From Google to Groove: HIMMAT’s Journey Through Courage, Music and Mindfulness

PUBLISHED October 31st, 2025 12:58 am | UPDATED November 19th, 2025 01:33 am

With roots in Amsterdam’s electronic scene and a cross-cultural perspective shaped by his Indian and Pakistani heritage, Aaqib Hasnain who goes by his DJ moniker “HIMMAT”, brings a worldly depth to modern house and organic electronic music. From Burning Man and Afrikaburn to Bali Spirit Festival, his sets are journeys through rhythm and identity, blending mindful energy with global sounds. The Dutch-born DJ and former Google executive is now based in Bali, where he continues to explore the intersection of music, consciousness, and culture.

As part of City Nomads Radio, our ongoing series spotlighting regional DJs and musicians, we caught up with HIMMAT to talk about his creative life, his transition from corporate to artistic purpose, and how courage (the meaning behind “HIMMAT”) continues to guide him.

You often talk about duality: chaos and calm, the party and the prayer. How does that translate into your music?

HIMMAT: Growing up in Amsterdam, as you can imagine, hedonism and partying are the norm and I was very much in that world, that was my thing. But then I had some big life shifts. I was diagnosed with severe ADHD at age 17, which came with a lot of challenges. I really struggled to make sense of it all, until my best friend introduced me to mindfulness, and specifically meditation. This changed everything. Through daily practice and consistency, I found my way to surf through the chaos. What was once a nuisance became something I could work with in a positive way, almost as a strength. It gives me a lot of creative benefits.

So even with both sides of the duality still in me, mindfulness became the anchor. It’s the thing that helps me come back to myself when my mind flies far or I get distracted. During COVID, when everyone was either partying online or forced to sit with themselves, meditation became my main tool. It pushed me into deep inner work and self-discovery. And at that same time, music arrived. I was always on the promoter side of things, organizing parties and bringing DJs & musicians together, but when I couldn’t enjoy those scenes during COVID, I thought, okay, I’ll just do it myself. So I started DJing and that’s where music and consciousness merged for me. That’s the duality you hear in my sets: chaos and calm, movement and stillness, the party and the prayer.

You grew up in Amsterdam, one of the most creative cities in the world. What was it like growing up there, and how did that shape your creative side?

HIMMAT: One thing that’s really cool is because I come from multiple cultures and I grew up in the most multicultural cities in Europe. For example, in my class alone, there were thirty kids with nearly 18-19 different nationalities. Having influences from so many different cultures is what drives my music. And if you ever hear me play live or listen to my SoundCloud sets, it’s a journey through the world because it’s how I like to experience life. It’s honouring all the different cultures that inspire me.

What does your name ‘HIMMAT’ mean?

HIMMAT: ‘Himmat’ means courage in Punjabi. So, Punjabis are known to do things with courage, they are the warriors of India and Pakistan. Not just the physical fighters, but also spiritual fighters. For me, the name is related to courage, like dare to do whatever you feel is right. In my case, being a DJ from a Muslim family, that takes courage, it’s doing things because your heart is in it. My mum used to tell me this phrase in Urdu: whatever you do, do it with courage. It stuck with me.

You’ve played everywhere from Burning Man, Bali Spirit Festival to the jungles of Colombia. Do the crowds or cultures change the way you play?

HIMMAT: Yeah, totally. I’ve had the pleasure of playing festivals all over the world, and every single one is completely different. One huge highlight for me was playing at Kaleidoscope Festival in Kenya last year. The energy on that dance floor was unreal! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The way people moved, the connection, the joy. It reminded me why I do this.

Burning Man, on the other hand, is a whole different world. The last time I went was actually our honeymoon. Totally unplanned. We decided two days before the burn to just go. I wasn’t even planning to play this time around, but it happened, and it was beautiful. The thing about Burning Man is that it really changes your philosophy on life. It’s not just about music, it’s about radical participation, about giving rather than taking. Everyone contributes something, and that energy of co-creation stays with you.

Even back home in Bali, you feel that influence everywhere. We host gatherings on our rooftop where everyone brings something to share: a guitar, a breathwork session, homemade kombucha. That’s the spirit I try to bring into my sets too. Wherever I play, the essence is the same: I bring who I am, and I hold space for people to connect through sound and through each other.

There’s been a lot of conversation around sober parties and ecstatic dance lately. As someone who’s played both traditional club sets and conscious events, what’s your take on it?

HIMMAT: Yeah, so from a personal angle, I stopped drinking over a year ago. For me, playing at 3am in a club when I’m sober and everyone else is f***** up is completely different from playing at 10am for a fresh, present audience. At sober parties, I personally feel more connected; I can actually see the journey people go through, from discomfort to freedom. Both kinds of parties have important values. You absolutely need the night and the day, both energies. The problem only comes when people start judging one as better than the other. There should be space for everything, both are powerful and important.

