Sub Focus x Rudimental – Trouble Ft Chronixx & Maverick Sabre

Producer & DJ Sub Focus has joined forces with drum ’n’ bass quartet Rudimental for their new single, ‘Trouble’. Joining them on vocals is Jamaican reggae artist Chronixx, fresh from the success of his Chronology album, and the soulful vocals of Maverick Sabre.

The single premiered with Annie Mac as her Hottest Record, where Sub Focus and Rudimental chatted about their fresh collaboration:

We did this studio session and it was really vibey. It was almost like a jam with the guys [Chronixx & Maverick] in the studio. It was an evening session and we went on till 2-3 in the morning. We got our instruments out and  jammed it. It turned into a proper club banger when we were putting the production down. 

With an eclectic mix of styles coming together, the end result of ‘Trouble‘ is a fresh mix of  DnB, dancehall, high energy, Rudimental’s trademark horns and killer vocals tying it together.

Rudimental are currently working on their 3rd studio album and follow up to 2015’s We The Generation. Be sure to catch them at V Festival (Aug 19-20), while Sub Focus is gearing up for the return of his live shows with upcoming performances at SW4, Creamfields and Reading & Leeds (Aug 24-27).

Trouble
Apple Music
Google Play 
Tour Dates: Sub Focus & Rudimental

 

July Selections

1) Four Tet – Two Thousand and Seventeen

If ever there’s a track to completely unwind to, look no further than Four Tet’s mellow new single ‘Two Thousand and Seventeen’. The UK producer, AKA Kieran Hebden returns to a more relaxed vibe with a simple backbeat, while delicately plucked strings deliver a captivating and exotic style melody, perfectly capturing the elegiac beauty throughout. It’s quite a meditative piece of music to completely get lost in. The single serves as the follow up to a handful of remixes including the xx’s ‘A Violent Noise’ and Mura Masa & A$AP Rocky’s ‘Love$ick’. Having been busy working on new material the past year, hopefully we can expect a new album soon and follow up to 2015’s Morning/Evening. Upcoming dates for Four Tet include Analog Bkny in Brooklyn (Aug 18) and Love Rave 2017 in Spain (Sept 9)

Two Thousand and Seventeen
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2) LOYAL – Reset In colour

UK Collective LOYAL, made up of Beth Molly Moore, Alex Cowan, Jimmy Day and Laurence Allen, unveiled their new single ‘Reset In Colour’. The quartet last featured in my January Selections with their single ‘Moving As One’ and now they’re back with their latest single ‘Reset In Colour’. The single serves up an anthemic response to events such as the Orlando shooting and closer to home with the effects of the Brexit vote, and serves as an uplifting reminder that “You won’t find us hiding, and you will find us rising”. With its tasteful mix of defined beats, soft vocals and big pop choruses, Loyal know how to deliver a rousing and full-bodied hook.

Reset In Colour
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Tour

3) Dizzee Rascal – Wot  U Gonna Do?

Dizzee Rascal is back with his new single ‘Wot U Gonna Do’. This is the second single to be taken from Dizzee’s sixth album Raskit and serves as the follow up to the previously released single ‘Space’. ‘Wot U Gonna Do’ serves up a self-reflection track of sorts, where Dizzee comments on his own state of being:  “Wot u gonna do when your name ain’t strong?” and ‘Sitting there trying to write the same old song, trying to work out where it all went wrong”. Produced by OWSLA signee Valentino Khan, ‘Wot U Gonna Do’ delivers a grimy beat, but with a hip-hop twist, building to some hefty bass and sinister synths. 14 years since his debut album Boy In Da Corner, Dizzee’s latest album Raskit is available now via Dirtee Stank/Island Records. Upcoming dates for Dizzee Rascal include V Festival (Aug 18-20) and O2 Academy Brixton (Oct 12).

Raskit
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Tour

4) AlunaGeorge – Turn Up The Love

With the release of their sophomore album I Remember last year, electro-pop duo AlunaGeorge are back with their latest offering ‘Turn Up The Love’. Aluna Francis and George Reid deliver a playful track filled with springy synths and eclectic percussion. Mix that with Aluna’s unique, airy vocals and George’s slick production and you have a fresh summer track bursting with tropical vibes and serving as a and nice re-introduction for what will hopefully me more music from the duo later this year. Currently supporting Coldplay on their North American tour this August, hopefully we’ll get some UK and Ireland dates soon.

Turn Up The Love
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Tour

5) Chronixx – I Can

Chronixx, (aka Jamar McNaughton) unveiled his new album Chronology, serving up a delightful mix of reggae, hip-hop and pop gems. One such gem is ‘I Can’, serving up an uplifting slice of tropical house from the new Golden Boy of Reeage. Produced by Picard Brothers, who previously worked with Diplo, ‘I Can’ offers up mellow track filled with rousing hand claps and all around carefree reggae vibes. The 24-year-old Rastafarian singer-songwriter recently completed his Chronology tour in the US, and is now set to join Nas and Ms. Lauryn Hill for their ‘If I Ruled The World’ tour.

