For better or worse, everyone who’s been in D&B for a while knows that the climate has changed monumentally since its inception. Even in the past five or ten years, what punters like and what artists like to make has become wildly different than earlier days (seriously; have a listen to what jump up sounded like in 2012). Generally change is good, as it signifies growth, but quite often things can be lost or lose their power over time. One of those things that seems to be fading in the last few years seems to be the big tune. Not just a party anthem that does well on stage, but a heavy, grinding shouter that no one within earshot can ignore. Big for the sake of big. Big enough to stand the test of time. ‘Dead Limit’, ‘Mr. Happy’ and, most recently, ‘Badadan’ big. There used to be loads every year, driving the madness at any party where they might be presented. Where have they all gone?
Thankfully, OG producers like DJ Rap and General Levy are still in the business of making big tunes their business. These trailblazers got together in December of 2023 to knock out ‘Life of the Party’, a really fucking big tune that closed down the first full rave year post-COVID with the bang it deserved. Charting for multiple weeks and with a just-as-big corresponding video shot at XOYO, this love letter to London and rave was full of big, bad bass sounds and Levy’s big, booming iconic voice. What could be better? Only four big remixes nine months later, of course.
As an artist who loves to collab and remix her work, one could have expected that ‘Life of the Party’ would have seen a bit of a jumble, but this remix EP is unexpected in just how big said remixes are. Rap herself did a big, juicy jungle remix whilst Glitch City popped off a poppy jump up big’un. The legendary Kleu flexed his big hard/tech muscles on a loud neuro-tinged remix and Konetix splashed out on a big, cinematic and glitchy mix. All big and all ready to take their place in the pantheon of big tunes.
The earmark of a big tune is that it can fit anywhere and immediately bring the vibes. Whilst the original of ‘Life of the Party’ is more than capable of making any raver anywhere lose their mind, these big remixes stand up just as well, so now there are five big tunes out of one. The ‘Life of the Party’ keeps on living.
Life of the Party Remixes EP is out now on DJ Rap’s Propa Talent imprint and can be streamed on Spotify or purchased on Beatport.
(‘big’ count for those wondering: 28)