Monday Mix #69: Mumdance b2b Leon Vynehall
Radio Mumdance - S3 - E13 - MD B2B Leon Vynehall - 24 May 2023
I hope everyone has had a wonderful July 4th weekend so far. To end it with a bang, I give you our 69th episode of our MM series.
This week I’m doing something a little different from our typical programming. I’ve decided to up the ante and feature 2 artists through a b2b radio mix. This mix aired on Radio Mumdance a little over a month ago. It features the host, Mumdance, and his guest, Leon Vynehall. Leon is someone I’ve had my eye on featuring for quite some time. To date, he still has one of my favorite tracks, Sugar Slip (The Lick). Oof, what a banger.
As an aside:
Just typing the song out here inspired me to give it another listen. As I was playing it on Spotify, I noticed the song was different. He must have removed the original version and replaced it. The new version keeps the sexy vocals and euphoric synth chords but plugs in an electro-forward bassline backed by 2-step drums. The new version is a banger outright but I still had an itch for the OG. I found the original on YouTube, see here. Not entirely sure why he swapped it on Spotify. My assumption is that it had copyright issues since a lot of the locals are paired down in the new version.
1photo source
Okay, let's get back to Mr. Vynehall. Like many of our featured artists, Leon Vynehall is British. He started his journey as a resident DJ at the Brighton club called Akaaroar, where he released his initial EPs and began garnering attention. His breakthrough came in 2014 with the release of the EP titled 'Music for the Uninvited.' In 2018, he signed with the esteemed label Ninja Tune and unveiled his first album, 'Nothing is Still.' If you're in need of some early morning vibes, I highly recommend giving it a listen. I personally discovered his work in early 2021 after the release of his second full-length album, 'Rare, Forever.' The album captivated me with its unique blend of emotive melodies, experimental beats, and, of course, sexy vocals – always sexy vocals. While Leon is best known for his deep house sound, he also has a fondness for wubs, which becomes evident in this week's featured b2b mix. Wubs and sexy vocal ASMR? Right up YNC's alley.
Now for Mumdance (Jack Adams). I had the pleasure of discovering Mumdance through this featured mix, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by his refreshing perspective on electronic music, DJing, and genre. Mumdance's journey in music has been marked by a deep passion for hardcore, drum & bass, and grime. His DJ sets showcase a fusion of drum & bass, grime, techno, and ambient, where tempos are allowed to roam freely and mood takes precedence. I liken his style to last week’s featured artist, DJ Spit. As the founder of Radio Mumdance, he has featured renowned artists such as Ben UFO, Nina Kraviz, and DJ Stingray. The Stingray b2b is extra spicy and I would highly recommend. Adams explains that he intentionally chooses accomplished DJ specialists to challenge himself, likening it to an "assault course" that ultimately improves his DJing abilities and boosts his self-esteem.2 He discovered that the imperfections and mistakes on radio were actually appreciated by listeners, as they enjoyed the authenticity and spontaneity of live shows, which is why he favored back-to-back sets over guest mixes. This dynamic format allowed for a unique and exciting experience, and is why I enjoyed his mix with Leon Vynehall so much.
3photo source
This week’s radio mix is a true back 2 back with Mumdance & Leon evenly trading songs 1 for 1. As a practicing DJ, going song for song with someone is something that poses definite challenges but often results in a beautifully unique product. Both DJs need to be in a similar headspace, as you are reliant on your partner to build on the grove that you laid down in the previous song. It also keeps you on your toes, as you are at the mercy of your partner who can change the tempo, genre, or length of the song on a dime. For example, Mumdance throws Leon a “proper hospital pass” at around 1:06:00 of the mix when he plays a shorter song and leaves Leon only a minute to bring in his next track. Leon answers the challenge and smoothly transitions into another whomper. This part of the mix really highlighted the charm of the set and Mumdance’s formula for creating authentic music. The selection by both DJs was also a huge selling point for me. I didn’t know a single song played but enjoyed them all. Without the tracklist, I was constantly trying to shazam the tracks when Mumdance didn’t provide the ID. We also are blessed with some great UK lingo in this mix. With Adams and Leon peppering in some proper British slang. I will definitely be referring to spinbacks as “the pulley” from now on. With all that said, grab yourself a cuppa and settle in for some chonks.
Ideal for: When you want some chonks without any donks
Track of the Mix: Ice Plates x DJ Motu @ 56:00
Track List: Not Available :( - MD IDs quite a few tho
If You Like: DJ Spit, Kincaid, Doctor Jeep
Tags: All Chonks - No Donks
“Stop smashing your head against the keyboard when you wanna name your bounces”
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2741299-Leon-Vynehall
https://djmag.com/longreads/mumdance-pieces-puzzle
https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/mumdance-studio-secrets
It's the OG sugar lick for me.