Hajaj (https://hajaj.store/) possesses the uncanny ability to make any note sound soulful with his cosmic blend of funk, R&B, and Motown-inspired music. After reaching an unforgettable milestone opening for the legendary Stevie Wonder in London’s Hyde Park, the Jeddah-born, London-based singer and songwriter announces In the Meantime, a six-song EP due out October 24th via Nettwerk.
“Yours or Mine” is the latest chapter, delivering an understated, textured retro-sounding groove and a melodic bass solo (played by Joe Stoddart) that’s smoother than velvet. Hajaj reunites with his producer and co-writer, Aidan Glover, to bring his vision to life.
Hajaj and Glover explain:
“The song has a danceability to it. It’s harmonically open with florid textures and a heavy groove. It feels like an elegant evening gown. A song of contemplative juxtaposition.”
“Yours or Mine” follows recent singles “The Waiting Room” and “Maybe It’s You,” both set to appear on In the Meantime.
Listen & share Hajaj “Yours or Mine” here: https://hajaj.ffm.to/yoursormine
About Hajaj
Singer-songwriter and producer Abdul Rahman Hajaj has always had a knack for life on the road. In just eight years, he went from living in Jeddah to Villars-sur-Ollon, Orange County, Los Angeles, Oregon, Colorado, Barcelona, and now London. There, he met producer and multi-instrumentalist Aidan Glover, who executive-produced Hajaj’s Last Call For Coco (2021).
That EP featured some of London’s finest jazz musicians, with co-writing by Rhys Lewis, mixing by Richard Wilkinson (Amy Winehouse, Lianne La Havas, Paolo Nutini), and mastering by Gwyn Mathias (Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street”). Structured in twenty minutes, the EP tells the story of an undiagnosed bipolar relationship cycle.
Hajaj’s early years were steeped in Arabic poetry and an eclectic household soundtrack that included Feiruz, Talal Maddah, Paco De Lucia, and Pharrell. Feeling caught between two worlds, he turned to music as his refuge and primary form of communication. His songs often carry themes of longing, nostalgia, and the search for home, with the word “why” recurring throughout his writing.
Not much is known about Saudi artists on the global stage, but Hajaj embraces this space of discontinuity as fuel for self-evaluation and artistic exploration.
Stay tuned for more music from Hajaj.
In the Meantime — Track List
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Maybe It’s You
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The Waiting Room
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Yours or Mine
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Space
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For What It’s Worth
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In the Meantime
