Overwhelmed by Anushka

Prior to the full vinyl release of their Ancestry album on BBE Music, duo Anushka will be dropping three digital singles including remixes. The first of these will be Overwhelmed with the album version backed up by an impressive remix from Bristol legend DJ Die.

The album version starts with a soulful mournful piano and drums that start submerged on the horizon before filtering up to breach the surface. In creating the beat Max got “Tugg”, drummer with Basement Jaxx, to recreate one of his all-time favourite drum breaks. He was planning to make a tribute to Mo Wax era trip hop but as soon as he added the chords it turned into something totally different. The beat, the brooding synths, the ruminative jazz touched torch song vocals with additional saxophone and wistful flutes from long term collaborator “Dutch” crescendo into a collage of contrasted soulful feelings.

Victoria’s lyrics reflect the period of time after her son was born. “The juxtaposition of joy and sadness, and trying to navigate these conflicting emotions is what brought this song to life. I feel like it’s something that we can all relate to. I suppose they are two sides of the same coin and something we have to learn to embrace. I felt pretty vulnerable talking about something as personal and I suppose somewhat misunderstood as postpartum depression, but I feel it’s one of the most important songs I’ve ever written. I hope it encourages people to talk about this shit more.” This feeling of being caught between contradictory emotions is something often experienced in a modern world that demands so much of us all.

DJ Die is the iconic Bristol drum and bass producer who was part of the Mercury and Mobo prize winning Roni Size’s Reprazent, putting out records on Talkin Loud as well as under his own name on Full Cycle and V recordings and more recently on his own label, Gutter Funk. DJ Die has also played a massive part in other projects in collaboration with Addison Groove, with producer Dismantle as Diemantle and with Dismantle again alongside the late, great, legendary, foundational DJ Randall (RIP) as Watch the Ride. With this pedigree it is no surprise that the already brilliant Jazz flavoured Overwhelmed gets an extra DnB kick in Die's exquisite remix.

Victoria Port's vocal performance is front and centre in both versions of Overwhelmed and she and Max Wheeler's songwriting and arrangement is a solid foundation for the treatment the track receives from DJ Die; still a Jazz flavoured piece now coupled with a tougher bassline and a couple of wicked drops on the way. Two versions of one great track and ready for headphones, dancefloors and lovers of great, contemporary music.

Exploding onto the UK’s effervescent dance music underground is Anushka – a Brighton based duo made up of producer Max Wheeler and singer/songwriter Victoria Port. Described as 'Vocal bass music from the future'.

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