Time, for Bahraini producer Abdulla Husain Alhayki, is not just about the ticking of a clock - it’s a canvas capturing human value, fleeting moments and absolute permanence. 
In his newest album A Penny for your thoughts in an hourglass of time, the musician better known as DUST explores the paradoxes and paradigms within the concept across 16 carefully constructed tracks. 
“I initially had finished the album in late 2024 and was supposed to release it in 2025 under a European record label but things didn’t align and life got in the way, so I had to work on other projects in the meantime, which made me decide to add few more tracks and features later on and self release it,” DUST told GulfWeekly. 
“The album explores how most of us find ourselves fighting time and consuming it in similar ways no matter what status you have in society.
“It’s the contrast between the present and future, poor and rich, light and dark.
“The Penny represents human thoughts, ego, and temporary experiences.
“The Hourglass represents the finite, rigid structure of physical reality and time running out.”
The 52-minute album starts by turning the concept of time on its head, with Intalude I. 
While interludes usually rest in the middle of albums, transitioning from one concept to another, DUST starts his album off with one and then moves through a number of musical genres in each track, without getting pigeon-holed into a single one. 
“I feel like there’s something for everyone and anytime - could make for a calm evening after a long day, or you could start your day with it,” DUST explained.
Compared to DUST’s last release The Empty Quarter, the new album has more live instrumentation elements, played mostly by DUST.
A Penny for your thoughts in an hourglass of time also falls more within electronic experimental jazz, while The Empty Quarter was based on hip-hop. 
For the new album, he also worked with the likes of YNOT, Shadi Magalla and Nawfel.
“YNOT is someone that I looked up to as an artist coming up in the hip hop culture, he is definitely one of my favourite multi-disciplinary artists out there and I feel lucky that I got to know him on a personal level which led to us working on music and art together, so it is truly an honor to have him on my new album,” DUST added.
“Shadi Megallaa is a great friend who I met in Dubai. 
“We both have the same interest in music and we call ourselves the groove preservation society.
“Nawfel is a very talented producer and DJ from Morocco who I also met in Dubai in the dance community when I was actively involved in dance and hip hop competitions.”
DUST has drawn inspiration from the new wave of jazz from London and Europe, with artists like Kamaal Williams, Yussef Dayes, Abase and Moses Yoofee having been on his playlist for the last decade. 
While many musicians are delighted with an album a year, DUST is already working on his third album for the year, aiming to release it next month. 
A Penny for your thoughts in an hourglass of time is now available on major streaming platforms.
For more details, follow @dustizm on Instagram.