Sammy Virji drops Open Late, an eight-track surprise album, with Joy Anonymous and Wet on "Letter Blue"

Sammy Virji has put out a new album without telling anyone it was coming. Open Late arrived on 21 October 2026: eight tracks, 29 minutes, and not a single teaser beforehand.

For readers meeting him for the first time: Virji is a producer and DJ from the UK who has spent the last few years turning bass-heavy house, garage and breakbeat into festival-sized records. His second album, Same Day Cleaning, came out in September 2025, so Open Late lands almost exactly a year later.

What is on it

The listing credits the record to Virji himself, "powered by co:brand", rather than naming a separate label. It is a short, club-length set, built for a night out more than a sit-down listen.

Two of the tracks have guests. "Letter Blue" features Joy Anonymous and Wet, and "La Belle" features Hans Glader. The other songs on the streaming listing include "Repeaty", "Crazy Funky", "Light Work", "Rising Raider" and a closer called "Ode to Todd", which at three minutes is the shortest thing here.

Virji has said on air that he had a surprise for the hosts of a New Zealand radio show before revealing the record, and that is as much explanation as we have so far. We have not seen an official statement on how Open Late was made or whether a tour is attached, and we will update when there is one.

Why it matters

A surprise drop is a small act of confidence in club music, where the usual cycle is a single, a remix pack, a tracklist reveal, then the record. Skipping all of that and releasing eight tracks that DJs can play straight away suits a producer whose sets are the main event.

It also keeps Virji busy on the dancefloor side of the UK scene that also produced Barry Can't Swim, with whom he made "I Could Be Madonna" earlier this year.

Find him on ADMC at /artist/sammy-virji. Open Late is out now on all major streaming services.