Going global

Dubai artist Aham’s stunning debut album makes wordwide impact

Music critics around the world are applauding Dubai artist Aham’s gorgeous debut album – and it’s no surprise. With his eponymous longplayer ‘AH.AM’, the DJ and producer is the first home-grown avant-garde electronic artist to come out of Dubai. Baring reflections of Jon Hopkins and Nils Frahm yet completely individual, the album is striking a chord with all who listen.

‘AH.AM’ is the work of Dubai-born and bred artist Paul Josef. While he’s enjoyed success with a string of techhouse and techno tracks in the past, his eight-track album marks a breathtaking evolution of his sound. Steeped in personal emotion, it blurs genre boundaries and doesn’t follow usual structures or time signatures. It is richly layered with moving moments of darkness next to hopeful passages of light.

“I’ve written tracks in a number of different genres,” said Paul. “But the whole time I’ve never been 100 percent happy with what I’ve been writing. I always felt like I was searching for the style of music that defines who I am.”

Before embarking on his Aham project, Paul stepped away from music for a year. “I needed to start again from a clean slate,” said Paul. “With Aham there are no rules, no genres, no different styles that drive the mood of the music. It’s just me listening to my heart and writing what I feel in that moment.”

Out now on all streaming platforms, ‘AH.AM’ has piqued the interest of electronic tastemakers from the UK to the US via Ibiza. “I’m really happy with what I’ve created, the journey I’ve been through writing it and the way it is resonating with people around the world,” said Paul. “I never expected this kind of reaction.” @_ paul_josef_