New Single: Effy ‘2011’
New Single: Effy ‘2011’ Shimmering with early-morning rave nostalgia, the latest twinkling track from London-based DJ and producer Effy is grooving up a storm. By Scarlett Stokes Currently Listening to: For me, a very specific feeling is associated with 2011. Specifically, the mundane, extraordinary fact of entering into double digits for the first time (and the rest of) my life. That feeling is difficult to put into words; optimism for the future, for the rest of my life in the two digit lane, coupled with a tinge of childhood loss at bidding farewell to being 9 years old. Nostalgia is the most apt description of that feeling and that time, and the Blackpool-born Effy captures precisely that in the title and contents of her latest tune. “2011” is an effort, according to Effy, to capture her euphoric early days of clubbing in Northern England. It is the oldest triplet on Effy’s latest EP, The Syndicate, released on the 15th of May. The EP itself is a tribute to that youthful exploration of club culture; a little bit of sleuthing (taking a look at the EP cover, photographing a silver cube of a club, and googling said music venue), revealed the real Syndicate Blackpool club, formerly (allegedly) the largest nightclub in the UK. The track is 2cb technicolor. It starts like a shorting livewire, with glittering abruptness; a snatching high-hat intro buoys the track upwards, with percolating bleeps and bloops heralding a glorious piano break, a joyous hat-tip to old-school house. The tune erupts into a conventional house chorus, perfectly shoulder-shimmying and danceable. Chopped-up, distorted vocals pepper “2011”, “2011” strikes two songbirds with one stone, contrasting classic, smoother rave sounds with hyper pop-esque harshness at times. It is reminiscent of another time, retro-futuristic, glimmering with optimism for daybreak after a particularly adventurous night out, and tinged with regret that, with the morning, comes a return to everyday life. The two other tracks on the EP, “Persuade” and “So Sound”, deserve a mention here, too – both acceptable, building songs, anchored in two-step and house influences, they better soundtrack a house party than a dancefloor. “2011” is heartfelt and zappy. It is perfect for an ambitious prees, a lively party, or nearing a jubilant dawn, provoking an innocent sense of déjà vu. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
Our GALA 2025 Top Picks:
Our GALA 2025 Top Picks: Going to GALA festival this weekend? Here’s who we think you should see. By Caitlin Taylor If you’ve never been to the Peckham Rye DJ-focused festival GALA, you’re in for a treat. It’s pretty small, but their lineups always pack a crazy punch. Last year saw Joy Orbison, Girls Don’t Sync and Chaos in the CBD take to the park, and this year is somehow even better. We’ve put together a list of our top picks, if you’ve not yet got tickets hurry up! FRIDAY Savssounds is truly up and coming with a really eclectic mix of experience behind her. Her live set for Art Beyond the Shell made Nirvana’ Smells Like Teen Spirit a song that you could grind to. She recently started the club night Altverse focusing on black alternative music featuring the likes of The Internet, Doechii and Kaytranada, and also somehow manages to juggle both being a DJ and a financial consultant – a seriously talented woman. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SAVSSOUNDS (@savssounds) SATURDAY Amaliah is super popular at the moment, playing a crazy run of shows over the summer. Other than GALA, catch her at Shangri-La, Maiden Voyage and Boiler Room in Ibiza. She started DJing in 2018 after record collecting since her teens. Her sets are varied, she plays around with house, techno and UK funky and she started the collective Borne Fruits to showcase some of the best underground music, something we can definitely get behind. If you’re maybe in the mood for something a little more retro, Portuguese-born London-based Mafalda is known for her brilliant taste in soulful disco tunes. She doesn’t believe in guilty pleasures, as she told Dust & Grooves “Good music is good music”. She radiates joy, so if you’re in the mood to feel good make sure you get to her set. