Busy Creating

Before 2 A.M. set times and door covers, Ghana had Afternoon Jump—makeshift daytime discos where you just showed up, played records, and danced. South London DJ & producer @hagan_uk grew up hearing his mother’s memories of those rooms like they were diaspora mythology, but with his new EP Hagan’s Calling, released independently via his own imprint @busycreating___ , he decided to soundtrack one himself. The tracklist’s show-stopper ‘Mfantsefo Dance’ takes the heavy rolling bass of South African 3-step and weaves it together with the slinky, joyful sound of Ghanaian Highlife. The EP itself is nothing short of a transatlantic miracle. It was recorded and mixed across different cities, but engineered to sound like everyone was sweating it out in the same room. We caught up with Hagan, alongside Ghanaian rap royalty @manifestive and new-school crooner @rceeofficial_ , to break down the anatomy of ‘Mfantsefo Dance’, the universal power of musical vocabulary, and why unapologetic experimentation is the only way forward. Read more in bio. 🔗 📸 @adiamyemane_ ——— #BLACKSTARHaus #Hagan #Highlife #3Step #GhanaianMusicians

Now playing: Bass Bin 🔊🔊 Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ DOP: @tee____88 Editing: @mikecalandra Executive Producer: @toney_baloney

Hagan’s Calling EP out now! ‘Mfantsefo Dance’ is the second track on the project featuring @manifestive and @rceeofficial_ . Real Ghanaian vibes blended with South African 3-Step grooves and a touch of UK heavy bass lines. Of course this couldn’t sound as sweet without the bros @kaasare and @linguistguitar on saxophone and guitar. Mfantsefo refers to the Fante people of Ghana, a subgroup of the Akan and the community my mother is from. Growing up she often shared stories about something called “Afternoon Jump,” when everyone would meet up in the afternoon to unwind and listen to music. This track is my way of reimagining and honouring what type of sounds would’ve been playing during those afternoons. Hagan’s Calling EP out on all stores and steaming platforms! @busycreating___ Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ DOP: @tee____88 Editing: @mikecalandra Executive Producer: @toney_baloney

Hagan’s Calling EP track list. Out Friday 10th April. You can find all pre-order and pre-save links in the bio. Lock in to the Bandcamp virtual listening party from 7PM BST for an early preview. Link in the bio for that too 🔊🌱 1. Hagan’s Calling 2. Mfantsefo Dance ft. @manifestive & @rceeofficial_ 3. Bass Bin 4. Slow Motion ft. @zoud.e Guitar: @linguistguitar Saxophone: @kaasare Mix and master by @matt_mixes @mikemillzonem @busycreating___ Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ Editing: @mikecalandra Grading: @brunafeather Executive Producer: @toney_baloney Special thanks to @devon_analogue_studio @eli1ah @audiorebel @_kikelomo_ @meedymusic

Hagan x Better Listening Join me on 8th April for an early spin of my forthcoming project, “Hagan’s Calling”, on the @better__listening soundsystem 🔊🔊 Gonna breakdown some of the stems and talk about the recording process. Sign up via the Partiful link in my bio 8th April | London @better__listening

My new EP ‘Hagan’s Calling’ - out 10th April. Worked hard on this and it feels good to finally share some new sounds soon. All 4 tracks are moversss! Inspiration behind this cover was to explore the UK countryside to show how beautiful visuals can exist outside of typical city aesthetics - something not often seen in Black Electronic music. Please pre-save or pre-order the EP. Find all links in bio. Track list out soon! Massive shout out to the dream team on the visuals and execution as always 👇🏿 Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ Editing: @mikecalandra Grading: @brunafeather Executive Producer: @toney_baloney Label: @busycreating___ Special Thanks: @devon_analogue_studio

How we feeling about “Hagan’s Calling”? @benjib dropping on the airwaves for the first time 🫡📻

Hagan’s Calling 🔊🔊 It’s all about the spacing. Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ Editing: @mikecalandra Grading: @brunafeather Executive Producer: @toney_baloney @devon_analogue_studio

Been waiting to dropping this one. ‘Hagan’s Calling’ is out now. ‘Hagan, Yɛnkɔ’ = ‘Hagan, let’s go’ in Twi, one of the widely spoken Akan languages of Ghana. So if you hear that or the chants (my own vocals) in this track, you know what time it is. This record is a real creeper. Been fortunate enough to test it on so many sound systems 🔊 Link in bio 🔗 Download that, stream that Mixed and mastered by @matt_mixes Photography by @adiamyemane_ Artwork by @mikecalandra Label @busycreating___

Busy Creating: Sonic Space, Creative State. Follow the journey - @busycreating___ Art Direction: @pythonhouse.tv Direction: @mikecalandra DOP: @tee____88 Photography: @adiamyemane_ Editing: @mikecalandra Grading: @brunafeather Executive Producer: @toney_baloney Special Thanks: @devon_analogue_studio