Our 73rd Volume of Focus Five is here! As always we’re bringing five of our team’s favourite new finds. This month features two UK-based producers taking over in UKG and Trap, a Brooklyn-based artist delivering summery garage vibes, an inventive creator who falls under the broad umbrella of drum and bass, and a producer delivering uncut bass bangers. Check them all out below.
eloquin
What is it about Bristol that allows it to keep pumping out such insane musical talent? The latest in the list of artists I’ve discovered that have emerged from this UK powerhouse is eloquin. Affiliated with the label Primitive UK, eloquin is a virtuoso of 140 dubstep, garage, and breaks. I’m typically pretty picky when it comes to 140, but this man’s beats have been tickling my eardrums in the best way since I stumbled upon him.
His edit of Ojerime’s ‘Give it Up 2 Me’ with Bluff and HODA perfectly encapsulates what I look for in these genres. It’s lowkey, it’s sexy, it’s a mood-setter. The undulating bass in the first two minutes is the kind of beat you’d take a night drive to before the drum breaks kick in and carry the rest of the song. The breaks almost feel like they’re building up to something big, but the quiet fade at the end allows the track to rest on its own as a subtle flex of just vibes. Perfection.
On the other side of the spectrum, eloquin has tracks like ‘Left Right Left,’ the first single from an upcoming album dropping later this year. This track is an exemplary foray into UKG. The basslines are just wicked, accentuated by some upbeat, animated drum breaks and a sole repeating vocal. This one’s a dancefloor heater for sure, as “left, right, left” is where is my ass is going whenever I press play. Keep ’em comin’, eloquin. I need to see you in a club ASAP.
– BG
Frosty
Hailing from Hull in the United Kingdom, Frosty‘s sheer perseverance and strength are guiding him down a beautiful path in the arts. His production skills are simply electrifying with every given track released. Swirling around your mind as his sound design and drum creations take over your soul in the best ways possible. Never stopping for a second and delivering a boost of pure joy and confidence.
His remix of CESCO’s ‘Up The Place’ honors the original piece in more ways than one. Turning this groovy and intoxicating original into a dangerous and lethal weapon of mass destruction. From a massive bass lead taking center stage, to those beefy drums knocking on your door, Frosty’s abilities are shown at an all-time high and completely exceeds expectations!
His newest release ‘Bongo’ is something truly special and fun. Finding a home on the infamous label, SUS COLLECTIVE, this original takes you on an absolute wild ride. From those crisp and earth-shattering vocals to metallic percussive leads playing ping pong in the background, it’s a song you can see yourself replaying again and again. Making the underground electronic trap scene proud. We’re stoked to see and hear what he drops in the future!
-JD
jev
As I was putting the final touches on our Summer Vibes 24′ playlist last month, I ended up doing a deep into vibey UKG on Spotify and somehow ended up landing on JEV’s ‘AINT EASIER’. The track instantly stood out with beautifully stripped-back soul vocals, sunset-soaked guitar licks, and dancey drums. The questioning vocal is dripping with nostalgia, passion, and an addictive edge. No less than a week later, fellow FUXWITHIT team member Steph hit me up with a pick he described as “nice summer chune” for the playlist. The track was called “DREAMER” and featured a cinematic opening that morphed into smooth and bouncy basslines, mesmerizing female vocals, and playful percussion. Fittingly the track is also from Brooklyn producer JEV. Both tunes landed spots in our summer playlist and JEV quickly climbed the ranks on our radar. If you’re looking for a dancey garage with some heart, look no further than JEV.
-C
KONKAI
Sometimes, I wonder why I still get 2013 big room house in my Spotify Release Radar. Sometimes, I’m amazed by the quality of the (new) talent that Spotify’s auto-shuffle algorithm brings to light. Today, the latter is true, and thanks to this algorithm, I’m happy to share a new discovery with all of our wonderful readers. In the midst of a monotonous work session, I was taken aback when KONKAI‘s ‘Bubble’ first came on. The chaotic rolling synths grabbed my attention immediately, and as the track continued to build I found myself bobbing uncontrollably behind my desk. Consistent with its name, ‘Bubble’ is a sparkling drum and bass tune that’s incredibly uplifting for its entire duration, and after listening to it on repeat a few times over, I knew I had to dive into the rest of KONKAI’s discography. While not super extensive, the artist’s last release did come on Pilot., attesting to the quality of his productions. Falling under the broad umbrella of drum and bass, the artist always masterfully weaves melodies, vocals, and bass in his tracks, and I’m hopeful the recent release of his dual single hints at more to come in the near future.
-SC
Radiant
If you’re a devout bass music geek you might’ve already heard of Radiant, perhaps thanks to one of our weekly FUXWITHITFRIDAYS playlists or in Rendah Mag’s premiere and cyphers. As for me, his name landed on my radar very recently thanks to his latest EP on Saturate, which was suggested to me by several fellow bassheads, from inside the FUXWITHIT’s team and beyond. Titled The Pursuit, this double-track EP is best described as a “smouldering, tenebrous eruption of wonky basslines, and doom bap drums” and acts as Radiant’s grandiose debut release in 2024. The Virginia Beach producer reintroduces his experimental bass sauce but in a more polished and refined technical guise compared to his previous releases. The thick and viscous layer of low frequencies in the title track and the mental synth in ‘Riser Theme‘ pour out of the headphones crystal clear, feeding our heads with pure bass music delight. I have had the pleasure of listening to some of his unreleased tracks and I can guarantee that this trend will carry on in the upcoming releases. Be sure to follow Radiant and keep an eye on his next moves!
-AA
Written by Alessio, Braden, Colin, John & Steph.
