Fast Forward: Happa

RA x PUMA FastForward series: http://www.residentadvisor.net/fastforward.aspx

RA feature page: http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?2053

For many artists, the breakthrough stage of their career is among the most fast-paced, exciting and challenging moments of their lives. In this new film series, RA and PUMA profile rising stars on the cusp of international acclaim, capturing their emotions as they find their feet in the scene. From debut tours to huge festival performances, FastForward will document the exhilarating firsts that define emerging artists.

Let's get this out of the way: 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.

When Loefah played "Boss" on Rinse FM in 2012 it set off a chain of events that kick-started Samir's career. Mary Anne Hobbs was an immediate supporter, and she introduced Samir to Four Tet, who commissioned him to remix a track, "Jupiters," for his label. Samir went on to release tracks and remixes through an impressive list of labels—Church, Bleep, Domino, R&S, Boomkat Editions—and last week he announced PT/5 Records, a label he's starting alongside Al Gill whose first release has remixes from Truss and Shifted. As we discovered on the road with Samir in Leeds, Milan and London, the backdrop to all of this has been pretty normal. Samir lives with his family and attends a music college in Leeds (his teacher didn't know much about Samir's modest fame). We also heard about Samir's struggle with Crohn's disease, a debilitating illness that looms over his life but afforded him the time at home to develop his brutal signature sound.

Credits:
Director / Camera / Editor - Patrick Nation
Producer - Debbie Butts
Executive Producers - Ryan Keeling, Nick Sabine, Kate Mullins
Dubbing Mixer - Guy Clarke
Colourist - Adam Clarke

Music:
Happa - Red Place [Bleep] 2013
Happa - Boss 2012
Happa - Hallucinations (unreleased) 2014
Happa - Slow (unreleased) 2014