Chronology
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Tour

6) Gerd Janson & Shan – Surrender

With the success of his own imprint Running Back, highlighting artists such as Tornado Wallace, Fort Romeau and Leon Vynehall, Gerd Janson has been such an asset to house music over the years. His latest single ‘Surrender’ sees him team up with German producer Shan for a disco-fueled body of work, bursting with high energy, infectious vocal samples and vibrant disco textures. Released via ReGraded label, a label created when founder Midlands was so inspired after seeing Gerd Janson play at Panorama Bar, ‘Surrender’ is available now.  Upcoming dates for Gerd include Loveland Festival in Amsterdam (Aug 12)

Surrender
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Beatport
Tour

7) Tom Grennan  – Found What I’ve Been Looking For

Beford-born Tom Grennan unveiled his new single ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking For’, which premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record on Radio 1. Grennan delivers a unique form of Gritty soul with his husky vocals and soulful melodies. With the release of his Something In The Water EP in 2016, as well as featuring as lead vocalist on the Chase & Status single ‘All Goes Wrong’, Grennan has gone from strength to strength, and even secured himself a place on the the BBC Sound Of 2017 Longlist. The singer/songwriter stormed into 2017 with his Release The Brakes EP and recently supported Kings Of Leon at BST. Upcoming dates for Grennan include Reading Festival (Aug 27) and a headline gig at London’s Koko (Sept 27). Be sure to check out the video too, which sees Grennan team up with Director Matt Walker, who previously worked with the liked of Skepta, Stormzy and JME.

Found What I’ve Been Looking For (EP)
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Tour

8) Friction – Mad In The Jungle ft Doctor

Brighton born drum ‘n’ bass producer Friction, AKA Ed Keeley, unveiled his new single ‘Mad In The Jungle’ featuring Doctor. ‘Mad In The Jungle’ serves as the follow up to ‘Galactic’ and delivers an explosive drum ’n ’bass banger, perfect for festival season this summer. Mix that with Doctor’s infectious vocal soaring above Friction’s slick production to create a fresh and modern jungle smash. Upcoming dates for the drum ‘n’ bass pioneer include Creamfields (Aug 25), SW4 (Aug 26) and Outlook Festival (Sept 6-7) as well as his weekly show on Radio 1.

Mad In The Jungle
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9) Rationale – Loving Life

There’s something completely captivating about Rationale’s voice, and his new single ‘Loving Life’ is no exception. The Zimbabwe-born British singer-songwriter has had an impressive career since relaunching as Rationale in 2015. Since then, he’s consistently delivered with tracks such as ‘Fuel To The Fire’, ‘Fastlane’, and most recently ‘Reciprocate’, ‘Tethered’, and ’Deliverance’. His latest single ‘Loving Life’ is taken from his forthcoming debut album (due October 6th) and serves up some soulful R&B with stylistic influences, slick self-production. Currently signed to Dan Smith of Bastille’s label, Best Laid Plans, upcoming dates for Rationale include The Haunt in Brighton (Oct 25) and London’s Electric Ballroom (Oct 26)

Loving Life
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Tour

10) Tourist – We Stayed Up All Night ft Ardyn

Ok, so this one came out at the very end of June, but I’m sneaking it into my July picks. Grammy award winning producer Tourist, aka William Phillips, has returned with a new single ‘We Stayed Up All Night’ ft Gloucestershire-based brother and sister duo, Ardyn. The single delivers a joyous, summery vibe with Ardyn’s delicate vocals shimmering over some twinkling synths and laidback melodies. ‘We Stayed Up All Night’ is the first material to surface since his 2016 debut album U, featuring the single ‘Run’. While Tourist has an impressive back catalogue, including various EP’s, remixes and co-writing the Grammy winning ‘Stay With Me’ alongside James Napier and Sam Smith, ‘We Stayed Up All Night’ is a progression for Tourist, who advances sonically with each exciting new release.  Upcoming dates for Tourist include Boardmaster Festival (Aug 9-13) and Corsica Studios in London (Nov 22-23).

We Stayed Up All Night
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Tour

11) Icarus – Trouble ft Talay Riley

Ok, this tune has summer-time party vibes written all over it. Bristolian producer duo Icarus (aka Tom & Ian Griffiths) are back with yet another smash single. ‘Trouble’ serves as the follow up to the infectious ‘King Kong’, ‘Home’ and ‘Hiding’ and sees them enlist the vocals of Talay Riley for a flirty mix of smooth old school house and funky soul. Mix that with some sassy horns and some disco grooves, and you’ve got yet another floor-filler to add to their already impressive back catalogue. ‘Trouble’ is available now via FFTT Records (Pete Tong’s Label). Upcoming dates for the duo include Creamfields (Aug 24-27) and The Warehouse Project (Oct 14).

