1FFNG005 (Funky & Garage) sees the fifth genre cycle come to a close with a stellar line up turning some of 1Forty’s leading artists into collaborators whilst welcoming a couple of fresh faces. Sammy Virji teams up with Smokey Bubblin’ B for a track giving off pure sun soaked UKG vibes. Lyrical Strally and vocalist Dakota Sixx come together on a Higgo production whilst PZP and Tyrant bring the Funky to the EP to complete the Summer theme.

Premiered by Complex UK & Trench. Playlisted by Rinse FM w/c 21st September 2020.

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1FFNG005

Premiered by Complex UK on 17th September 2020: https://www.complex.com/music/2020/09/premiere-sammy-virji-smokey-bubblin-b-santorini

Since Sammy Virji and Smokey Bubblin’ B last appeared on the label in June and April 2019 respectively a hell of a lot has happened within the UK Garage scene. From simmering away in the underground the genre has had new life breathed into it with commercial hits such as AJ Tracy’s ‘Ladbroke Grove’ shining a bright light on the sound once again. Being branded as NUKG (New UK Garage) by Conducta his label Kiwi Records and reputation as an artist has also helped elevate this new era Garage sound to today’s younger generation of listeners. With both Sammy and Smokey appearing on Kiwi with their own EP’s they return to 1Forty for their highly anticipated collab as teased very recently by Conducta in his latest Kiwi Direkt mix, bringing a perfect soundtrack for a summer’s day.

Sammy Virji set one scene alight and helped forge another all in the space of three years and there’s no signs of slowing with an ever growing eclectic discography brimming with energy. Now firmly at the front of UKG and underground UK Bass music as a whole the Oxford born producer is leading the charge of ‘NUKG’ with Conducta and co, whilst still maintaining his relationships with the likes of Chip Butty Records/Rare Supply and 1Forty as well as forging new ones overseas with Barong Family. All of this along with a healthy list of self releases have propelled him into a monthly Rinse FM residency and enjoy consecutive sold out ’Like A Virjin’ tours which all fit into his extensive schedule. This has seen him takeover the countries most reputable venues such as Stealth, Hidden, Wire and participate in some of the countries biggest events at Printworks, NASS, Boomtown and across the pond in Europe at the highlight of every underground music lovers calendar - Outlook Festival. 2020 saw him working with DJ Zinc, DJ Q, Moksi and the Prince of UKG and fellow Kiwi - Conducta, before dropping his debut album Spice Up My Life’ which has been one of the most critically acclaimed albums in bass music in 2020 hailing praise from the likes of Skream, Chris Lorenzo and Mistajam to name a few.

Smokey Bubblin’ B has made himself one of the most renowned names in the UKG scene after the years of grafting away keeping the sound alive in the underground have come full circle, with the Garage sound now very much on the rise the South London born producer is reaping the rewards for his dedication. Smokey became one of the earliest recruits under Kiwi Records alongside Sammy to help the Prince Of Conducta take NUKG (New UK Garage) to the next level with his Better Run EP. In the last 12 months alone he has signed with Earth Agency and been awarded with a monthly Rinse residency too. Although the last 12 months have been integral to the growth of his reputation, his roots in the underground go much deeper than that with his discography more than holding its own, gaining regular support and friends over the years and from UK Garage day one’s such as DJ EZ, Hatcha, Matt Jam Lamont to name a few.

@SammyVirji
www.facebook.com/sammyvirji
www.instagram.com/sammyvirji
www.twitter.com/sammy_virji

@Smokey-Bubblin-B-992965020
www.facebook.com/smokeybubblinb
www.instagram.com/smokeybubblinb
www.twitter.com/smokeybubblinb

Sammy Virji x Smokey Bubblin B - Santorini

Premiered by Trench on 16th December 2020: https://trenchtrenchtrench.com/features/exclusive-lyrical-strally-and-dakota-sixx-jump-on-a-bouncy-higgo-riddim-for-clouds

'Clouds’ sees one of the most unlikely link ups to date on the label, but with the unexpected in music usually comes a rich vein of originality and this outcome is no different. Putting one of the labels most decorated Grime artists Lyrical Strally (YGG) alongside one of bass music’s best female vocalists Dakota Sixx is intriguing alone. Then adding not just a producer but technically gifted musician Higgo on the buttons and the end result leaves another sun soaked, yet much more soulful track with the piano lead, punchy metaphors and chorus wrapping up a culminating end product.

Lyrical Strally first featured on the label back in 2018 with ‘Grime Street’ as the lead track on 1FGRM003, a track that went on to be premiered by Complex UK, visuals that landed via SB:TV, and although it was released at the very end of the year before, was featured in Sir Spyro’s ‘Best Of Grime 2019’ on his 1Xtra show. Throughout 2019 the relationship between artists and label was ever present from the release as well as Travis being part of the 1Forty Takeover on BBC Radio 1 w/ Toddla T. Lyrical Strally went on to join the bill at the 1Forty Manchester Launch in March alongside fellow YGG members PK and DJ Travis T as well as an appearance on Marcus Nasty’s Rinse show that summer. Some six months later another beat from Jhuttz landed in the 1Forty mailbox with a sound of grime very much fitting for a YGG revival after two years since their last release ‘Strikers’ on Astral Black, paving the way for ‘Royals’.

Pairing up with Lyrical Strally on the vocal is female songwriter and vocalist Dakota Sixx who first began gaining popularity from her debut EP ‘Innocence’ which received support across BBC 1Xtra, Nest HQ & Mixmag. Since the success of her first project, Dakota has released music through labels such as 877 Records and Saucy with said releases gathering support from key tastemakers such as DJ Q & Jamz Supernova. After relocating to London from Birmingham almost five years ago she has performed at the likes of Fabric, recorded her most recent EP at world famous Abbey Road Studios and in 2019 became an ambassador for Converse where she featured on multiple campaigns. Dakota has also featured on tracks alongside Capo Lee and Star One.

