Antonio – Hyperfunk (Bklava Remix)
(Locked On)
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF GARAGE HISTORY AND CHAMPIONING NEWCOMERS OF THE SCENE, ICONIC UKG LABEL LOCKED ON ENLIST RISING STAR BKLAVA TO REMIX ANTONIO’S 2-STEP CLASSIC, ‘HYPERFUNK’
OUT TODAY ON LOCKED ON RECORDS
Arguably the UK’s most iconic UK Garage label, today [8th September] Locked On Records mark their forward-thinking reboot with Hyperfunk Remix EP, as they celebrate 25 years in the game this year. Off the back of her recent smash EP Autonomy, out this summer on Ministry of Sound, Locked On have enlisted adored UKG newcomer Bklava to reimagine Antonio’s classic bomb ‘Hyperfunk’. The Brighton-based DJ/producer and vocalist pours her heart and soul into a fresh remix, fusing the addictive, playful energy of 90’s garage with the effervescent and colourful spirit of the new wave of the genre – the iconic track takes on new life as Bklava’s sugar-sweet vocals are layered over a 2-step beat. Dropping via digital and up for pre-order on vinyl, alongside a covetable new merch line, this offering marks the start of a new chapter for Locked On – celebrating the UK’s historic dance music movements, and the emerging talent bringing fresh life to old-skool sounds.
The EP also drops with a previously unheard mix from legendary producer, Steve Gurley (2Step2Heaven) – a pioneer in the 2-Step sound and key player in the scene, known for a plethora of addictive 2-step tracks including ‘Walk on By’, ‘Red Alert’ Steve Gurley Mix, ‘Just Cant Wait’, ‘Affection’ and more. A member of rave crew, Foul Play he was also responsible for a huge number of classics such as Omni Trio’s ‘Renegade Snares (Foul Play Remix)’ and Lee John’s club anthem ‘Mind, Body and Soul’. In late 2000’s, Steve Gurley briefly reappeared, releasing ‘Roll’, a collab with Zed Bias on Keysound Recordings. Gurley, despite having a defining influence on UK two-step garage and as a result, dubstep, has gone quiet in recent years, and this is his first release after another long hiatus.
On the remix, Bklava says,
“I was thrilled to have been asked to remix an absolute classic from Locked On. When I first got into garage and was learning how to dj, this is one of the first tracks I played and practised with. The original is a timeless banger and still gets played today so I wanted to keep elements of the original in the remix and keep it familiar but also put my own spin on it. Excited for you all to hear this one!”
Founded in 1996 in the Pure Groove Record Shop Stock Room, the label is home to the most pioneering sounds from the early days of UKG, 2-step, grime, and beyond. Known and revered for signing tracks based on hype and foresight, Locked On often took rare and hard to find underground cuts from white label to the UK chart and was home for releases that hugely impacted UK culture including The Streets – Original Pirate Material, Somore ‘I Refuse’, Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson ‘You’re Movin’ Too Fast’, Dem 2 ‘Destiny’, Zed Bias ‘Neighbourhood’, Wideboys ‘Sambuca’, Monsta Boy ‘Sorry’ and many more. 25 years on, the time has come to rewind a timeless collection of soon-to-be reissued classic cuts – where better to start than with the track that changed the game in 2-step? Antonio’s ‘Hyperfunk’.
Speaking on the reboot, Locked On says:
“We are big fans of Bklava at Locked On and have been following her rise into becoming on of the most exciting garage artists around. We love her contemporary take on UK Garage, and Bklava’s collaboration with this Locked On classic ‘Hyperfunk’ is a perfect match for a 2021 Garage Record. A legendary record with a twist of the new, this remix is the type of track that solidifies UK Garage place in new music and Locked On as the most notable UK Garage label.“
An astonishingly talented DJ/producer/vocalist, Brighton-based rising star Bklava is cementing her space in the burgeoning new wave of UK artists, with shimmering productions and live PA/DJ set incorporating her own powerful vocals. A Rinse FM resident since 2019 she made waves with her debut EP Bklava last year and the recent Autonomy EP – a flurry of UKG, 2-step and house, lyrically covering issues around her personal experiences, brimming with bouncing basslines and her own distinctive vocals.
Tipped as One to Watch for 2021 by Amazon Music alongside artists including Pa Salieu and Bree Runway, as well as by BBC Radio 1’s Danny Howard in his Future Fire 2021, Bklava has also been recently announced as a resident for Warehouse Project 2021 alongside India Jordan, Effy and more. With dextrously mixed selections of garage, house, acid breaks and more, her sound is also informed by her Lebanese heritage – note vibrant percussion and Arabic sounds. Passionate about mental health and women rights, she also co-founded and runs the Spin Suga collective – aimed at removing barriers to female, trans and non-binary DJs/artists. Having found fans in BBC R1, Mixmag, Notion, Clash, Wonderland, Gurls Talk, Gal-Dem, Notion Magazine and many more, Bklava is an