Trouble 
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Tour

12) Skott – Mermaid

Get ready for some ethereal vocals courtesy of Scandinavian singer-songwriter, Skott (Aka Pauline Skött) whose new single ‘Mermaid’ offers up an enchanting electro ballad. Skott’s magical vocals float effortlessly over delicate keys, dream-like synths, stirring strings and skittering beats. With a string of captivating tracks under her belt, including ‘Glitter & Gloss’, ‘Wolf’ and her debut single ‘Porcelain’, ‘Mermaid‘ was actually the first song she ever wrote under the moniker Skott. Be sure to check out the cinematic video too. Upcoming dates for Skott include Pickle Factory (Sept 13) and London’s O2 Academy Brixton (October 27)

Mermaid
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Tour

13) Dornik – God Knows

South London singer/songwriter and producer Dornik Leigh, unveiled his new single ‘God Knows’. Produced by the West London collective Jungle (‘Busy Earnin’’ and ‘Time’) ‘God Knows’ serves up some infectious melodies while Dornik’s smooth, future-soul vocals ooze effortlessly throughout. As a former member of Jessie Ware’s live band, Dornik took his rightful spot center stage with the release of his debut solo single ‘Something About You‘ followed by debut self-titled LP and collaborations with the likes of Syd and SG Lewis.  ‘God Knows’ is available now via PMR. Upcoming dates for Dornik include Scotch of St James in London (Oct 12) and Beacons Metro in Leeds (Nov 2)

God Knows
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Tour

14) Luttrell – Generate

San Francisco-based producer Luttrell (aka Eric Luttrell), dropped his latest single ‘Generate’. Having being inspired to write the song after attending Burning man Festival, ‘Generate’ delivers a shimmering slice of progressive house & techno all the while conjuring up an image of the desert at night with his lush sonic soundscapes and airy synths. Luttrell has an impressive back catalogue under his belt including tracks such as ‘Like It Is’ and ‘Need You, as well as making up one half of the bass duo The M Machine. ‘Generate’ is taken from his 4-track EP of the same now, and is available via Anjunadeep. Upcoming dates for Luttrell include Lane 8: TNH – Summer Gatherings in New York (Sept 9).

Generate (EP)
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15) Purity Ring – Asido

How has it been five years since the release of Purity Ring’s debut album Shrines, bringing us tracks such as ‘Fineshrine’ and ‘Lofticries’? Well, to commemorate the release, Canadian synth-pop duo (Megan James and Corin Roddick) unveiled their new single ‘Asido’. With its moody, futuristic pop vibes, skittering 808-like beats, atmospheric production and Megan’s haunting vocals intertwined throughout, ‘Asido’ certainly bridges the gap as we patiently wait for new music. Upcoming dates for the duo include MainFest in the US (sept 9) and Bestival Bali (Sept 30)

Asido
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Tour

16) Nick Mulvey – Mountain To Move

Indie-folk singer Nick Mulvey last appeared in my May Selections with ‘Unconditional’. Now, the Cambridge-born artist returns with his latest single ‘Mountain To Move’, taken from his forthcoming album Wake Me Up. Produced by Rodaidh McDonald (Sampha, Kanye West, The xx), ‘Mountain To Move’ delivers a carefree acoustic vibe, with playful rhythmic strumming and rousing vocals gaining momentum throughout. With the success of his 2014 Mercury nominated debut album First Mind, Mulvey has had a string of impressive releases including singles ‘Cucurucu’, ‘Fever To The Form’ and ‘Meet Me There’. ‘Mountain To Move’ is available Sept 8 via Fiction Records.  Upcoming dates for Nick include Give A Home for Human Rights in association with Amnesty (Sept 20), The Button Factory in Dublin (Sept 28) and London’s Shepherds Bush Empire (Oct 17).

Wake Up Now
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17) Nina Nesbitt – The Moment’s I’m Missing ft Goody Grace

Nina Nesbitt dropped her new single ‘The Moment’s I’m Missing’ ft Goody Grace and it’s a far cry from from the Nina we’re used to hearing.  For a start, it’s probably Nina’s most personal song to date, as she recollects moments in her past. Nina has such a talent for songwriting and her storytelling ability is thoroughly captivating throughout. Having taught herself to produce music over the years, Nina showcases a more mature sound, highlighting her impressive vocal range and beautiful tone, with elements of trap and hip hop infused throughout. Nina has come a long way since her 2014 album Peroxide and various EP releases including Live Take, Stay Out and Life In Colour. Currently working on new material, expect a new album early next year – hopefully following the same path as this fresh, new sound.  In the meantime, be sure to catch Nina perform at the Camden Assembly (Aug 15)

The Moment’s I’m Missing
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Tour

18) Skrillex & Poo Bear – Would You Ever

Well this is a nice surprise – Skrillex is back with his new single ‘Would You Ever’, after dropping his previous single ‘Chicken’ with Habstrakt back in May.  With a list of previous collaborators ranging from Justin Bieber to Diplo and Chance The Rapper to Incubus, the OWSLA boss has now teamed up with  producer & songwriter Jason ‘Poo Bear‘ Boyd for his latest collaboration. Pooh Bear is known for co-writing some of Bieber’s biggest smash hits from Purpose including ‘Where Are Ü Now’ and ‘What Do You Mean’. Now it’s Poo Bear’s turn in the spotlight, specifically his vocals, as his soulful vocals are chopped up throughout an upbeat electro banger filled with infectious house beats. Hopefully we’ll get a new album soon from Skrillex. In the meantime, keep the tunes coming.

