Baalti announce new EP ‘Mela’ inspired by the riotous soundsystem culture of West Bengal

India-born, Brooklyn-based duo Baalti have announced a brand-new EP ‘Mela’ set to land on Steel City Dance Discs, with the first single, ‘Overbit’, out now

‘Mela’ draws heavy influence from the vibrant, DIY soundsystem culture of West Bengal and Maharashtra.

In ‘Mela’—which translates to “festival” or “gathering”—the Indian-born producers dive deep into the chaotic, celebratory world of sound clashes, where towering street rigs and makeshift sound systems turn the streets into a battlefield for bass, rhythm, and raw energy.

The EP marks a bold exploration of the intersection between the booming basslines of Indian sound clashes and the pulse of UK club culture, fusing them into something uniquely bold.

As with their past work, Baalti continue to push out productions oozing with samples of South Asian sounds. However, this time, they’ve taken an even more immersive approach, pulling from field recordings rather than records to capture the electrifying live atmosphere of these street parties.

The result is an EP that crackles with the same chaotic energy and community spirit found in the heart of a West Bengali procession or a Delhi street festival.

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The lead single, ‘Overbit’, sets the tone with a relentless barrage of bass, frenzied percussion, and distorted crowd noise, pulling listeners into the middle of the mela. The track is a masterclass in controlled chaos—each element colliding and interlocking with precision, all held together by fiery, attitude-laden vocals, making it one of the most electrifying club tracks of the year so far.

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Speaking on the project, Baalti said, “We grew up witnessing processions like these in Bombay and Delhi, but only later drew parallels to UK bass and sound system culture as we began producing music,” explain Jaiveer and Mihir.

They add, “We saw these two worlds that were both thriving in isolation from each other, and the idea of bridging those worlds really excited us.”

Listen to Baalti’s ‘Overbit’ below

Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.

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