Soul singer and songwriter Hajaj announces GRAMMY House LA performance + timely new song “Both Sides of the Border”

After announcing his debut album last month, singer-songwriter Hajaj returns with another taste of Waiting Room (with the ticking time bomb) with the new single “Both Sides of the Border.” The soulful ballad ponders the heartache of love forbidden by geography and blood ties. Hajaj has often felt like an artist torn between two worlds, illustrating that tension in his last single “Blood.” With “Both Sides of the Border,” he delivers a timely message that resonates with those under attack simply because of where they were born or the color of their skin.

Hajaj’s debut album Waiting Room (with the ticking time bomb) is due out April 10th via Nettwerk. With his producer and co-writer, Aidan Glover, Hajaj channels the rich and gritty analog sound of ‘60s and ‘70s soul, funk, and R&B. As the title suggests, there’s a heightened sense of tension and urgency in these songs. Recorded entirely on reel-to-reel tape.

Hajaj is also excited to announce a string of live performances, kicking off with a GRAMMY Week show at the Globale Mixtape showcase at the GRAMMY House Los Angeles on January 29th. The showcase provides a platform for rising stars to shine and celebrate the sounds and artistry of the next generation of global talent. In April, Hajaj will celebrate the release of his debut album with performances in London, Amsterdam, and Paris. Find the complete list of dates below, and for more information, visit: https://darhajaj.com/tour/

Hajaj – “Both Sides of the Border” Listen Here:
https://hajaj.ffm.to/bothsidesoftheborder

ABOUT HAJAJ:

A sound shaped by movement, memory, and longing, Abdul Rahman Hajaj, simply known as Hajaj,  delivers deeply personal songwriting on his new album Waiting Room (with the ticking time bomb) — tracing a life lived between Jeddah and London, and a voice formed across continents.

Raised on a rich blend of Arabic classics, flamenco, and contemporary soul, Hajaj’s music explores identity, displacement, and the quiet ache of searching for a sense of belonging. His breakthrough EP Last Call For Coco (over 200M+ streams to date) introduced a cinematic, jazz-leaning soundscape featuring some of London’s finest musicians, telling a raw, intimate story of love, instability, and emotional cycles. His initial success led to an opening slot for one of his idols, the great Stevie Wonder, in London’s Hyde Park, where he captivated thousands of listeners.

On his debut full-length, Waiting Room (with the ticking time bomb), Hajaj continues to delve into vulnerability, nostalgia, and the recurring question at the heart of his writing: why. “Blood” unpacks conflicts of identity and belonging over a spacious groove; love song “Both Sides Of The Border” explores what went wrong in his last relationship, one in which he felt not “Saudi enough” and lacking the stability he so desired as a traveling musician. Lead single, “The Waiting Room,” reflects a sense of urgency – perhaps anxiety or impending grief – while bouncing alongside a bassy, soulful vibration.

Poetic, introspective, and endlessly human, Hajaj offers an evocative new chapter from an artist whose music feels both rooted and restlessly in transit.

Currently, Hajaj, producer Aidan Glover, and the band are gearing up for new 2026 tour dates with headlining shows in London, Amsterdam, and Paris in April. Their next release is already in motion. “To analogue recording!”