Our July roundup of mixes is here.
Welcome back to our monthly mix roundup. July proved to be a major month in England’s clubbing calendar. Venues flung open their doors and thousands of ravers flocked to their favourite haunts and festivals for knee-ups and good times alike. On the flip, in amidst all the revelry there’s an ongoing ‘pingdemic’ at large, which means many have found themselves living vicariously through their mates’ social media posts – until FOMO sets in, that is.
So whether you’re out this weekend or tucked away inside, our latest list has a soundtrack to your pre-parties, afterparties and quarantine. Given the return of clubs, July’s roundup is packed with fast and frenetic offerings from artists like Bored Lord and Kikelomo, alongside a Kush Jones birthday special, a Malibu and Mssingno link-up and more.
Mssingno & Malibu
United in FlamesMalibu makes music that’s sensitive, wistful and deeply poignant. During times of stress or unease, her ambient works offer the same comfort as a warm, thick-jumper hug. Her radio show, United in Flames, offers a similar experience. This month, she was joined by elusive UK producer Mssingno. (‘United in Tearjerkers’ is perhaps a better title for this collaborative show, given their shared aptitude for emosh pop, stirring strings and saccharine melodies.) As expected, the tracklist is wholly on-brand for the duo, skipping from Ariana Grande’s Into You (a Mssingno staple) through to Dark0, Visionist, Bladee and serpentwithfeet. There’s also a DJ Lostboi (another alias of Malibu’s) tune in the mix as well. We’re not crying, you are.
Kush Jones
The Lot Radio (21/07/21)Kush Jones may shrug off adjectives like “shape-shifter”, however it’s clear why music writers choose to describe him in such ways. The Juke Bounce Werk crew member and prolific New York producer is both dexterous and versatile; the kind of artist who flirts unabashedly with genres like techno, juke, footwork and jungle. This recent two-hour session from The Lot Radio is extra exciting given that it’s a special birthday broadcast. Expect Kush on top-form, plus a particularly strong final stretch starring tunes from Elephant Man, Beenie Man and Wayne Wonder.
Kikelomo
HÖR Berlin (16/07/21)Kikelomo is a Berlin-based DJ and the host of a radio show called Pass the Aux. In the last year, she’s leaped to new heights in her career, locking in radio appearances on stations like Rinse FM, plus a bundle of club bookings thanks to her fun, genre-weaving M.O. Kikelomo’s shared heaps of noteworthy stuff recently, however it’s this appearance on streaming platform HÖR Berlin that we keep coming back to. Sauntering from KG to Young Thug via SHE Spells Doom, or Gettoblaster & DJ Deeon to Frankie Bones via Overmono, it’s a satisfyingly mixed bag of big tunes, unreleased sneak peaks and blistering edits, all stirred up and ready to be downed in one. Bottoms up!
TSVI
Dekmantel 340Nervous Horizon co-founder TSVI crafts tunes that feels physical and utterly dreamlike. Earlier projects aligned more with the urgent, club-rooted side of his palette; a collection of bold, UK-centric dance music fit to soundtrack raves in east London and beyond. More recently, he’s been dipping into other influences like Indian classical or Italian folk music, or themes like altered states of consciousness. His recent Dekmantel podcast brings together inspirations and interests both long-standing and newfangled, prioritising rhythm and groove over a single genre or two.
TT
Dion LeeDion Lee is an Australian fashion designer who’s known for monochrome looks, experimental constructions and sleek tailoring. Lee’s corsets, for instance, can be found in the wardrobes of everyone from Bella Hadid to style-obsessed club kids with a penchant for all-black attire. He recently debuted a new curated mix series entitled Site : Sound and kicked the whole thing off with a pair of mixes from Paris-based DJ Anetha and techno-pop mutator LSDXOXO. The series’ third instalment comes from stylist and frequent Dion Lee collaborator TT, who shares this sublime set of euphoric techno, hard trance and high-octane heat.
Kampire
B.A.D. Mix 003When Black Bandcamp – the independent, community-driven platform showcasing and supporting Black artists – relaunched as Black Artist Database, it expanded out into new areas. The team launched an editorial wing, for instance, alongside a new initiative called [pause] and this very mix series. We caught up with B.A.D. co-founder Niks Delanancy at the time, and she explained that the mix series in particular would “[shine] a light on the variation of DJs out there, whether that’s in terms of the sound, the region they represent or where they’re at in their career”. July’s mix comes courtesy of Nyege Nyege mainstay Kampire, who dials in an almost hour-long odyssey that pulls from the “breadth of global Blackness”. It’s a vast and journey-like affair, voyaging from Angolan and South African club styles through to St. Lucian and Cape Verdean sounds.
Saoirse
TRAX.437A set of “sexy, sunny beats” from Irish selector and Body Movements co-founder Saoirse. Recorded for French electronic music title Trax Magazine, it’s a gloriously upbeat and energetic mix fit to bask in come rain or shine. In trademark Saoirse style, you can expect a crate full of heads-y house and hypnotic techno, paired with silky smooth blends and an all-round effortless, easy breezy vibe. “Having spent the last few weeks watching in envy videos of festivals happening all around the world except here I dreamt of what kind of set I would play in one of those open-air day settings,” she explained over on Instagram. “This mix tries to capture that.”
Martyn Bootyspoon
Area 3000Roses are red, violets are blue and this Martyn Bootyspoon mix will have you dancing faster than you can say Lickity Split. That’s no surprise really, what with the Montréal producer’s proclivity for unadulterated club fuel and sweat-inducing selections. This 90-minute mix for Melbourne radio station Area 3000 is no exception. In fact, it’s just about as Bootyspoon as it gets: an all-you-can-eat buffet of techno, footwork, ghettotech and more, from artists like Jubilee, DJ Assault, Lil Silva and DJ Rashad, plus fellow Local Action artists like 96 Back and AYA (fka LOFT). When you’re done tuning in, check out his radio interview too.
Meme Gold
Swing Ting Audio 004Earlier this year, Manchester label and club night Swing Ting launched an excellent mix series called Swing Ting Audio. Early entries came from the likes of LZ, Thai Chi Rosè and Joey B, with the latest instalment headed up by local party starter and Swing Ting resident Meme Gold. Track-wise, the DJ, artist, radio host, performer and designer offers up a collection of bangers old and new, plus tracks from Manchester talent such as Fox, Chimpo, Chunky and HMD. Expect whine-able anthems, heads-down club stompers and stacks more in-between. Hard-hitting and primed for the dancefloor are the only real rules of the game here.
Bored Lord
foundation.fmA divine drum’n’bass showcase from an artist we’ll never get bored (sorry!) of listening to. Featuring rave ammunition from the likes of Cloudsteppers, Prisma, BAE BAE and FAUZIA, Bored Lord’s mix for south London’s foundation.fm bolts from start to finish in thrilling, rollercoaster-like style. The whole ride picks up serious speed and momentum exactly where need it and races the heart just enough to leave you breathless and exhilarated in the lighter moments after. Stick this one at your next pre-party, and don’t forget to thank us – and Bored Lord – later.
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