Omar and Jamal Ikram, 21-year-old brothers from Aldershot, Hampshire, are crafting a distinctive fusion they term "Bollywood electronic" – a loud, lo-fi, ultra-glitchy strain of dance-pop that marries the melodic and rhythmic sensibilities of south Asian pop with contemporary electronic production. Their sound draws comparison to artists like 2hollis, reimagined through heavily processed samples of Bollywood music, creating something that feels both rooted in tradition and aggressively modern.
The duo's approach builds on the legacy established by Jai Paul's Str8 Outta Mumbai, which fused the relaxed sheen of 2010s electronic pop with Bollywood's distinctive musical vocabulary. Where Paul's work maintained a certain restraint, the Twins amplify the formula – their music incorporates the euphoric aggression of early Skrillex alongside the unnerving textures of Aphex Twin, resulting in something simultaneously celebratory and unsettling.
How did the Twins build their initial following?
Their 2025 debut album Turmeric gained traction partly through the collaboration "Fuckersby" with emerging British rapper Fakemink, but equally through their monthly NTS radio show, which marked its first anniversary in the months following the album's release. The programme curates an eclectic mix spanning classic British pop acts such as Lily Allen, Punjabi artists including Sukshinder Shinda, and contemporary electronic performers like the Hellp and Sophia Stel – creating the atmosphere of a late-night pirate radio station untethered from conventional time and geography. The show has continued as an ongoing series throughout 2026, with episodes broadcast across February, April, July, August and September.
What direction have they taken since their debut?
Their follow-up EP There&Back, released on 22 May 2026 with six tracks totalling 13 minutes, refines their sonic palette while intensifying its raw energy. Collaborations with producers Rada and Varg2TM on the EP push the sound even further into uncompromising territory than Turmeric achieved. The project is credited to Asian Paper, suggesting a deepening creative partnership – the two acts appeared together on an NTS episode in February 2026, indicating a close working relationship. Beyond the EP, the duo released additional material including the track "wish u" by mid-September 2026.
What drives their artistic vision?
The Twins' mission extends beyond sonic experimentation into cultural representation.
"We don't want brown kids to feel like they have to fit into anything,"Jamal explained in an interview.
"People are always gonna try to label what you're doing, but you don't have to move like that."This philosophy underpins their refusal to be confined by genre expectations or demographic assumptions, instead creating space for artists of south Asian heritage to operate on their own terms.
This week's best new tracks
Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul – Googoo Gaga
The Belgian duo's puckish sensibility transforms an unlikely lyrical foundation – "poo and pee and poo and pee" – into a gorgeous choral refrain that introduces their darkly candid electropop meditation on early parenthood. The track balances whimsy with genuine emotional weight, capturing the surreal experience of new parenthood through both humour and vulnerability.
Voice Actor – High-Rise
Lukid's production creates a stunning beat that evokes a house track reverberating across a wind-swept expanse of water. Over this foundation, Noa Kurzweil contemplates the psychological toll of high-rise apartment living, exploring themes of isolation and displacement within an urban environment.
Sex Week – Life Is a Circle
Beginning as delicately precious folk-pop reminiscent of Big Thief, this track erupts into thrilling hyperpop that maintains one foot in acoustic territory – complete with whinnying horse samples – while spiralling upward in ecstatic abandon. The contrast between restraint and exuberance creates genuine surprise, a quality increasingly rare in contemporary music.
JGrrey – Believe
Conversational verses collide forcefully with a spirited chorus infused with gospel undertones, fitting for the London neo-soul artist's exploration of faith and meaning amid global upheaval. The track channels spiritual yearning through a distinctly contemporary lens.
OR – Nokik Messiah
John Talabot, operating under his actual initials Oriol Riverola, presents an album pursuing "the most euphoric possible variant of ambient." The opening track features piercing synth shards colliding into an unbroken crescendo, suggesting an ambient music that refuses passivity.
Oscar Later – The Moon Belongs to You
Drawn from the Londoner's accomplished new EP of expansive techno workouts, this track executes an inspired transformation: the traditional comical folk song "Yon Yonson" becomes Ibiza-grade techno embellished with hard-rock guitar textures, merging disparate musical worlds with surprising coherence.
Dana Margolin – Big Beautiful Sound
The Porridge Radio frontperson ventures into solo territory, and the dense squall characteristic of her band recedes to reveal bright, crystalline air on this timeless folk composition. The accompanying video, directed by Mike Mills, complements the track's clarity and emotional directness.
