Selections: Star.One
In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their Bandcamp collections. This week, Star.One spotlight new school UKG, house, amapiano, R&B edits and Baile Funk fusions
In this series, Selections, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their Bandcamp collections. While hearing new music played out by your favourite selectors has been put on hold as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s never been easier, or more important, to support the artists and imprints releasing tracks, albums, EPs and comps in the midst of all the madness. In lieu of opportunities to discover new records on the dancefloor, Selections will give you the chance to nab sounds from the crates of tastemakers, and support the people behind them while you’re at it. Win-win, right?
This week, Star.One spotlight new school UKG, house, amapiano, R&B edits and Baile Funk fusions from the likes of DJ Q, KG, TSHA, Murder He Wrote and more. The London duo, who recently paid a visit to DJ Mag HQ for a killer live streamed set, released their new single ‘Won’t Hold Back’ last week. A vocal-led house pumper, the track follows recent singles ‘Hate Love’ with S.E.N. and ‘This Way’ with Trillary Banks, and is guaranteed to be a UK summer anthem.
Check out Star.One’s Selections below.
“One of the best releases this year. DJ Q never disappoints and this link-up with Hans Glader is a perfect blend of classic dance and UK Garage. Lovely chords, a soulful vocal cut and the switch up on the drop is a vibe.”
“Probably my favourite track of the last 12 months. Afro inspired dance music, everything about it is sick, the powerful vocals, the percussion, the little guitar lick, natural bassline and arrangement. Just an absolute golden track that has been a big soundtrack of lockdown.”
“What you get when you put UK Garage and Baile Funk together. If you know about Star.One then you know we're all about merging genres and this is a perfect example of why – you get something new and exciting like this. Love it! Blu recently blessed us with two edit packages as well: check the garage edit of Kendrick Lamar ‘Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe’ in particular.”
“Arma is one of the contenders for UK Edit king. His take on Eve ‘Let Me Blow Your Mind’ is a percy. Released last year, I can't wait to do some damage with this one in the clubs - it just mixes so well!”
“UK Garage coming out of the Netherlands. Jeftuz has been one of our favourite producers for a minute, even before he started making UK Garage. Over the last year he's released a slew of UKG remixes that are always high quality. My favourite is this one of Justin Bieber ‘Yummy’. The synth work replicating the vocal is just dreamy!”
“Wow Karen KG on the vocal - I didn't know the superproducer could sing like this! An Amapiano – which is my new current favourite genre – inspired afrobeats track alongside MistaSilva. This is the kind of thing I wanna play on a summer rooftop party.”
“A mainstay track in radio and guestmixes over the last year, this is my personal favourite release of Murder He Wrote, who has been killing it in the UK Funky and bass scene over the last few years. He's switched his style on this one to a more upbeat house vibe and we're definitely here for it! Instant feel good vibes.”
“A producer and friend we've been collabing with for a while now. It's been so sick to see his sound develop over the last couple years. He's put out a bunch of remixes this year and this release on Garage Shared shows his potential - the vocal is wicked and the classic M1 organ over a Garage beat is always a win for us!”
“MoreNight has been bringing the heat over the last year. We've been battering his track 'Give Ya' and earlier in the year he gave us his 'Through the Clouds' EP. The track ‘Spicy One’ is our favourite. “I love the way he's worked the sample with the reverse vocal alongside a bumpy 4x4 beat. It's the new age UKG movement at it's best.”
“Wicked release on Garage Shared. Has that old skool Garage sound down to a tee. Nice pad build-up, a bumpy mallet lead drop, ruff bassline and added ragga vocal sample - Hits the spot.”
