SRI shares new single ‘hmph’ as she brings Desi vocal textures into 150 BPM Jersey club

Brooklyn-based artist, producer and DJ SRI is set to release ‘hmph’ on July 31, a 150 BPM Jersey club track that brings together flipped femme and Desi vocal textures with hyperpop and ballroom influences. At the centre of the single is one small “hmph,” which is repeated and manipulated until it becomes a key part of the track itself. The vocals are chopped heavily enough that some fragments work more as texture than language, while the production also carries an influence from SOPHIE. A ballroom section appears in the second half, adding another club reference without pulling the track away from its Jersey club core.

SRI turns one vocal expression into the centre of ‘hmph’

Instead of using a full lyrical hook, SRI builds ‘hmph’ around a brief vocal reaction. That choice gives the track a clear identity from the start, with the repeated “hmph” becoming something that works both rhythmically and conceptually. As the vocal is cut and repeated across the production, it stops feeling like a one-off expression and becomes part of the track’s percussion.

That same treatment extends to the femme and Desi vocal textures surrounding it. Individual words are not always meant to stay clear, with SRI chopping them until their tone and rhythm become more important than what is being said. The result gives the vocals a physical role inside the production while still keeping the Desi influence present.

The 150 BPM pace keeps the track firmly connected to Jersey club, but ‘hmph’ also reaches into other areas of club music. The advance material cites SOPHIE as an influence, which comes through in the more processed and synthetic details, while touches of hyperpop add another layer to the production. Later, the ballroom section changes the rhythmic feel again before the track returns to its central vocal idea.

‘hmph’ continues SRI’s recent move deeper into club music

The release follows ‘STOP&STARE’, which saw SRI continue working with Jersey club while keeping Desi melodic and rhythmic ideas within the production. Her recent music has increasingly focused on club styles including Jersey club and house, while her Tamil background continues to appear through vocals, percussion and melody.

That connection between personal experience and club production has also been present in earlier releases. On ‘THIMIRU’, SRI took a Tamil word that can be used to criticise women for having too much audacity and turned it into something centred on confidence. The track carried Tamil influence into electronic production and showed how she uses language and cultural references as part of the music itself.

With ‘hmph’, the idea becomes more immediate. There is no long phrase or full lyrical concept carrying the track. Instead, one short expression is given enough repetition and variation to carry the record, while the production around it moves between Jersey club, hyperpop and ballroom without losing focus.

SRI continues bringing Tamil and Desi influences into her work

SRI’s catalogue has consistently connected electronic production with her Tamil background. Earlier work, including the Goddess Complex project, incorporated Carnatic vocals alongside hip hop and hyperpop influences, while later releases have moved further into club music.

Her DJ sets reflect a similarly broad range, moving through Jersey club, house, hip hop, baile funk and South Asian club music. In 2026, SRI also appeared across multiple showcases at SXSW, including the South Asian House SOUNDVILLA event, adding to previous appearances on The Lot Radio and support slots for artists including Raja Kumari.

As her music has moved further towards faster club production, the Desi and Tamil elements have remained part of how she approaches sound instead of appearing as separate additions. ‘hmph’ continues that approach by placing Desi vocal textures directly inside a 150 BPM Jersey club track while introducing hyperpop and ballroom references around them.

‘hmph’ by SRI is set for release on July 31, you can stream it here.