Alok’s arrival on Hellbent Records with the ‘My Own Thang’ EP signals a clear adjustment in direction. Known for large-scale releases and wide global reach, he steps into a more focused club framework here, aligning with a label that has built its identity around direct, DJ-ready material. The result is a two-track release that prioritizes structure, pacing, and function over scale.
The shift is noticeable immediately. Instead of building toward festival-sized drops, both tracks operate within tighter arrangements that are designed to integrate into club sets without interruption. The emphasis stays on groove and consistency, with each section supporting the next rather than competing for attention.
A collaboration-driven approach
“My Own Thang (To The Beat)” opens the EP with a collaborative setup that brings together Sophiegrophy and Walker & Royce alongside Alok. The track is built around a vocal-forward structure, where the topline acts as the central thread holding the arrangement together. Around it, the percussion remains controlled and steady, allowing the vocal to sit clearly without overwhelming the mix.
There is a sense of familiarity in how the track unfolds, especially for DJs who are already working within this lane. The transitions are predictable in a useful way, which makes the track easier to deploy in different parts of a set. It does not rely on abrupt changes or unexpected shifts. Instead, it maintains a consistent direction from start to finish.
Reinforcing a new direction
On the second track, “Grip Slippin,” Alok connects with InntRaw to push further into a more driving and bass-focused approach. The structure tightens even more here, with the low-end carrying most of the movement while the vocal elements remain secondary. It feels more suited for peak-time moments, where energy needs to stay high without introducing unnecessary complexity.
This pairing of tracks gives the EP a clear internal balance. One leans on vocal presence, the other on rhythmic drive, and together they outline the space Alok is moving into. It is not a full departure from his previous work, but it is a recalibration that places more emphasis on how the music functions in a club setting.
The Hellbent context also plays a role. The label has been building momentum with a consistent output that favors straightforward, effective records, and this release fits directly into that ecosystem. It also extends the label’s reach, bringing in an artist with a different scale of audience while maintaining its core identity.
‘My Own Thang’ works because it stays focused. It does not try to cover too much ground in a short runtime. It presents two tracks that serve distinct roles while reinforcing a shared direction, giving DJs clear options depending on the moment.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