Would You Ever
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Google Play

19) Jessie Ware – Midnight

I think we can safely say – thank God Jessie Ware is back in our lives with new music.  Her latest single ‘Midnight’ premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record and serves as the first track to be taken from her forthcoming third album, due later this year.  While we briefly heard Jessie back in 2016 when she featured on the soundtrack for the 2016 film Me Without You, ‘Midnight’ is the first taste of what we can expect from her new album – and It was definitely worth the wait.  With an intro you wouldn’t find out of place from a Bond theme, Jessie Ware delivers a stunning vocal masterclass as she weaves effortlessly throughout defined drum pulses and whirring synths, showcasing her impressive vocal range. After taking some time away to start a family, expect an album later this year, featuring collaborations with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco and Julia Michaels. Upcoming dates… handful

Midnight
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Tour

20) The Killers – Run For Cover

After the success of their comeback single ‘The Man’, The Killers are back with yet another cut from their forthcoming album, Wonderful Wonderful. Having debuted ‘Run For Cover’ earlier this year while performing in Atlantic City, the single serves up Brandon’s trademark glam-rock vocals, upbeat grooves and infectious stadium ready hooks, bringing some of their vintage material to mind, such as 2006’s ‘Sam’s Town’ or 2008’s ‘Spaceman’. While ‘Run For Cover’ was originally written for the 2008 album Day & Age, the song was put aside until now. Perhaps the lyrics were more relevant to what’s going on in America today, especially with the lyrics: “He got a big smile, he’s fake news”. Wonderful Wonderful is set for release September 22nd. Upcoming dates for the group include London’s O2 Arena (November 27-28) and Dublin’s 3Arena (November 16)

Wonderful Wonderful
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Tour

ICYMI: Previous July Posts

• Toddla T – Magnet Ft Andrea Martin
• Bonzai – I Feel Alright
• Lovebox ’17 – Friday Picks
• Lovebox ’17 – Saturday Picks
• London Grammar – Hell To The Liars (Kölsch Remix)
• High Contrast – The Beat Don’t Feel The Same Ft Boy Matthews
• DJ Shadow – Horror Story Ft Danny Brown
• Tyler the Creator – ‘Boredom’ & ‘I Ain’t Got Time’
• Lana Del Rey – Summer Bummer ft A$AP Rocky & Playboi Carti
• Chase & Status – Love Me More ft Emeli Sande

Check out the full playlist below and here’s to another exciting month of music ahead!

 

High Contrast – The Beat Don’t Feel The Same Ft Boy Matthews

Lincoln Barrett, AKA High Contrast, unveiled his new single ‘The Beat Don’t Feel The Same‘.

Known for championing drum ‘n’ bass over the years and delivering some epic anthems such as ‘Remind Me’ and ‘How Love Begins’, the British DJ & Producer has taken a different route with his new single, delivering an infectious disco-house banger instead. The single premiered with Annie Mac as her Hottest Record and serves up some smooth Daft Punk-esque vibes with its groovy bass lines, slick guitar licks and infectious vocals from Boy Matthews. 

Speaking with Annie Mac, High Contrast spoke about this sudden shift from drum ‘n’ bass.

“Anyone who knows my stuff over the years, it’s always been influenced by house, disco-house and the french house records (Daft Punk, Cassius), but I always did it at drum ‘n’ bass tempo. I wanted to pay proper homage to them and make a disco-house record.”

‘The Beat Don’t Feel The Same‘ is taken from his forthcoming 6th album Night Gallery, due October 6th. Judging by the direction of this single, it’s safe to safe High Contrast will be pushing boundaries sonically and delivering something fresh and exciting. In the meantime, be sure to catch High Contrast at SW4, Reading & Leeds and Creamfields before he heads out on tour this Autumn with a full live band.

iTunes: Night Gallery
Google Play: The Beat Don’t Feel The Same
Tour Dates

London Grammar – Hell To The Liars (Kölsch Remix)

Ok I’m gonna say it … this is a serious contender for best remix of the year!

Danish DJ and producer Kölsch unveiled his latest remix of London Grammar’s ‘Hell To The Liars’.

