Esam Hammad is a studio enthusiast with an ear for guitar virtuosity and electronic texture alike, his indie-leaning dance music placing him in the recent tradition of artists like Caribou and Mount Kimbie. The Bahrain native’s gently propulsive, stirringly nostalgic tech house sound was developed from years of independent study and musical exploration. Live, he goes for what he refers to as an architectural approach, programmed beats and melodies shaped to flow with sci-fi visuals and the energy of the room. His early output includes two Cosmo EPs, 2012’s self-released Austin City Remixes and 2013’s A Virus from Outer Space