The third and final name part of this collaboration is Higgo. Having taken the UK Garage and Bass scene by storm, blending UKG sensibilities with his passion for old school hip hop and the raw bass focused attributes of the current sound of UK underground music, Higgo has quickly seen his music pick up support from A-list names like Todd Edwards. In 2019 he was seen as one of the key players out of the names coming through in UKG as he was enlisted for Conducta’s Redbull Roadblock project around the UK. Furthering on from his debut 1Forty release ‘Soul 2 Soul’, his Wang Records releases as well as his own highly successful self releases have helped cement his status beyond an upcoming artist in 2020.

Lyrical Strally:
www.twitter.com/lyrical_strally
www.instagram.com/lyricalstrally

@DktaSixx
www.facebook.com/dktasixx
www.instagram.com/dktasixx
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@HiggoUK
www.facebook.com/higgouk
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www.twitter.com/higgouk

Lyrical Strally x Dakota Sixx - Clouds (Prod. Higgo)

The first of two new enlisted artists for this EP comes in the form of PZP. The 24 year old based in Manchester has been promoting and DJing since 2014, some of whom may remember the Deep Fried brand at it’s infamous home Antwerp Mansion before its closure having welcomed the likes of Crucast favourites Notion, Darkzy & TS7 on their come ups as well as partnering up with one of the UK’s biggest promoters Worried About Henry on a number of occasions. This led him to becoming one of the hottest resident prospects in Manchester heating up the dance for the likes of Holy Goof, Flava D, DJ Q, Skepsis, Chris Lorenzo, Conducta & loads more at venues all over the city including The Warehouse Project & Manchester Academy.

Taking up producing in 2016 PZP’s focus has veered towards himself as an artist over the last couple of years and with his strong connection already established with Crucast after playing their stage at Outlook in 2018 and various takeovers around Manchester he released with the front runners of Bassline twice in 2019. Since then he has enjoyed making a multitude of UK Funky and UKG delivering his debut EP earlier this year on Strictly House & Garage setting him up to deliver his first official UK Funky release ‘Undergrowth’.

@PZP96
www.instagram.com/pzp_uk
www.twitter.com/pzpukg

PZP - Undergrowth

The second newly enlisted name for this EP is Tyrant out of East London. Having started out DJing at 14 before moving to Leicester for university at 18 he soon got himself on the local circuit which led to a monthly residency on Mode FM just before moving to Bristol in 2014 where things started to get a bit more serious. Playing regularly at the likes of Lakota and Blue Mountain supporting the likes of Spooky, Woz, Cartier, OM Unit and even 1Forty’s very own Killjoy. It was at this time when Tyrant also got his hands on his first MacBook, downloaded Logic and has been consistently producing since.

2017 was Tyrants first stand out year as an artist with his first official label release via Low Pitched Records whilst in the same year reaching the pinnacle for any Bristol based artist - playing Motion’s Main Room. 2019 saw Redbull & Creamfields pick up ‘Ghoster’ for the Creamfields Aftermovie and his follow up release on Low Pitched Records with ‘Coach Clarter’ being his most successful release to date amassing support across BBC Radio 1, Rinse FM, Reprezent and Kiss, a track that's still doing the rounds in 2020. The Mode FM resident also maintained appearances at Bristol venues including opening for Spyro & D Double E at Motion again in January this year before COVID-19 hit thus allowing to spend more time on producing. Yet more blistering sunny energy is unleashed on ‘Piffment’ so we couldn't of been happier when it landed in the 1Forty mailbox a couple of months later and thus being signed to 1FFNG005.

@TyrantSounds
www.instagram.com/tyrant_dj
www.twitter.com/tyrant_dj

Tyrant - Piffment

"1Forty have made quite a name for themselves with their genre-themed compilation EPs." - Complex UK

"I find it quite hard to find a lot of modern Grime with that weight it originated with, and its similar with the Funky but 1Forty seem to be finding these records and putting them out, keeping that flame alive." - Toddla T (BBC Radio 1)

Founded by @LOCKT1Forty

Enquiries/Submissions: hello@1fortyproject.com

1Forty captures the authenticity of the UK's best underground genres, by showcasing established and upcoming talent, whilst engineering its own sound and identity through the music we release and showcase. Grime, Bass, Garage & UK Funky.

On the 21st October 2016 1Forty launched at one of the biggest nightclub brands in the country.. Mint, Leeds. Welcoming @CausenAffect, @ChampionDJ & @SkepsisProducer. Since then the label has welcomed the likes of @TheDJOneman, @SpookyBizzle @NotionDJ @HolyGoof_UK @DJSlimzee @Killa-P-Music @Preditah @SwiftaBeater @SammyVirji @NuBassOfficial @TheCocoUK @Snow667 @JokerKapsize @DJSharda @YGG @SicariaSound @DJSirSpyro + more.

Since the launch of the Record Label (June 2017) and introducing its cycle of Genre Release compilations 1Forty has received coverage across publications including Red Bull, Complex UK, Mixmag, SB.TV, GRM Daily, DJ Mag & Trench Mag, major support on radio across BBC Radio 1 (inc. 1Forty Takeover w/ Toddla T), 1Xtra, Rinse FM, Beats 1, Radar Radio & Reprezent, and TV usage across Sky One, Sky Sports, BT Sport & BBC Three.