The second album from Shihad frontman Jon Toogood's side project The Adults, Haja, was inspired by aghani al-banat, or “girls’ music”—joyful, rhythmic, traditional Sudanese music that focuses on women’s lives and stories. After recording with local artists in Khartoum, Toogood arranged the sounds into eight hypnotic dance-pop tracks, enlisting some of New Zealand’s most exciting up-and-coming—and predominantly female—artists to collaborate, including Chelsea Jade, rapper JessB and R&B singer Aaradhna. The result—a far cry from the heavy punk he’s known for—is a jubilant celebration of Kiwi artists, Sudanese culture and, above all, women and their voices.