Dialled In, a London-based platform championing South Asian arts, is celebrating its fifth anniversary by launching a record label. Founded by DJ and producer Ahad Elley (Ahadadream) and a collective of DJs, the platform has hosted events at Glastonbury (the festival's first South Asian stage), the Barbican, and the V&A, as well as in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The label's first release is a single titled 'Bass Dhol' by Ahadadream, Skrillex, and rapper Raf Saperra, blending Indian drums with electronic beats. The second release comes from Mumbai collective EXCISE DEPT. A fifth-anniversary festival will take place across multiple venues in East London later this month, featuring headliners Manara and Lifafa.
dialled in, the london collective that threw glastonbury's first south asian stage, is now a record label. they're five years in and dropping a skrillex collab ('bass dhol') with raf saperra as the first release. second release is from mumbai's excise dept. anniversary festival in east london this month with manara and lifafa.
Dialled In's evolution from events platform to record label reflects a broader shift in how diaspora communities build infrastructure for underrepresented artists. By moving beyond club nights into recorded music, the collective can offer sustained career support rather than one-off performances. The involvement of a global star like Skrillex also signals that South Asian underground sounds are gaining mainstream traction, potentially opening doors for similar platforms worldwide.
dialled in going from parties to a label is the natural next step for diaspora-led platforms — it's not just about one night anymore, it's about building a whole ecosystem. having skrillex on the first release is a flex that shows how far south asian club culture has come. expect more collectives to follow this blueprint.
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