Yak Herder is the recording alias of Engin Hassan, a London-based producer and audio engineer whose work spans ambient electronics, live improvisation and studio production.
His relationship with ambient music began in the 90s, shaped by Mixmaster Morris. Working for years with pioneering electronic duo Coldcut, especially with Matt Black, gave him a deep practical grounding in studio production and sound design. As Yak Herder, his music moves between spontaneous live electronic improvisations recorded direct to disc and more considered sequenced compositions. Both approaches share the same aim: creating immersive, deeply atmospheric sound worlds.
Beyond his own recordings, Engin’s production work features throughout the Dancing Turtle catalogue. He produced both of the Lani Singers albums, Ninalik Ndawi and Ninalik Arirak, and also contributed a track to the Merdeka compilation. His wider production work includes drum programming on the Coldcut remix of Herbie Hancock’s seminal track Rockit.
Engin also collaborates on Ninja Jamm, the audio loop remixing app created by Matt Black of Coldcut and Ninja Tune, where he sources and prepares sample content for the platform’s expanding library of sound packs, alongside running Edit Fade Warp, an independent podcast production company.
