Halima by Anna Koblish
What the press is saying about Halima:
“Halima has blurred theater with rich, forward-thinking alt R&B” Alternative Press
“There's a smoothness to Halima's voice that adds some sugar to the turmoil while the intriguing drums, pitched up and patterned experimentally, seem to reflect the racing thud of a lovestruck heart” The FADER
"The resulting music grates, twists, and rattles, perfectly capturing the revelatory—at times harrowing—process of reinvention" Bandcamp
EXU LISTEN: http://lnk.to/halima-EXU
(May 24th, 2024) - Today, Halima returns for the release of her EP EXU out via drink sum wtr. Included in the project are previously released singles “Awaken” and “Ways,” two offerings that set the tone for the new EP anchored by self-discovery and renewal.
Alongside the EP’s release, Halima shares a visualizer for focus track “Don’t.” Speaking about the single Halima notes, “Those thoughts that cause limiting beliefs are not my own. They are someone else's. I’m searching for ‘real endless life.’ The infinity that I know truly exists. Not this world of limits, oppressive structures and stereotypes. This song is about discovering the true essence of life and love. And how both are infinite. That is essentially the core concept of the EP. Exu is guiding me through that discovery. ‘Don’t’ (maybe for that reason) was the hardest track to record. I had to leave the studio after my last take and cried downstairs. Then Ben came and brought me back in.”
Raised between Lagos and London - and now based in Brooklyn - Halima draws from a tri-continental story that started as a student exploring the worlds of folk, jazz, and theater. Following her 2021 EP XYZ, her new EXU EP is her label debut and first project with drink sum wtr. Throughout the project, Halima’s vocals resonate with powerful clarity weaving in as another layer of the beat. The title and concept of the project come from Halima's Nigerian heritage. Exu (Eshu) is the Yoruba deity of “crossroads,” the great mediator between the forces of life and the messenger between humans and gods. "They are known for being the God of change, chaos, and unpredictability, so they are often misunderstood," Halima explains. "But they are present in our lives to bring us to better versions of ourselves. This project is about facing Exu and resisting it. Then succumbing and realizing Exu is within you."
To record the EP, Halima utilized early morning hours at co-producer Ben Shirken's studio in Queens before heading to work shifts as a receptionist at a music school. The commute became meditative, and the neighborhood's industrial hum seeped into the process. As sessions started, the two artists unlocked a shared sonic directive: “Analog sounds reimagined in a modern context.” Halima adds, "I remember walking in and seeing all these cables on the walls and thinking, this is cool, unchartered territory for me, messing around with synthesis and oscillators; this is what I need to dive into right now." Building beats from the ground up, as mechanics drilled outside the studio, gave the material a distinct bounce and groove. EXU incorporates the sounds of British soul, UK Garage, R&B and more resulting in a project that represents all the places that inform Halima’s spirit.
Following the release Halima will be playing two album release shows June 7th in Brooklyn at Union Pool and June 12th at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles. Kamaal will be supporting the Brooklyn date with Simpson supporting the LA show. Purchase tickets here. Halima also recently DJ'd a set for The Lot Radio and you can stream the full recording here.
Listen to EXU out now and stay tuned for more from Halima via her socials below. | 
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