While the original track is taken from London Grammar’s number 1 sophomore album, Truth Is A Beautiful Thing‘, Kölsch extends upon the original to deliver 12.30 minutes of pure escapism. Keeping Hannah’s haunting vocals intact and intertwining sweeping strings, defined beats, distorted synths and eerie electronic flourishes, Kölsch showcases his talent for producing emotion-induced romantic techno, all the while producing luscious, sonic soundscapes that completely captivate throughout.

With the success of his critically acclaimed album 1977 followed by 1983, Kölsch consistently delivers with tracks such as ‘Grey’, ‘DerDieDas’, ‘Cassiopeia’, ‘Der Alte’ and the recent ’Speicher 97’ EP. Currently signed to iconic German electronic label, Kompakt, Kölsch has an impressive back catalogue of unique remixes, including gems such as Eric Prydz’s ‘Generate’ and Monkey Safari’s ‘Cranes’.

*No word yet on an official release date, but having recently been named as Pete Tong’s Essential New Tune (his 3rd this year alone) and dropping the remix into various sets the past few months, expect to hear a lot more of this epic remix.  In the meantime, you can catch Kölsch during his Hï Ibiza residency this summer, Radio 1 in Ibiza (Aug 4) and Tomorrowland this weekend.  

*Update* Official release date for ‘Hell To The Liars’ is Sept 1.

Tour Dates: Kolsch

Tyler The Creator – ‘Boredom’ & ‘I Ain’t Got Time’

In the lead up to Tyler The Creator’s fourth album Flower Boy and follow-up to 2015’s Cherry Bomb, Tyler gave us a taste of what’s to come. Two such tracks include ‘Boredom’ and ‘I Ain’t Got Time’.

‘Boredom’ features vocal contributions from Rex Orange County, Norwegian singer/songwriter Anna Of The North and Corinne Bailey Rae, who together offer up a unique collaboration, allowing Tyler to showcase his slick production skills. Opening with a chilled mix of subtle guitar strums and shuffling drum rolls, the trio weave in and out of the sonic textures, before stirring strings gain momentum and Tyler makes an appearance with his smooth neo-soul vocals. Tyler is a long-time supporter of Rex Orange County, who also features on the album’s opening track ‘Forward’.

Up next is the psychedelic hip-hop track ‘I Ain’t’ Got Time’, where Tyler let’s loose and really experiments with various styles and flavours, offering up barrage of synth hooks, whirring electronics and some playful, unpredictable and provocative lyrics. Speaking with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Tyler commented on the origin of the track, which happened while he was in Kanye’s studio working on The Life Of Pablo.

“I think [West] went to take a nap. And I was just in the studio, and there was an MPC [Music Production Controller] there. There was a mic right here, and [I said to engineer Noah Goldstein], ‘Just start recording me.’ I just started smacking, started clapping, started making weird noises and then added a [bass sound] … I was like, ‘Kanye should take this song. He would sound so much cooler saying, “I ain’t got time!” than me.’ He didn’t like it.”

Despite Kanye turning down the track, Tyler had someone else in mind for the verse:

“I wanted her [Nicki Minaj] on that shit so fucking bad, like, you have no idea. I reached out to her so many times, tried to get her number. She couldn’t think of nothing … I’m like, ‘How the fuck do you hear this beat and [not] think of shit?'”

Flower Boy is available now. Other artists featuring on the album include A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean, Lil Wayne & Estelle.

Flower Boy
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Google Play

Lovebox ’17 – Saturday Picks

With Day 1 of Lovebox complete and day 2 just hours away, Chase & Status are set to headline the main stage tonight along with MC Rage, for what will no doubt be an epic live act. Known for their unique ‘UK sound’, rooted in various genres from Dub to Reggae and Garage to Grime, the production duo (Saul Milton & Will Kennard), continue to showcase their never ending versatility. Praised for their unique collaborations such as 2015’s London Bars EP (ft Novelist, Frisco, Giggs), followed by collaborations with the likes of Slaves on ‘Control’ and Blossoms with ‘This Moment’,  might we see some special guests joining them tonight? Maybe Emeli Sande for their new single ‘Love Me More’ taken from their forthcoming third album, Tribe. Either way, get ready to belt out some of their most loved anthems. With a whole host of acts set to close out Day 2 of Lovebox, here are some of my top picks for Saturday.

1) Kano (Main Stage: 6.20pm -7.20pm)

Grime MC Kano, is set to tear up the Main stage this evening after the success of his thrilling Glastonbury set, brought to the next level with the accompaniment of a live band. Having started out as an original member of Nasty crew back in 2000, Kano’s career has catapulted and 5 studio albums later, along with multiple EP’s and mixtapes, he’s still representing the fearless direction and determination of the UK Grime scene. Top that off with a string of impressive singles including ‘3 Wheel-ups’, featuring Grime heavyweights Wiley and Giggs, ‘Hail’, ‘New Banger’ and ‘Garage Skank Freestyle‘. With the release of his 2016 album Made In The Manor, produced by the likes of Fraser T Smith, Rustie and Mele, expect a set filled with raw energy, slick flows, infectious beats and some brass, strings and piano thrown in for good measure!

