The North’s contribution to UK electronic dance music often feels footnoted, despite being the birthplace of iconic labels like WARP Records, which have fostered talents such as Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus, and Squarepusher. Green’s newest track—a fizzling, whirring, bassy, and crunchy 5-minute auditory experience—solidifies Sheffield’s status as an unsung pioneer in UK rave culture.
Situated on the fringes of the Peak District, Sheffield embodies a striking amalgamation of natural landscapes and industrial heritage. Charla effortlessly fuses together elements of the natural world (utilizing vocal samples that are spliced and spacey, with lots of Echo, reminiscent of the vastness of the Peak District) with industrial sounds (the fading low pass filter on the heavy thud of the kick, the sharp crash of the snare, and the hi-hats).
In a discussion with Charla Green about her track, she likened the production process to painting, with multiple overlapping layers and textures. Upon the first listen, one is immersed in a fluid, ever-changing sonic landscape where the layers seem to meld and detach from one another seamlessly. Green rightfully earns the title ‘Queen of Jungle’ and solidifies her position as one of Sheffield’s rising stars in the realm of DJs and artists.