Renegade Riddims: Liaison

Music courses through Liaison‘s veins, a passion deeply ingrained in his DNA. Growing up in the modest, working-class town of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, he shared a household with a family that had an unwavering love for music. While his grandfather was not only a singer but also the owner of a local karaoke company, he often tinkered away in his workshop, repairing vintage jukebox machines. It was Liaison’s brother, however, who introduced him to the electrifying sounds of DnB, garage, dubstep, and jungle. With his ear pressed against the bedroom door, he absorbed the pulsating rhythms that emanated from his brother’s speakers. The high-energy tracks of DnB luminaries like High Contrast, the Brookes Brothers, and SHY FX, as well as global dance icons like Pendulum and Sub Focus, captivated him. It didn’t take long for the young teenager to realize that his true calling lay in music.

At the tender age of 14, while seated in his father’s work van, Liaison experienced a pivotal moment that sparked his desire to become a DJ. It was the early 2000s, and Armand Van Helden was dominating the dance and club scene with his hit track ‘My My My.’ The infectious up-tempo vibe, polished production, and filtered effects resonated deeply with Liaison as it played on the radio. Silently, he declared to himself, “I want to learn how to be a DJ”. That declaration ignited a lifelong passion. During school lunch breaks, he would sneak into the music department, craving the thrill of music. His supportive father eventually bought him his first set of decks, and when one of his teachers offered him the opportunity to teach his DJing skills to fellow students, his journey as a mobile DJ commenced at just 15 years old. After honing his craft from an exceptionally young age and performing in bars, clubs, and stages both locally and globally, Liaison has reached the latest chapter in his musical career.

Regarded as one of the most promising talents in the DnB scene, Liaison launched his live career with a captivating performance supporting LUUDE at The Arch in Brighton this year, captivating a lively audience. Throughout the set, he showcased previously unreleased edits that he had produced himself. Yet, the highlight of the evening was the unveiling of his latest single, ‘Love Will Take You Higher’ – a sun-soaked anthem radiating positivity and unadulterated joy (grab it here). Describing the creative process, Liaison remarked, “This track practically created itself”. The soulful sample melody takes center stage, accompanied by catchy hooks, uplifting chord progressions, and a euphoric choir. The song beckons people to dance and embrace the moment. It stands in stark contrast to the darker tracks prevalent in the current DnB scene. Instead of delving into introspection, ‘Love Will Take You Higher’ offers listeners a transcendent experience, harking back to the genre’s roots of optimism and infusing sunshine into the summer season.

This track is set for release on the Warning UK record label in collaboration with RCA Records. Warning UK, a pioneering force in the Drum & Bass Scene for over 28 years, has organized numerous events across the UK and championed emerging talent in the scene, including Liaison. With no plans to slow down, Liaison already describes his upcoming material as “the best he’s ever produced”. Additionally, expect to find new edits, remixes, and bootleg cuts on his SoundCloud in the coming year. As for aspirations, nothing can deter Liaison from his dream of performing at some of the UK’s largest dance festivals, such as Creamfields, and taking his music to international stages.

Liaison has curated a phenomenal mix for our Renegade Riddims series! It features music from the likes of himself, 1991, Basstripper, Phibes, Hoax, Document One, Domintor, Bou and loads more!

Check out the mix below and download it for free here!

Q&A:

Sum up this mix in 10 words…

A swirling journey of pure bangers from start to finish

What’s your personal favourite track on it?

Basstripper – Milky Way

What’s the special ingredient in this mix?

That there are no fillers, Just absolute stompers that I’m rating right now!

Tell us about your next EP?

It’s coming and it’s more fire, That’s all I can say right now

What have you got coming up? 

Been working on tonnes more music ready to release and a few exciting DJ gigs coming up.

When was the last time you actually raved?

I hardly ever go raving as a consumer as I’m in the studio so much, I also don’t really know what to do with myself when I’m not behind the decks.

And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?

Enjoy the mix as much as I enjoyed making it, I’m all about sharing new music so hopefully someone hears a new favourite for the first time! I’ve also shoved a few VIPS of my own in there!

TRACKLIST:

Roger Sanchez – Another Chance (Liaison VIP)
Hoax – Promise Me
Profit – Missing U
ID – ID
Hoax – Nebula
1991 – Full Send
D.O.D Ft. Carla Monroe – Still Sleepless (Ekko & Sidetrack Remix)
Liaison – Love Will Take You Higher
Robin S – Show Me Love (Blame Remix)
Kid Cudi – Day N Nite (Phibes Remix)
Biscits – Your Body (Kara Bootleg)
Spice – So Mi Like It (Burt Cope Bootleg)
Liaison – The Purge
Kanine – The Shadows
Hoax – Error Code
Basstripper – Wasted
Lens, Javeon, Pola & Bryson, Goddard – Way Up
Redlight – 9TS (Disrupta Bootleg)
Vibe Chemistry – Loca
Bou – All U Gotta Do
Basstripper – Milky Way
Phibes – Bassdrop
Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc. (Mista Trick & Fizzy Gillespie Remix)
Basstripper – Ricochet
Document one – Cheap Shot
Hoax – Crowd Control
Dominator – Bomb Squad
Liaison – ID