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mafalda (@mafaldafromthesun) SUNDAY If you’ve been DJing for over two decades you better be good, and Michelle Manetti certainly is. Self-described as a ‘genre non-conformist’, she loves to experiment with a variety of genres from house to disco to acid. She also promotes and helps to curate multiple female/non-binary-focused club nights in East London including Femmme Fraiche. If you tend to spend your nights at Dalston Superstore, this is the set for you. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michelle Manetti (@michelle_manetti) Millie McKee is a standout on this list. Her taste skews more into the psychedelic, with percussive dub and spiritual jazz beats. Another decade-long vinyl collector, she even manages the record store Hidden Sounds on Ridley Road. Truly a Sunday vibe, and maybe a good one to add to your itinerary if you’ve attended all 3 days of the festival and are looking for something to chill out to. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
New Remix: Nubiyan Twist ft. Horseman ‘Battle Isn’t Over (D’n’B Version)’
New Remix: Nubiyan Twist ft. Horseman ‘Battle Isn’t Over (D’n’B Version)’ A DnB Spin on the invigorating tune, Battle Isn’t Over, comes just in time for summer, and serves as a bopping reminder of the UK dance music history and culture. By Scarlett Stokes Currently Listening to: “Battle Isn’t Over” croons Nubiya Brandon, main vocalist for Nubiyan Twist, over a smothered drumbeat that hints at the track direction of their new release with reggae stalwart Horseman. That is, assuming you didn’t read the track title – “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version”, released earlier this month. The Sheffield-based 9-piece have never shied away from a collaboration, and “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version” is looking to be the first in a sequence of more dancefloor-oriented tracks, with a bassline version of “Reach My Soul” released only a few days ago (and by dancefloor-oriented, I mean electronically-influenced tracks. Make no mistake, Nubiyan twist can electrify a dancefloor without electronics all by themselves). This pivot into a different sound isn’t a new move for Nubiyan Twist – “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B version” is the opener from their 2024 album, Find Your Flame, which included some juicy bonus house spins on the track Lights Out from the deluxe version. “Battle Isn’t Over – D’n’B Version” will sit in the “NT Soundsystem” album, set to be released on 13th June this year. It will boast a collection of remixes from the 2024 album Find Your Flame, Nubiyan Twist’s fourth album to date. As the track titles tease, these will pay tribute to the UK’s global dance music culture, with jungle, dancehall, dub, and UKG versions all represented. If that wasn’t enough, the name itself, ‘NT Soundsystem’, is a homage to the UK’s vibrant Soundsystem culture. Singles from albums are meant to tease the vibe of the album to come. It is a joy to see some old-skool DnB represented in the line-up. Whilst not an unsurprising genre to dabble with for Nubiyan Twist, given their embrace of multicultural British sound, this represents a new sonic direction for the band, with a refreshingly old-school feel. Thank Horseman, with his deep, honeyed MCing, fast-paced breaks, and three decades of musical experience in the reggae scene, for this summery tune, paying tribute to the historical roots of DnB in jubilant fashion. Horseman and Nubiya Brandon’s rich, commanding voices twirl into a fluid duet. There’s the steady softness to Nubiya Brandon, buttered with Horseman’s deliberate, toasted vocals. This overlays the rising and falling energy of the track, accompanied by, you guessed it, classic drum and bass sounds, poaching classic instrumentation like trumpet and keys from the original tune. It is exciting to listen to this new foray by Nubiyan Twist, bolstered by Horseman, and feels entirely appropriate with the band’s ethos. If this track is anything to go by, NT Soundsystem is set to be a riotous ode to UK dance music. Expect a vibrant, vivid summer season ahead. You might also like ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ Recent Posts ⋆⭒˚.⋆
NATTY LOU: “It meant that I only had one day to plan my set and little time to practice, but it turned out to be one of the best sets I’ve ever played.”
