Anil Aras makes Haven Trax debut with his ‘Be Yourself’ EP.

PRE-SAVE 'BE YOURSELF' EP HERE

Utrecht’s Anil Aras continues to push his sound to new heights as he brings his ‘Be Yourself EP’ to Haven Trax for his first appearance on the label. A longstanding member of the SlapFunk collective, Aras has spent over a decade cementing his status as a cornerstone of the Dutch house scene, seamlessly bridging deep-rooted sensibilities with a modern edge via releases on labels such as Up The Stuss, PIV, No Art, and more. This boundless mantra is also embodied in his approach to the decks, where he incorporates his TR-909 into hybrid DJ sets on international stages, from Glastonbury to Ibiza, anchored by endless appearances in the Dutch capital at Thuishaven. Now, Aras unloads a heavy-duty EP brimming with house goodness and infectious energy on the venue’s in-house imprint, featuring a warped remix from returning Danish favourite, S.A.M.

“I've been playing at Thuishaven for as long as I can remember, so when Kasper asked me to do an EP for Haven Trax, it was a no-brainer. It's been a long process, but one I really enjoyed. We had a lot of fun in the group chat compiling the release. The EP turned out how I hoped, it really fits different vibes alike to share when playing at Thuishaven. And the S.A.M. remix is an absolute highlight, that one's a proper weapon” - Anil Aras.

Opening the EP, ‘Be Yourself’ sets the mood with low-slung, sunset grooves where warm piano chords glide over crisp hi-hats, while a magnetic bassline and subtle sax flourishes anchor the rhythm. Driven by a weighty bassline, Aras then strips things back with ‘Cravin’, leaning into a minimal yet powerful groove primed for peak-time moments. On the B-Side, ‘Just As It Is’ fuses chugging breaks with a rolling acid bassline, while sharp vocals keep the energy high and the rhythm tight. Closing the EP, S.A.M. returns to the imprint following their 2025 ‘The One’ EP to flip ‘Just As It Is’, taking things into a deeper, hypnotic trance, with pitched-down bass tones and wiggly dystopian grooves stretching the track into a tripped-out, late-night zone.

Anil Aras ‘Be Yourself (incl. S.A.M. Remix)’ drops via Haven Trax on 29th May 2026.

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