2) Anne-Marie (Main Stage: 2.30pm – 3.00pm)

Time for the first of my 3 A’s. (see below) Having kick-started her career touring the world with Rudimental as a backing singer, as well as contributing vocals for the likes of Magnetic Man & Gorgon City,  25-year-old singer/songwriter Anne Marie made her official solo debut in 2015 with the infectious Karate EP – an ode to her real life status as three-time world Shotokan-style karate champion.  This was later followed this up with hit singles ‘Do It Right’, ‘Alarm’, her most recent single ‘Ciao Adios‘ and lead vocalist on Clean Bandit’s Number One single ‘Rockabye’. To top things off, Anne Marie kicked off the year shortlisted for the coveted Brit Critics Choice Award, alongside Dua Lipa and overall winner Rag’n’Bone Man. Having worked with the likes of Two Inch Punch, Fraser T Smith and Rudimental, expect exciting things from this rising pop stars’ debut album, which will no doubt be filled with ballsy, dynamic vocals and infectious, synth-happy, pop gems.

3) Andy C (Noisey Stage: 7.45pm – 9.15pm)

Having headlined major festivals all over the world, there are few bigger names than that of dnb legend (and my second A pick) Andy C. As a leading figure in the world of electronic music, specifically the dnb evolution, Andy C has an impressive back catalogue to match, including infectious crossover anthems such as  ‘Heartbeat Loud’, ‘New Era’ and ‘Workout’, as well as his incredible remixes for the likes of Sigala, London Grammar and the smash hit 2012 remix of Major Lazer’s ‘Get Free’ – still sounding as epic today as it ever did. As co-founder of Ram Records and sister imprints, Program & Frequency, Andy has nurtured and developed some of the biggest dnb headline acts including Wilkinson, Sub Focus and tonight’s headliner, Chase & Status. With his own specialist drum & bass show on Beats 1, Andy C there’s no better person to deliver the freshest new music and hottest dnb classics. Don’t miss out on what will no doubt be a stellar set.

4) Annie Mac (Main Stage: 7.50pm – 8.50pm)

My final A pick (see above) has to be the Queen of dance, Annie Mac. While Annie has had the pleasure of kick-starting the weekend off for many years now, tonight she has task of performing right before tonight’s headline act, Chase & Status. With the success of he headline Glastonbury performance on the John Peel Stage, complete with a live Gospel house choir,  Annie is sure to get the entire main stage crowd #raving with her infectious selection of tunes. With the success of her recent club culture documentary ‘Who Killed The Night’, her personally curated AMP Lost & Found Festival in Malta,  and her ever popular primetime weekday evening show on Radio 1, Annie is seen as the premiere tastemaker when it comes to the latest club bangers. Throw in a live gospel house choir and expect plenty of goosebumps, lots of dancing and all around feel-good vibes.

5) Kölsch (DJ Set) (Transistor Stage: 8pm – 9.30pm)

Danish tech-house DJ and producer, Kölsch (Rune Reilly Kölsch) is set to close out the Transistor Stage tonight with his stunning form of romantic techno.  The Transistor stage resembles a giant radio, complete with explosive flaming pyrotechnics throughout – so quite the spectacle and one not to be missed. Known for this ability to produce emotion-induced music, Kölsch perfectly combines both mainstream and underground styles, all the while producing luscious, sonic soundscapes. With the success of his critically acclaimed album 1977 followed by 1983, Kölsch consistently delivers with tracks such as ‘Grey’, ‘DerDieDas’, ‘Cassiopeia’, ‘Der Alte’ and recent single ’Speicher 97’ EP – not to mention producing some excellent remixes such as Eric Prydz ‘Generate’, Monkey Safari’s ‘Cranes’ and recent remix of London Grammar’s ‘Hell To The Liars’ – which is 12 and half minutes of pure bliss and definite contender for best remix of the year.  Currently signed to iconic German electronic label, Kompakt and set to take up residency in Hï Ibiza this Summer, expect an epic set from the Danish Don with his melodic and intimate form of electronica.

6) Raye (Main Stage: 1.40pm – 2.10pm)

19-year-old South London singer/songwriter Rachel Keen, AKA Raye, takes to the mainstage this afternoon for the final day of Lovebox 2017. Raye stormed into the spotlight when her self released 2014 EP, Welcome To Winter, racked up millions of Soundcloud streams, securing her a coveted deal with Polydor. Since then, the dynamic pop star has released two EP’s, a string of infectious singles such as ‘The Line’, Bet You Wish’, ‘I U Us’, co-writing credits on Charlie XCX’s ‘After The Afterparty’, and some quality collaborations with the likes of Stormzy, Stefflon Don, Jonas Blue, Jax jones and Nas. All this at just 19 years of age? Having recently placed third in the BBC’s Sound of 2017 poll, Raye is consistently raising the bar for pop music today, pushing down boundaries along the way and delivering a unique sound full of character and style.  

