the 212 scene from Bling Ring

Catfish (the reprise)

Men I Trust - Air (A-99 Edit)

01 - TurninItUp

Alicia Keys is one of the undisputed queens of contemporary R&B. Powerful vocals, earnest lyrics and a deep self-awareness are the main pillars that have held up her career. But what happens when you fuse ballads with basslines? For this vinyl-only co-release on Bristol imprints Eminent and Slippery Sounds, Knoxville’s Nikki Nair stands at the intersection between new and old and redefines exactly how to nail the bootleg edit.


‘If I Ain't Got You’ is a precise flurry of two-step garage and nostalgic vocals, Alicia’s lilting voice still recognisable despite the dancefloor environment. A glossy rhythm breathes life into the old classic so that it becomes a new entity, which somehow welds together the murky rave realm with the weightlessness of Summer. It’s rare for tracks to suit any given setting, but this one might just be a strong contender.

‘Show Me Love’ takes a more starry-eyed course, weaving dewy textures into a fresh whimsical appeal. There’s still a subtle nod to the past despite the more recent Alicia/Miguel sample, which comes in the form of the 2010’s grime era melodies and nostalgic soundscapes. The breakdown around the halfway mark is a particular treat; it hoists up the vocals in reverence before the first of two ice-cold, dubby drops.

They say that if you’re paying homage to one of the greats, you’ve got to do it right. But Nikki Nair goes above and beyond that into a captivating alternate reality where the rush the second time round is just as good. These bootlegs are instant classics in themselves.

Premiere | Nikki Nair | Show Me Love | [Eminent x Slippery Sounds]

FREE DOWNLOAD

I WANNA BE DOWN

Clip of a new track from myself and @nuvaman forthcoming on @circular-jaw

Yak & Nuvaman - Last Known Location [CJAW003: Yak]

"When I had no money I still had sauce. If you ain't got no sauce man, you're lost. But you can also get lost in the sauce." - Gucci Mane

PTMC - The Morning After The Night Before

Positif

Get Busy (Edit) [NERDI007]

Originally released in 2008 on Remerge Records.
Limited to 300 copies. Mastered at Heathmans, UK.

Janet Is Liquid

remerge