We’re celebrating the legendary imprint Night Slugs’ 15th anniversary on our mix series! Founded by Alex Sushon (Bok Bok) and James Connolly (L-Vis 1990), Night Slugs was initially launched as a club night series after Alex and James met on Myspace in 2008, expanding into a record label in 2010. From then, Night Slugs quickly became one of the distinctive dance music labels of the 2010s as they pushed a hybrid of grime, house, electro, R&B, hip hop and dubstep. With a lasting influence across the globe to this day, the label released career defining releases from the likes of Jam City, Girl Unit, Mosca, Jacques Greene, Lil Silva and more. To celebrate their 15th anniversary, Night Slugs have pulled together the ‘Classic Remixed’ compilation which fuses the label’s past, present and future with artists taking on remixes of the label’s classics. These remixers include Night Slugs family Ikonika, Helix, CalvoMusic & OSSX, as well as many of the labels peers and next-gen favourites including Grandmixxer, Bored Lord, MoMa Ready, Hagan, Karen Nyame KG, River Moon, DJ Polo & NKC, DJ Lag, scotti dee and more.
The third mix in the takeover is from London-based artist Ikonika who’s a long-term collaborator of Night Slugs, first appearing on the label in 2010 with a remix for Egyptrixx’s ‘The Only Way Up’ EP. It wasn’t until earlier this year that Ikonika made her full release debut on Night Slugs with the 6-tracker ‘Supernova’ in collaboration with vocalist 45DiBoss and is also featured on the recent ‘Night Slugs Classix Remixed’ compilation with a remix of Hysteric’s ‘Empty’. Alongside this, Ikonika is one of Hyperdub’s staple artists, releasing on the label for over 10 years including three well-esteemed albums. Whilst having a distinctive style Ikonika’s productions are never tied to one genre – ever-evolving, constantly exciting. Late last year, Ikonika released the ‘Bubble Up’ EP which was a new direction for the innovative producer, showcasing a more confident and poppy style with her low key vocals featured on three of the tracks. Debuting the Bubble Up live show at Panorama Bar, Ikonika has since performed live at Dekmantel Festival, ICA and Sónar. Her upcoming dates include a performance at the Southbank Centre as part of Nicholas Daley’s Concrete Lates takeover and continuing the Night Slugs celebration at Parallel in Amsterdam.
Speaking about the contribution to the Night Slugs’ mix takeover, Ikonika says, “the selection for this mix dynamically goes in a bit deeper, darker, and noisy, especially towards the end. It has vulnerable tendencies. It’s one (I hope) you can zone out too.”
‘Night Slugs Classix Remixed’ by Various Artists is out now via Night Slugs – buy here.
Tracklist:
Dj Jok3r – Error
Mr. Msolo, Pcee & Daliwonga – Unruly Piano
JLSXND7RS x Ikonika – ???
Ikonika – Details
DJ Fisherman – Acid
Mariah Carey – My All (Ikonika Remix)
Kelela – Turn To Dust (Surreal Sessions Bootleg)
Ikonika – Make It Better (Dub)
JLSXND7RS – Cyber Lin Keu
OKZHARP & OMAGOQA – Speeding
Bun Xapa – Jump!
SpacePose – Nyakazisa
HYSTERICS – code switch (Ikonika Remix)
Natoxie Ft 113 – Back It Up (Gros Bonda Riddim)
Wired Faulty x Ronnie Loko – Commando Riddim (Loko Edit)
NV Funk – For Silindo
Shimza – Congo Congo
Di’jital Blak – Lawn Mower Man
Markus Mann – Perishable Movements
SHE Spells Doom – Soaked
Leonce – Gatherer
Batu – In Tongues
Badista – VEM PRA ZONA LESTE (DJ Marfox 3 de la mañana remix)
Brandy – ANGEL 91 (Akash EDIT)