4. Still Hope (Waajeed’s Searching Dub)

Secretsundaze one of London’s most well known and best loved DJ duos have consistently followed their hearts not the hype. Their party of the same name is still standing tall after 16 years and as DJs they have played many of the best clubs worldwide. It’s only in the last year that they have made it into the studio together having both produced previously separately. Giles as Two Armadillos with the much missed Martin Dawson and James alongside both Marco Antonio Spaventi and Dan Berkson. ‘Still Hope’ is their second single and the follow up to ‘Motorway Jam’ (their double A side with Palms Trax from late last year) which sees them collaborate with Anthony Anaxagorou, a British born Cypriot award winning poet and essayist, whose poetry and fiction have appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC4, ITV and Vice. Hearing his lyrics via their good friend Simbad, Secretsundaze connected with Anthony and ‘Still Hope’ is the fruit of their labour. The original is a potent and political spoken word piece delivered over a rolling house groove. Definitely one for the deeper moments with its late night heady feel and full vocal not letting up. The ‘Poems in the Heart’ floor version strips the vocal back and adds dramatic strings for a more direct dance floor approach. Ex Slum Village Detroit producer Waajeed released a couple of killer EPs in 2017 on his own Dirt Tech Rock imprint so we had to get him aboard for the remix. His ‘Detroit Hardcore Dub’ does what is says on the tin and is a peak time slammer while his ‘Searching Dub’ goes down a jazzier, spacey route with live sounding drums and dreamy pads. “We’re very happy to be releasing our debut EP on Phonica Records, a store and label close to our hearts, having shopped there since day one and James also working behind the counter in the earlier days. We’ll let Anthony’s words do the talking but suffice to say, it’s been a great experience and opportunity working with him and we’re happy to be able to use our music as a platform to spread some positivity with the world, especially in it’s current sorry state of affairs. There’s Still Hope!” Secretsundaze