Like yesterday, with so many incredible acts closing Day 2 of Lovebox, it’s impossible to narrow down my top picks. Notable mentions have to go to AJ Tracey, Kurupt FM, Jamie Jones, Solardo, DJ EZ and Zdot.

Check out my final Lovebox Playlist below and enjoy the final day of the festival.

Chase & Status – Love Me More ft Emeli Sande

Get ready for some emotion-induced drum ‘n’ bass. In the lead up to their highly anticipated headline performance at Lovebox Festival, Chase & Status unveiled their new single ‘Love Me More’ ft Emeli Sande.

Praised for their unique collaborations such as 2015’s London Bars EP (ft Novelist, Frisco & Giggs), followed by 2016’s collaboration with Slaves on ‘Control’ and ‘This Moment’ with Blossoms, ’Love Me More’ sees Will & Saul team up with Emeli Sande who showcases her captivating and soaring vocals. Speaking with Annie Mac about their collaboration, the production duo commented:

“We’ve had contact since 2014 Culture Clash where she recorded the fantastic dub for us.  We got the right beat and right vibe. It’s classic us and classic Emeli together…It was so easy and effortless.”

Known for their unique ‘UK sound’, rooted in various genres from Dub to Reggae and Garage to Grime,  their forthcoming fourth album Tribe is set for release Aug 18th and is set to feature artists such as Craig David, Bugzy Malone, Kano, Shy FX and MC Rage. Upcoming dates for Chase & Status include a Summer residency at Amnesia in Ibiza, V Festival (Aug 18-20) and Creamfields (Aug 24-27).

Tribe
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Lovebox ’17 – Friday Picks

Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Lovebox Festival returns to East London’s Victoria Park tomorrow (14-15th July) with an eclectic line-up spanning across the two days. Friday’s headline act is the one and only Frank Ocean, performing one of his only two UK festivals this year. With the success of his debut album Channel Orange, followed by 2016’s Blonde featuring collaborations from the likes of Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean has wildly become one the most celebrated and critically acclaimed acts of this decade. With a whole host of amazing acts set to kick off Day 1 of Lovebox, celebrating the best of British and international musical talent, here are some of my top picks for Friday:

1) Jamie XX (Main Stage: 7.25pm – 8.40pm)

Jamie xx has the task this year of playing right before main stage headliner, Frank Ocean. However, when you have tracks such as ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times’, it pretty much speaks for itself. With the massive success of his 2015 debut album In Colour giving us transcendent singles such as ‘Loud Places’, ‘See Saw’ and ‘Gosh’, Jamie xx consistently delivers a wide range of textures & styles, firmly positioning himself as a unique & imaginative contributor to the British dance scene. Jamie xx pushes boundaries and offers up a new realm of possibility from that of his main project, The xx. Whatever you do, make sure you reserve your spot for Jamie’s main stage set.

2) Solange (Noisey Stage: 8pm – 9pm)

Over the past few years, Solange couldn’t be mentioned in an article without being referred to as as ‘Beyonce’s Sister’. However, after years of hard work proving herself as an established, forward-thinking and grammy-winning artist, Solange can finally lose the ‘Beyonce’ tag. Her most recent album,  A Seat at the Table, confidently dealt with the complexities of black womanhood. With stunning singles such as ‘Cranes in the Sky’, ‘Mad’ ft Lil Wayne and ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ ft Sampha, Solange has made a fearless stance with her empowering body of work.  Having recently performed on Glastonbury’s West Holt Stage to rave reviews (one of the few performances that wasn’t allowed to be filmed for the BBC coverage) make sure you don’t miss her Lovebox set.

3) Rex Orange County (Noisey Stage: 2.20pm – 2.50pm)

Rex Orange County (aka Alex O’Conner) first came to my attention last year with his single ‘UNO’, serving up a refreshing slice of charming lo-fi mixed with witty conversational style vocals. When your talents have been recognised by Tyler the Creator, you know you’re onto something pretty special and unique. With the release of his self-produced debut album  ‘bcos u will never b free’, featuring on Tyler’s recent track ‘Boredom’, to his most recent debut album proper, Apricot Princess, ROC’s material offers up a personable outlook on life, effortlessly blending various styles from pop and indie to jazz and hip-hop. Showcasing  a talent far beyond his years, O’Conner’s melodic hooks are infectious and unassuming as heard in tracks such as ‘Best Friend’, ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Sycamore Girls’.

4) Sälen (Main Stage: 2.45pm- 3.15pm)

Self described as ‘Straight-talking, slightly to the left pop music’’, Sälen is made up of Ellie Kamio, Paul Taylor Wade and Simon Milner. The London trio, whose name is inspired by a small Swedish village with 652 inhabitants, serve up some effortlessly cool vibes with a unique edge. From their infectious synth-pop vibes of ‘Diseasey’ and ‘Heartbreak Diet’ to the saccharine-induced tones of ‘So Rude’ and ‘Copper Kiss’, Sälen’s eclectic influences set them apart from their contemporaries serving up a delectable form of ‘explicit pop’. With their glossy productions, breezy melodies and sweet sugary vocals akin to the likes of AlunaGeorge, this is one act that certainly won’t disappoint.

