One of the UK’s most prolific electronic producers, Mella Dee, today releases his latest single ‘Riptide’, featuring original vocals from synth-pop trailblazer and founder of New Order/Joy Division Bernard Sumner, via Pete Tong’s acclaimed Three Six Zero recordings. A slice of euphoria streaked with melancholy, ‘Riptide’ will receive its first radio play on Sarah Story’s BBC Radio 1 show this evening – co-hosted by Mella Dee himself. Tune into 6Music shortly after to hear him perform a live mix and interview with Tom Ravenscroft.
Reminiscent of classic Italo-disco heritage, ‘Riptide’ draws on our nostalgia; painting a vivid picture of wistful times. Fuzzy arpeggios dance around slamming drum work and Sumner’s evocative vocals, creating the perfect emotional club anthem. Speaking on the track, Mella Dee explains: “It was originally written in a time when we weren’t able to celebrate life together, it was a release from the pressure of everything around us. Bernard wrote and recorded the vocals after hearing what I’d put together and managed to bring a new life to the record. Adding a deeper meaning which resonated with me, the feeling of being caught up in a riptide with the world still moving around you. It’s a huge pleasure to have Bernard on a record with me; having listened to his voice on so much incredible music from an early age.”
Today’s track follows two recent releases on Mella Dee’s very own Warehouse Music label, ‘Big Eff Off Groove’ and ‘Find Love Yourself’, both of which garnered huge fan reactions after being played during Mella Dee’s key 2022 summer festival appearances at Parklife, Monegros Desert Festival, Solomon’s Nobody is Not Loved Festival, Glastonbury, Field Day, The Warehouse Project, Sziget Festival, Berlin’s notorious Panorama Bar and many more. 2022 also saw the release of standout single ‘Love It Or Not’ (part of his Whistle Posse Spangled In The Corner EP on Don’t Sleep) with featured guest vocals from multi-hyphenate Infinite Coles, as well as his remix for DnB pioneer Goldie’s new Subjective project, which dropped last November.
Real name Ryan Aitchison, Mella Dee reached international notoriety with his anthemic 2017 single ‘Techno Disco Tool’, reaching number 1 in BBC Radio 1’s Dance Music Chart as well as one of Annie Mac’s ‘Tracks of the Decade’ (and was even played during her final show on Radio 1). A year later, the Warehouse Music label head won ‘Best Breakthrough Label’ at the DJ Mag ‘Best of British’ awards and he was also named one of Mixmag’s ‘Stars of the Year’, cementing himself as one of the most sought after names in dance music. Since then Mella Dee has delivered his debut Essential Mix for the legendary BBC Radio 1 series, curated a mix for Resident Advisor’s prestigious Podcast series, performed a debut Boiler Room set to rapturous acclaim, toured North America multiple times and joined the elusive Circoloco family for a summer of shows at DC10 and their momentous festival in Thailand. Ryan has also curated tours for his own Warehouse Music label, taking over illustrious venues all over Europe including his hometown at the infamous Doncaster Warehouse.
Listen Mella Dee’s new single ‘Riptide’ ft. Bernard Sumner on DanceUP Playlist
Photo Credit: Ewen Spencer
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