approach creates space that didn't fully exist before. It proves you don't have to sand down cultural edges to find success in club culture. You can be specific, rooted, and uncompromising while still creating music that moves thousands of people.

The Verdict

"Bass Dhol" succeeds as both cultural statement and dancefloor weapon. It doesn't choose between authenticity and accessibility—it rejects the premise that these are opposing goals. The production is polished without being antiseptic, culturally specific without being insular, and built for peak-time moments without sacrificing its identity.

Most importantly, it sounds like nothing else. In a club landscape often criticized for homogeneity, that alone is worth celebrating. But "Bass Dhol" goes further, proving that the path to distinctiveness doesn't require abandoning effectiveness. You can honor tradition, push culture forward, and make crowds lose their minds all at once.

That's not just good production. That's necessary work.