Hours 686 is hosted by Hypnotised and guest DJ Nikhila Hashen.

Tariq Azam
Jul 28
4 min read

Episode 684 of After Hours delivers a deep and immersive session of Progressive House, featuring resident DJ Hypnotised alongside guest Nikhila Hashen. Broadcast via Scientific Sound Asia, this episode continues the station's mission of promoting cutting-edge electronic music across Asia and to a growing global audience.

Hailing from Ghent, Belgium, Hypnotised is known for his melodic, story-driven sets that blend emotion with technical finesse. With appearances at leading festivals such as I Love Techno and 10 Days of Techno, he has earned widespread recognition for his contributions to the underground scene.

Together with his long-time collaborator PatriZe, Hypnotised has shaped the After Hours series into a respected platform for Progressive and Melodic House. The show is now syndicated on key stations including TM Radio (USA), XBeat (Europe), Cosmos Radio (Germany), and Scientific Sound Asia (Vietnam), connecting fans worldwide to forward-thinking sounds.

In addition to their work on After Hours, the duo hosts AH Digital Essentials on Proton Radio and Hypnotised Presents Energetic on Progressive Beats Radio. Hypnotised has also performed internationally on outlets such as Ibiza Global Radio, Frisky Radio, DI FM, and Golden Wings Music Radio, and shared stages with Marco Bailey, Nick Bril, and Tom Hades at events like ADE and Deep on Deck.

As co-founder of AH Digital, Hypnotised plays an active role as a label manager. The label’s debut, People from the Otherworld, gained early attention with a standout remix by Rui Da Silva. Follow-up releases, including Infinity and Sense (under his Man on the Moon alias) have earned strong support, and upcoming tracks on SLC-6 Music, Tantalum Records, and AH Digital promise to continue that momentum.

Sri Lankan DJ and producer Nikhila Hashen sitting in a chair holding his glasses with his right hand and looking upwards, facing left slightly, colour image

Guest DJ Nikhila Hashen.

This week on After Hours, we welcome Sri Lankan DJ and producer Nikhila Hashen, a rising name in the progressive house world with a refined, melodic approach to underground club music. Based in Colombo, Nikhila has been steadily building a presence with emotionally driven sets that blend deep grooves, smooth transitions, and a clear narrative arc.

He began his journey as a bedroom DJ in 2014, but over the past decade, he’s transformed into a self-taught artist with a growing reputation for atmospheric, rhythmically tight performances. Deeply inspired by the elegance and structure of progressive house, Nikhila’s sets often explore long-form builds, warm textures, and hypnotic movement, qualities that have earned him attention within Sri Lanka’s underground scene and abroad.

His sound draws influence from modern melodic and progressive house, with nods to the likes of Guy J and Hernán Cattáneo, yet maintains a distinctive personal touch. With features on respected online radio platforms and mixes that highlight his ability to control energy with precision and soul, Nikhila has positioned himself as a name to watch.

Later this year, he’s set to make his label debut on AH Digital, marking a significant step forward in his production career. His guest mix on After Hours is a preview of that artistic direction, expect immersive grooves, emotive phrasing, and a clear love for the genre’s deeper side.

Hypnotised sets the tone in the first hour of After Hours 686 with a seamless journey through modern Progressive House. D-MICE’s remix of Bad Tape by Digital Mess opens with edgy textures, and Federico Monachesi’s Akhet follows with cinematic depth. With tracks like Shout of Whispers (ShemoW Remix) by SONIDDO and Airwave, and X by RYAN (CU) & ODAX, the set captures a moody, forward-pushing energy that defines melodic progressive house today.

As the session deepens, the likes of Dmitry Molosh and Juan Arcucci bring their remix finesse to the table. Kostya Outta’s Moving Lights (Molosh Remix) delivers hypnotic build-ups, while Aura Noctis gains rhythmic nuance under Arcucci’s touch. Hypnotised then blends into unreleased material by Nikhila Hashen and closes with the shimmering textures of Rust (Fabreeka Remix), staying true to the emotive and narrative-driven roots of progressive house music.

Nikhila Hashen opens the second hour with Zoo Brazil’s spacey remix of Floormagnet, a track that channels both warmth and uplift. From the punchy Positive (DJ Ruby Remix) by Julian Rodrigues to Addicted by Kalima & Gonzalo Sacc, the momentum builds with flowing basslines and subtle melodic cues. The set showcases artists who represent the best in progressive house, from established names to rising talents across the global underground.

The episode closes on a more organic and introspective note. Sébastien Léger’s In a Distorted Galaxy draws on ambient textures and intricate arrangements, closing the episode with depth. Tracks like Instant of Love (Hicky & Kalo Remix) and Voice Recognition (Trilusid Remix) highlight the interplay between rhythm and emotional resonance. After Hours 686 is a full-spectrum showcase of progressive house songs with a late organic house track, curated with clarity and flow.

Remember to set a reminder for the live house music radio show scheduled for Monday, July 28th, 2025, from 10:00 PM to 12:00 AM Indochina Time (ICT). If you can't listen live, the replay will be available on Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (ICT).

After Hours episode 686 track lists.

Hypnotised: First Hour

Digital Mess - Bad Tape (D-MICE Remix) [Eternal Beats]

Federico Monachesi - Akhet [SINCITY]

goodkidmadcity, Gastón Rodríguez (AR) - Mushrooms (VegaZ SL Remix) [Sunexplosion]

SONIDDO, Airwave (SL) - Shout of Whispers (ShemoW Remix) [Big Bells Records]

Redspace, VVS - Monolaya (Taylan Remix) [Sunexplosion]

RYAN (CU), ODAX - X (Matías Delóngaro Remix) [EKABEAT MUSIC]

Kostya Outta - Moving Lights (Dmitry Molosh Remix) [Inu]

JonDeBruyne - Aura Noctis (Juan Arcucci Remix) [Future Avenue]

Nikhila Hashen - Dream in Reverse [SINCITY]

Andrés Moris - Rust (Fabreeka Remix) [AH Digital]