Electronic music continues to serve as a borderless canvas for artists seeking to merge their personal histories with avant-garde soundscapes. Among the most compelling modern voices navigating this intersection is Hazina Francia, the Indian-born, Italy-based producer and DJ who performs under the moniker Tadleeh. Known for her uncompromising approach to club music—one that seamlessly fuses brutal low-end frequencies with intricate, atmospheric textures—Francia has steadily carved out a distinctive niche within the global underground. Her artistic trajectory is marked by a deep-seated fascination with the physical impact of sound, a penchant for cross-genre experimentation, and an ability to translate complex emotions like isolation and identity into visceral auditory experiences. To mark the release of her debut full-length album, Lone, Francia has stepped behind the decks to contribute an exclusive, downtempo-infused mix for the ongoing XLR8R podcast series, offering listeners a rare glimpse into her off-peak creative mindset.
The Genesis and Evolution of the Tadleeh Project
Francia’s journey into the world of electronic music began during her formative teenage years in Italy. Immersed in the relentless rhythms of techno and the intricate, fast-paced breakbeats of drum and bass, she developed an early appreciation for the mechanics of dance music. Rather than remaining tethered to a single genre, however, her sonic palette steadily expanded. "Then I’ve moved forward exploring more techniques, genres, and styles," Francia notes, reflecting on an artistic evolution that would eventually define her solo output as Tadleeh.
Operating from her base in Italy—specifically the region of Forlì-Cesena, an area she candidly admits offers limited local outlets for boundary-pushing club music—Francia channelled her diverse influences into her studio productions. Her breakthrough arrived in 2019 with the release of her debut EP, Ego Will Collapse, issued via Berlin’s forward-thinking Yegorka label. The record established her signature aesthetic: club-heavy, brooding, and intensely physical.
The momentum generated by Ego Will Collapse caught the attention of key tastemakers across the European electronic underground. Last year, she followed up with her sophomore EP, Dribbling, released on NKISI’s influential Initiation imprint. Her rising profile also attracted remixers of the caliber of Crystallmess and Slikback, while her track "The Unexpected" became a standout contribution to YOUTH’s widely praised SPORTS compilation series. These releases solidified her reputation as an artist capable of bridging the gap between heavy, industrial club sounds and deeply emotive, atmospheric compositions.
Chronology of a Debut: The Arrival of Lone
The culmination of Francia’s years of studio experimentation arrived in April with the release of her debut album, Lone, via The Youth Label. Spanning ten meticulously crafted tracks, the album represents a profound thematic and sonic departure from standard club fare, turning inward to explore the multifaceted concepts of loneliness and personal identity.
In crafting Lone, Francia drew sonic parallels to contemporary experimental heavyweights such as Flora Yin-Wong and Aïsha Devi, blending dark ambient soundscapes with foundational tribal influences and subterranean club rhythms. The album’s release was not without its logistical hurdles; the production period coincided with a challenging phase in the artist’s personal life. Following a significant leg injury, Francia found herself immobilized for several months, a period of physical confinement that inadvertently provided an uninterrupted stretch of time for deep studio introspection and sound design.
"It’s been a pretty quiet period to be honest," Francia explains regarding her recent months. "I’ve worked in my studio most of the time, also due to a leg injury which forced me to stop any activity for several months." Despite the physical setback, the enforced downtime catalyzed the final touches on Lone and set the stage for her latest creative explorations, including her contribution to the XLR8R podcast series.
Behind the Deck: Inside Podcast 872
Recorded entirely within the confines of her newly established home studio, Podcast 872 represents a deliberate shift away from the peak-time club energy that typically characterizes Francia’s live DJ sets. While her club performances are renowned for their relentless momentum—often spanning 130 to 150 BPM and moving fluidly through house, techno, and tribal rhythms designed to make a dancefloor move—this exclusive mix adopts a far more contemplative posture.
"On the day I recorded the mix I was in a chill mood. I wanted to follow my flow," Francia says. Listeners tuning into Podcast 872 can expect an immersive listening experience that bridges the gap between home listening and dancefloor sensibilities. "Listeners can chill and dance at the same time. It’s not a club mix as I usually do; my other mixes are dub, liquid, and jungle."