 

Speaking of creation, tell us about HAYAQI, the fashion brand you and your wife Livy founded.

HIMMAT: HAYAQI was born during our honeymoon in northern Pakistan. It’s my favourite place in the world. We were standing by Attabad Lake, this surreal turquoise expanse surrounded by mountains, and behind us was the Pakistan–China Friendship Wall. She’s Chinese, I’m Pakistani, and it just hit us. We were literally standing at the intersection of who we are. It felt like the universe saying, you two need to do something with this.

A lot of our love story has been about educating people on our cultures and celebrating what makes them unique. So we thought, why not build something that honours where we’re from and brings together what we love: fashion and sustainability? Our brand is really a reflection of who we are, together we come from six different cultures. ‘HAYAQI’ comes from “Hayat”, which means life in Arabic, and “Qi”, which means energy in Chinese, so it represents the things that give you energy in life. Each year, we create one collection inspired by one of the cultures we’re from. Livy had already been running a creative agency for sustainable brands, and I was looking to pivot into sustainability. So we decided to create a fashion brand that fuses both worlds.

Then something wildly synchronistic happened. Two of our close friends asked us to design their wedding outfits. We had very little design experience, but it felt like no coincidence. It was the perfect pilot. We made an entire first collection in flow, flew to Marrakesh for their wedding, chanced upon an incredible photographer, and shot our entire first campaign there. People loved it. It was that moment of validation where we thought, okay, maybe this is something real. Since then, we’ve been building the brand with purpose. Fashion that carries energy, culture, and meaning in every piece.

You and Livy seem to balance each other naturally. How do your roles differ when it comes to running HAYAQI together?

HIMMAT: To be honest, in the beginning this was a challenge, but through communication and focusing on our strengths, we’ve found a way that works for us. With HAYAQI, Liv is more hands-on in the creative side, and I take on more of the operations and business direction. It works really well because I can bring in the skills I developed over seven years at Google. The systems, the organisation, the leadership side while she brings this incredible vision and artistry. Working together is powerful, because we understand each other’s strengths, not just in business, but also in life. And honestly, the balance is beautiful.

You left a decade-long corporate career, with 7 years at Google for this creative life. How did that decision feel?

HIMMAT: : Man, it’s been a journey. I’d been at Google for over 7 years, working across Europe and then leading marketing for South Asia. My mission was to set up Google Pakistan, which felt full circle because I’m half Pakistani, and the project was finally coming to life. But at that point, Livy and I had just gotten married, and we started asking ourselves where we really wanted to be. We were both in this very masculine, go-do, corporate rhythm, and we wanted something more creative, more connected to nature and flow. We both felt a strong pull to Bali, and wanted to follow our intuition. So I chose courage. I quit, and we came here with no idea what would happen next, trusting that things would unfold, and they did.

What’s your dream for HIMMAT and HAYAQI in the next five years? And what kind of impact do you hope someone feels when they encounter your work, whether that’s dancing at your set or wearing HAYAQI?

HIMMAT: Yeah, for sure. So I’ll start with HIMMAT. What I’m doing a lot now are hybrid acts. I love the potency of performing alongside other musicians and it’s about understanding the collective intention of the creation and making something that really flows, with no egos, and lots of trust. My dream is to evolve the musicality of what I do through co-creation, to collaborate with other artists and keep showing my sound across the world. Every time I play in a new country, it feels refreshing for people like I’m bringing a new way of experiencing music, and that’s inspiring.

And for HAYAQI, it’s exactly this. To keep telling the stories of the different cultures we represent, to put faces to the people making these beautiful pieces, to show where it all comes from and why. We work with local communities, and our whole supply chain is local, which brings real positive impact. I hope we can keep doing that. It’s also about cultural storytelling, going a layer deeper. When we wear something, can we ask: where does it come from? What makes it unique? I want people to be more aware and conscious about what they wear and why, just like I want them to feel that same presence and connection when they dance to my music.

If HAYAQI were a DJ set, what would it sound like?

HIMMAT: It would 100% be a journey across the world, weaving the sounds and the rhythms of cultures that inspire me into one groovy story. I hope you can hear this back in the mix I prepared for City Nomads!

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Grounded and self-assured, HIMMAT is finding the rhythm between creativity, mindfulness, and purpose, building a life that feels fully his own. His mix for City Nomads Radio reflects that same spirit: a global journey through sound, where melodies, voices, and textures from around the world meet in harmony. It’s something to groove to, unwind with, and simply let carry you a reminder of how music connects us across cultures and moments.

Listen to HIMMAT’s exclusive City Nomads Radio mix and follow him on Instagram @withhimmat for his latest projects and performances.