Afghan-born, Hamburg-based producer Farhot makes a compelling return with “MARS”, the lead single from his forthcoming uptempo opus RAQS (105-118BPM).
A cross-cultural, beat-laced firestarter, MARS is a kinetic blend of big beat bravado, dusty house swing, and deep-rooted hip-hop swagger, a confident, borderless statement that echoes through both club systems and cultural history.
Built around a hypnotic vocal loop sampled from Somali legends 4Mars, specifically the haunting “Tilman Baa Lagu Socdaa” Farhot stitches rhythm and heritage with the finesse of a seasoned storyteller. The sample doesn’t feel borrowed; it feels honoured. Rather than exploiting nostalgia, he reanimates the soul of the original and lets it dance anew in a high-energy, globally aware soundscape.
The percussive palette is thick with purpose, tight claps, bold low-end pulses, and rolling snares drive the groove with a swagger that recalls classic Fatboy Slim or early DFA, yet with a distinctly modern, more global point of view. The tempo lands in that golden 110BPM pocket: unfussy, endlessly groovable, and ripe for head-nodders, shufflers, and bassline skankers alike.
What’s most striking is the confidence of the production. Farhot knows exactly what to say and how to say it, no overproduction, no gimmickry. Just raw, groove-forward energy wrapped in worldly elegance. It’s the kind of track that catches selectors off guard and becomes a slow-burn favourite in discerning DJ bags.
With MARS, Farhot isn’t just making beats. He’s building bridges, between past and present, East and West, dancefloor and diaspora. If this is any indication of what RAQS has in store, we’re in for a record that redefines global club music on its own terms.
‘MARS’ is available to buy now via Kabul Fire Records here.
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