The tracklist for Podcast 872 serves as a masterclass in eclectic programming, drawing from a wide spectrum of sound system culture, experimental bass, and intricate percussion. The journey begins with deep, foundational dub stylings courtesy of three selections from the legendary On-U Sound Records catalog by African Head Charge ("Positive Thoughts & Mind," "Some Bizarre," and "Orderliness, Godliness, Discipline And Dignity"). From there, the mix flows seamlessly through the unreleased syncopated rhythms of DJ Lag’s "Khonkolo," the hypnotic minimal textures of Gnork’s "Lost in X," and the atmospheric collaborations of CCL x Flora FM.
As the mix progresses, it delves deeper into the complex, interlocking rhythms of the modern UK underground, featuring contributions from LCY, Law, Sully, dgoHn, and Kola Nut. The latter stages of the podcast showcase the producer’s own work, highlighting a Crystallmess remix of "Ego Will Collapse" alongside her own track "The Unexpected," rounded out by precision-engineered cuts from Workforce.
Digging and Discovery: Sourcing Future Inspirations
Francia’s production ethos is heavily informed by an active, tactile engagement with physical media. During a recent excursion to a local second-hand market, the producer unearthed a trio of remarkable vintage records that point toward the future direction of her sound. Among the finds was an expansive and historically rich collection of Tibetan ritual music, a massive sonic resource that she intends to sample for her upcoming studio projects. Alongside the Tibetan recordings, she secured a comprehensive collection of historic Japanese music, further expanding the global repository of textures she draws upon when building her tracks.
This dedication to physical sound sources underpins her fundamental attraction to dance music as an art form. For Francia, the visceral power of the low end is non-negotiable. "I love the way the bass can hit your body and your rib cage," she remarks. "It’s devastating and I really need it sometimes, even if my hometown of Forlì-Cesena doesn’t offer many great options!"
Live Performance Versus Studio Immersion
While her studio work often leans toward the contemplative and her latest podcast prioritizes a relaxed flow, Francia maintains a distinct philosophy when it comes to performing live. For the producer, the club environment is an immediate, reactive space governed by the direct feedback loop between the DJ and the audience.
"Playing live for me is totally different," she explains. "I like to improvise, and to ‘push’ the kick on the dancefloor. I love seeing people dancing in front of me, it’s the best sensation ever." Operating comfortably within a high-energy tempo range of 130 to 150 BPM, her live sets function as high-octane explorations of house, techno, and driving percussion, offering a stark yet complementary contrast to the introspective atmosphere of her recorded mixtapes and ambient-leaning album work.
Broader Impact and Future Horizons
As the underground electronic music community continues to decentralize, artists like Tadleeh exemplify the creative potential of operating outside traditional metropolitan hubs. By synthesizing disparate global influences—ranging from early techno and drum and bass to traditional Tibetan ritual recordings and contemporary club permutations—Francia has established a unique sonic identity that defies easy categorization.
With the release of Lone firmly cementing her status as a formidable long-form album artist, and her latest XLR8R podcast demonstrating her aptitude for deeply textured downtempo selection, the producer shows no signs of slowing down. Though her immediate schedule has been dictated by recovery and rigorous studio hours, the horizon remains open. Addressing what lies ahead, Francia maintains a focused outlook: "I’m working on some new works."
For followers of boundary-pushing electronic music, Tadleeh’s ongoing evolution offers a masterclass in how personal narrative, physical injury, and relentless crate-digging can coalesce into vital, forward-thinking art. Podcast 872 stands as a testament to this journey, inviting audiences to pause, reflect, and feel the physical resonance of a singular sonic vision.
Tracklisting for Podcast 872: Tadleeh
- African Head Charge – "Positive Thoughts & Mind" (On-U Sound Records)
- African Head Charge – "Some Bizarre" (On-U Sound Records)
- Biëme – "Shadows" (New Moon Recordings)
- African Head Charge – "Orderliness, Godliness, Discipline And Dignity" (On-U Sound Records)
- DJ Lag – "Khonkolo" (Unreleased)
- Gnork – "Lost in X" (Earth Plates)
- CCL x Flora FM – "Iridescent Lake" (Fever AM)
- LCY – "Y" (SZNS7N)
- Law – "1 4 Me" (Repertoire)
- Sully – "Digitalis" (Uncertain Hour)
- dgoHn – "Invisible Sandwich" (Love Love Records)
- Kola Nut and Law – "Flow State" (R-WHITES)
- Workforce – "Doughy" (Exit Records)
- Tadleeh – "Ego Will Collapse" (Crystallmess Remix) (Yegorka)
- Tadleeh – "The Unexpected" (YOUTH)