5) Ray BLK (Noisey Stage:4.00pm – 4.30pm)

23-year-old Ray BLK kicked off the year as BBC’s Sound of 2017 winner and has since gone from strength to strength with her straight-talking, down to earth attitude.  With the success of previous tracks ‘My Hood’, ‘Chill Out, ‘2am’ and her most recent offering ‘Doing Me’, Ray perfectly balances her free style vocals and soulful R&B melodies, delivering a refreshing slice of UK R&B. Having recently featured on Gorillaz’s latest album Humanz alongside Zebra Katz and Rag‘n’Bone Man, as well as previous collaborations with Stormzy and Wretch 32,  Ray is currently working on her debut album, which will no doubt represent her core values from her stage name, BLK (Building, Living Knowing)

6) Joe Goddard  (Corona Sunsets Stage: 4.00pm – 5.30pm)

As one half of house-duo 2 Bears, member of electro band Hot Chip and co founder of the Greco-Roman imprint, Producer/DJ Joe Goddard has released over a decade worth of albums and remixes – even earning him a Grammy nomination for his edit of the Chemical Brothers’ ‘Wide Open’. While his many side projects keep him busy, Goddard finally unveiled his highly anticipated first official solo album, Electric Lines. The album skilfully pays homage to the history of dance music and retro electro. His infectious form of house, disco, techno, creativity and left-wing pop music, has given us gems such as ‘Gabriel’, ‘Taking Over’ and more recently ‘Home‘ and ‘Truth Is The Answer’.

With so many incredible acts kicking of Day 1 of Lovebox, it’s impossible to narrow down my top picks. Notable mentions have to go to Sampha, Eats Everything, Bicep, Seth Troxler, Kaytranada & DJ Jazzy Jeff – all of which I’ll definitely be checking out throughout the day. So to get you in the mood for some sun and music this weekend, check out my Lovebox Playlist below. Check back soon for Saturday’s picks!

Lana Del Rey – Summer Bummer ft A$AP Rocky & Playboi Carti

While 2012 brought us the summer classic ‘Summertime Sadness’, Lana Del Rey continues down this sesaonal path with her latest single ‘Summer Bummer’. What is it with her and Summer? ‘Summer Bummer’ sees Lana enlist A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti for yet another slice of woozy, R&B-tinged pop. A$AP and Playboi Carti offer up the perfect amount of light and shade to contrast Lana’s hazy vocals, subdued beats and trap-infused production throughout.

Speaking with Annie Mac, who premiered ‘Summer Bummer’ her Hottest Record, Lana commented on working with A$AP, who features on two tracks on her album:

“He’s got to be one of my top two favourite rappers in the whole world. I have so much fun watching him work. If I just have a track and play it for him , he can put something down right away and it’s always just so different.“

Speaking about the recording process:

“The record ended up in a place that’s different to where I thought it would end up sonically. The narrative and lyrically it moved forward just a little bit, which I’m proud of.”

‘Summer Bummer‘ is taken from Lana’s fifth studio album Lust for Life and serves as the follow up to Lana’s previous collaboration with The Weeknd on ‘Lust For Life’ which featured in my April Selections. Other collaborations on the album include Stevie Nicks and Sean Ono Lennon. Upcoming dates for Lana include The Echo Arena in Liverpool (Aug 22) and The SSE Hydro in Glasgow (Aug 23)

Lust For Life
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Bonzai – I Feel Alright

I last posted about Bonzai in my September 2015 selections with the release of her debut single ‘KBG (Knicker Bocker Glory)’ via Mura Masa’s label, Anchor Point. Since then, the 20-year-old Indiana-born, Dublin-raised producer/vocalist has gone from strength to strength having toured and collaborated with Mura Masa, joined Flume on tour across Europe and released 3 EP’s. (Sleepy Hungry, Lunacy and Royal)

Her latest single ‘I Feel Alright’ serves up a playful melody, with quirky electro production and an eclectic fusion of styles throughout. The track premiered as Annie Mac’s Hottest record where Bonzai spoke about the inspiration and tone for her new track:

“Start of the year I went to Cuba. I came back and wasn’t really feeling as dark. So thought we’d put some happy chords in and feel a bit better about life…It’s all a bit happier now. Let’s get some happiness in here.“

Bonzai teamed with up with good friend and producer Mura Masa to write the single after a successful ‘writing camp’ in the countryside, with Bonzai later repaying the favour and featuring on Mura Masa’s recent single ‘Nuggets‘. Upcoming dates for Bonzai include Secret Garden Party (July 20-23)

iTunes: I Feel Alright
Google Play: I Feel Alright
Tour Dates