“It meant that I only had one day to plan my set and little time to practice, but it turned out to be one of the best sets I’ve ever played.” A conversation with Natty Lou, the natural-born performer turned global trailblazer of drum and bass, as we dive into her unforgettable Boomtown Hidden Woods set and her journey through the worldwide rave scene. Words by Isla Mcrobbie Your set at Hidden Woods had the most packed crowd I’ve ever seen! How did this year’s show compare to others? Honestly… best set of the summer! I was incredibly nervous because my hard drive containing all of music had broken a week before Boomtown and I had to take it to the computer repair shop. It meant that I only had one day to plan my set and little time to practice, but it turned out to be one of the best sets I’ve ever played. Texas MC was supposed to host my set that night, but he couldn’t make it due to an injury, so Tiny K jumped on last minute. As you can imagine, the lead up to the night was quite stressful, but as soon as I was on the decks, in front of that crowd, Ifelt at ease. Boomtown is my favourite festival in the UK – the vibes are just something else! I love how much time and effort they put into their production – the performers, the stage design, the secret stages… I can keep going! I’ve been super fortunate to have played Boomtown three times now and each year it keeps on getting better and better. It really has the best crowd – I still get people coming up to me at events saying that my set was one of the best sets of the weekend and it makes me happy to hear that. I’m really hoping to make it onto Origin stage one day…cross fingers! We loved the video of two fans raving during your set. How does it feel to see a sea of people having the time of their lives to your soundtrack? Haha I am so glad you captured that video! It makes me so happy to see everyone dancing, having a good time and enjoying my selection. I think it must have been the biggest crowd that I’ve ever played to. It felt so surreal seeing all those people out there who came to see me play. I find it difficult to take it all in whilst I’m playing because I’m so focussed on mixing and not messing up. It’s only until after my set that I think “wow, that was incredible!”. I couldn’t believe it when people were saying that there was a queue to get into the Hidden Forest during my set. Looking back at my friend’s videos, it really put things into perspective. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NATTY LOU (@nattylou_dnb) Your background as a dancer seems to add to your energy and stage presence behind the decks. How much of your set is improvised, and do you like taking risks during your performances? Thank you. I often get commended for my high energy behind the decks. I believe that I wasborn to perform, and I can’t help but dance to the tracks that I love. I’m super passionate about what I do, and I hope that shines through whilst I’m playing. I plan all of my sets but often change and adapt them when I feel that it’s necessary. I think it’s important for a DJ to be able to think on the spot, for example about what’s working and what’s not. It really depends on the crowd, where you’re playing and at what time. These are all factors I take into consideration. How did you start your journey as a DJ? What made you switch from dancing to mixing, especially starting in Hong Kong just before the pandemic? I started learning how to mix in 2018 whilst I was living in Hong Kong. I was a touring backing dancer back then, so it was hard to find the time to fully focus on it. Then the pandemic came, and I moved back to the UK. I was unemployed so as you can imagine, I had a lot of time to practice, concentrate on the craft and build up my skills. I started streaming my sets online, entered several mix competitions, and had the support from brands such as ‘Concrete Junglists’. I still dance and take on jobs from time to time, however, I’m fully focussed on a career in music now which, I feel, has more longevity. Your tracks “Alpenglow” with Lottie Jones and “Galactic” with Sebotage are amazing! When can we expect more singles? Are you working on anything new? Thank you! Yes, I’m sitting on so much music right now. I have music coming out with Tengu, D*Minds and up and coming producer, Leemo. I’m working with incredibly talented vocalists such as Mila Falls, Nathan Smoker and Ayah Marar. My release schedule is already looking busy for 2025 – I’m so excited for you all to hear! Your music is rooted in DNB, jungle, liquid, and other sub-genres. What’s your current sub-genre obsession? I love all sub-genres of Drum and Bass, but I mainly produce melodic, dance-floor Drum and Bass with powerful vocals. I make music that is uplifting, energetic, includes melodic hooks, atmospheric pads, a catchy topline that people can sing along to, and drums that people can dance to. As a magazine promoting UK female, non-binary, and trans artists, could you shout out another DJ, selector, or musician making waves in the industry? Or is there a track you currently have on repeat? Firstly, I’d like to give a shout out to the likes of Storm, Kemistry (RIP) and DJ Rap who have helped pave the way for females in Jungle & Drum and Bass. There are so many artists making waves in the