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Bahraini alternative fusion band Hotboxgroove is gearing up to release its first extended-play (EP) album, comprised of reimaginations of its award-winning song Midnight Blooms.
The Alchemists and Imaginaries EP is set to be released on May 10 and features three distinct artists’ takes on the psychedelic group’s first-ever single, originally released in October 2022.
Last year, the song earned the album two nominations and a win at the UAE-based Musivv Music Awards.
“We were delighted by the public response to Midnight Blooms, and when some of our musician friends found their vibe with the music, we asked them to reimagine and remix it, with full creative freedom,” Khalil Qureshi, one of the band leaders, told GulfWeekly.
The group, known for blending jazz, blues, funk and psychedelic elements to create its own unique vibe, also includes Ryan John on drums, Karl Roderick on rhythm and lead guitar, vocalist Joshua Pandit on synth, Szabi Nigo on trumpet, Rod Collins on saxophone and Ryan James on bass guitar.
On Alchemists and Imaginaries, three Bahraini artists - Ahmed Zainal, Fadal Nazir aka PapaPush and Arif Albolushi aka DJ Mysterioo Arif - made three distinct remixes of the original song, over a span of six months.
“Ahmed gave it a drum and bass spin, while PapaPush went down the dubstep route and DJ Mysterioo added a house music feel to the song, and it was astounding to listen to and enjoy each version,” Khalil explained.
“I couldn’t have imagined the song sounding so different yet unique, and I felt proud, inspired and in awe when I first listened to the songs.”
In total, there are four songs on the EP, including the original Midnight Blooms.
Last year, the song earned the band the title of ‘Debut Recording Artist of the Year’ at the Musivv Awards, while also being nominated for ‘Band of the Year’.
Musivv is a platform, in a digital magazine format, that discovers and develops independent musical artists in the UAE and the Middle East, and their awards has honoured more than 50 independent creatives since its inception in 2019.
Not one to rest on their laurels and despite a busy live performance and personal schedule, the band is already hard at work on its next single Indus, which is expected to be released over the summer.
For details, follow @hotboxgroove on Instagram.
