Returning from a dynamic US/CA tour earlier this month, UK’s esteemed DJ-producer NOTION drops his ‘FORWARDS’ mixtape, a reflection of his artistic evolution and a bold step in his musical journey. Teased throughout 2024 with an array of singles and collaborations, the highly awaited Bristol-based producer’s full mixtape spans a spectrum of garage, house, breaks, jungle, and beyond. ‘FORWARDS’ breadth and versatility follow the triumphant ‘OUTSIDER’ of 2022, showcasing NOTION’s artistic growth and ingenuity.
Marking a new chapter, ‘FORWARDS’ is a deeply personal project. Rejecting the fleeting nature of modern-day consumption, NOTION crafted the mixtape to prioritize art over the algorithm. “I hate the way all art seems to get reduced down to 15 second clips now,” he declares. “The songs on this project, all the music videos and everything else are kind of a fuck you to all that disposable culture and I hope something that still sound (and look) as good in five years as they do now”
Featuring singles like ‘FEEL LIKE ME’, ‘TEMPORARY FRIENDS’ with Charlotte Plank, ‘BACKBONE’ with Olivia Rose, ‘TV DREAMS’, ‘GRAVITY’, and ‘THINK ABOUT U’, the mixtape also introduces fresh club cuts like ‘STYLING’, ‘SECRETS’, and ‘LITTLE STEPS’. It embodies NOTION’s essence, presenting a mixtape rooted in club music but bearing a unique personal touch. It’s equally suited for a late-night motor journey as it is for the early hours of a teeming dance floor.
‘FORWARDS’ has garnered accolades from notable industry figures such as Sammy Virji, Conducta, salute, Disclosure, Ewan McVicar, Ben UFO, and Floating Points. With millions of streams to his credit, NOTION continues shaping his sound. His viral hit ‘Found Love’ achieved Silver Certification with over 43 million streams, while this year’s collaborative single ‘Was It Enough’ with Eljé secured over 200K plays, garnering support from BBC Radio 1’s Jaguar, Charlie Tee, and Jeremiah Asiamah.
On the touring front, NOTION’s sound saw him return for his second US/CA tour this year, performing at HARD Summer in Los Angeles, Elsewhere in New York, and Chasing Summer Festival in Calgary. Back in the UK, he’s had his busiest year yet, performing at Love Saves The Day in Bristol, debuting at Glastonbury on the NoWhere stage with Oppidan, The Cause in London, Leeds Festival, and kicking off his ‘FORWARDS’ UK tour this autumn with stops at Hidden, Manchester, Thekla, Bristol, and Venue MOT, London.
This September, NOTION takes his sound to AU/NZ for an eight-date tour, following the previous year’s success at events like Beyond the Valley and Wildlands. His Dance Dubs project, featuring exclusive unreleased tracks on Soundcloud and Bandcamp, has gained massive traction, with support from Ben UFO and Joy Orbison, and over 500K plays on his Skepta dub. Building a loyal fanbase via his broadcast community, NOTION solidifies his position as a formidable force in the electronic music scene.
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