We round off 2021 with the third & final instalment of our ‘Tonics’ series, a new initiative set to find and support rising drum & bass talent to bubble up to the surface. This last hurrah paints a decidedly international end to the triptych, featuring music from artists in Russia, Austria, Greece and Hungary alongside some British producers alike. Opening the floodgates for a new generation of d&b talent, we proudly present ‘Tonics: Batch 3’ which lands in all good stores on Friday the 10th of December.

After first featuring on our ‘Soul Music 2020’ LP last year, Austrian producer Screamarts returns, providing a weighty opener with ‘Hide and Seek’. The intro sees a droning synth quickly paired with an ominous bassline, which is flanked by beefy drums. Further showcasing his ability to combine heinous synth patches with imaginative structuring, the initial drop provides somewhat of a false summit, which is quickly followed by euphoric female vocals, unbridled bass and a satisfyingly cheeky cowbell.

Hungarian-based producer Nort marks his Soulvent debut with ‘Behind’ - a vocal-driven, wistful roller with a measured structure. The intro shows off high-octane splashes of amen and swathes of bass, while the drop is a slightly tamer affair with muted bass tones and a clicking-groove. The rolling beats of the drop are accompanied by reversed sweeps, cavernous chimes and guttural bass which are sure to make a splash at your next social function.

Bournemouth badboy Vektah shows off his interpretation of Motiv’s ‘Crave’, which the keen-eyed amongst you will recognise from the first ‘Tonics’ EP back in May this year. A delightful jungle reimagining, the bubbling effervescence of the original blends beautifully with playful drum work and wheel-up worthy womps of bass on offer.

Newcomers Skoel & Lök represent for Russia with the frenetic ‘Fractal’ which continues the darker theme present across the EP. Haunting vocals usher in a filtered break, a pulsing arpeggio and all manner of debauching bass tones. Make no mistake, these syncopated rhythms and gritty sonics are set to charge up dances from the Kremlin to Kilburn!

English producers Jolliffe & Natural Forces have teamed up for the seasonally titled ‘Winter Sails’. This murky, driving roller blends all manner of screwface-inducing elements. Warped, eerie vocals, dissonant pads and fleeting, twinkling synths gel to create a track that we can see damaging dimly-lit dancefloors come December.

Finally, Requiem puts Greece on the map with the quirkily titled ‘Saturn On The Left’ which provides a more laid-back, softer edge to the EP and rounds out the release. The gradual intro combines drawn-out pads and melodic tones, which blend seamlessly with techy drum breaks, pulsating arpeggio and growling bass. This astronomical closing track provides just the right blend of musicality and energy to see the ‘Tonics’ series out in true style.

Join us for the last orders of the Tonics series as we serve up the most well-travelled offering of the trio, ‘Tonics: Batch 3’, landing in all good stores on Friday the 10th of December.