Degs’ latest release on Hospital Records sees a series of brand new interpretations of tracks from his debut album ‘Letters From Ndegwa’. Featuring six fresh remixes, adaptations and stripped back editions, ‘Versions From Ndegwa’ breathes a new lease of life into the original classics including renditions from Bladerunner, AC13, Winslow, T.R.A.C & Karina Ramage and Degs’ collaborative neo-soul project with his brother - Kikuyu Soul.
Bladerunner offers his weighty interpretation of ‘Sleepless’ (feat. Pola & Bryson) to get things underway. No stranger to laying down a killer remix, ethereal arpeggios float above the original three-note melody which paves the way for a sinister bassline and rolling drums. Young gun AC13 steps up next with his take on ‘The Roots’ originally produced by jungle long-timer Missing. Rumbling reeses and the soothing harmonies of Degs’ vocals set the track up before splashy amens and a classic liquid-style wobble bass take the lead.
Slowing things right down, it’s a family affair on the Kikuyu Soul version of ‘Levitate Your Mind’ as Degs and his brother MURIUKI team up to deliver a downtempo edition of the drum & bass original produced by Unglued, a real moment from the album already surpassing 1 million streams worldwide. Silky smooth keys, solemn strings and a hip-hop style beat lay the foundations for Degs to continue to spread his message of love and positivity.
‘Colour My Soul’ also gets the Kikuyu Soul treatment, as well as an official remix from US-based rising star Winslow. For those who have got their ear to the ground, it’s no secret that Winslow has been making serious moves. His version of ‘Colour My Soul (feat. Logistics)’ infuses airy atmospherics which complement the uplifting vocal melodies of Degs, with the UK meeting the USA on this stunner of a remix.
Following on from his Head Trip Sprayout project back in May, that encouraged MCs and vocalists from the drum & bass community and beyond to record themselves performing over Degs’ ‘Head Trip’ (feat. Phil:osophy), two entries came to fruition on an official release on Hospital Records. Legendary American MC T.R.A.C’s verse and the vocals of Karina Ramage see their sprayouts combined on this special version of the track!
Since signing with Hospital Records back in 2018, Degs’ meteoric rise up the ranks has seen him make serious waves. From curating guest mixes for the likes of Charlie Tee and Andi Durrant on Kiss Fresh to launching his very own Degscast series, it’s been nothing but success for Degs since previous hits such as ‘Poveglia’ and his ‘Mixtape Sprayout’, quickly establishing him as one of the most versatile singer/songwriter, MC, and vocalist in drum & bass.