Byron the Aquarius - Akira EP [Heist]

Heist Recordings has been pushing the boundaries of house music since day one and we’re always on the lookout for artists that represent our vision on electronic music. Our next guest on the label fits that profile and more. He is the personification of modern electronic funk and a true wizard on the keys: the Atlanta bred, brilliant Byron the Aquarius.

Byron has a solid history on the label: he remixed Parker Madicine back in 2017 and laid down an astonishing solo on the Dam Swindle released ‘The life behind things’ track in 2019. We did some shows together and kept in touch as Byron worked alongside Jeff Mills on his crossover jazz album ‘Ambrosia’ on Axis in 2020. Now, after a solid string of releases on labels like Shall not Fade and Purveyor Underground, Byron is making his solo appearance on Heist. His ‘Akira’ EP ranges from dark basement grooves to dreamy broken beats and includes a remix by New York dance music wizard Kush Jones.

The Akira EP kicks off with ‘I love yo’. On this track, Byron decides to leave his keys at home and dives into a club workout with a melancholic mood. ‘I love yo’ is a track that juxtaposes dreamy samples with rough percussion and vocal snippets with a clear nod to the work of Mr. G. The melody is smooth, but don’t let that fool you; smart drum programming and plenty of sub bass take this track into the club vibe just like Byron likes it: warm, hazy and sexy as hell.

Byron is not known for delivering straightforward house tracks, but when he does, he does it with style. Enter ‘Get up’; the A2 of the EP. Here’s everything we love about house music: clever vocal snippets, jacking percussion, classic house keys, and a rumbling sub to get you grooving to this beat.

The B side sees Byron stepping up the pace and diving deep into bass territory with ‘Love’. On this track, there are lush pads running over a percussive broken beat and R ‘n B vocal chops to add some serious sex appeal. It’s deceptively simple and clean but highly catchy, clearly showing Byron’s prowess as an electronic music producer.

Shifting back into classic house mode, we have ‘Success’: a spoken word house track that fits right in with the classics. Byron sets the mood with some bumpy keys and synth work as he reflects on originality and blackness throughout the track. While the underlying message could be serious, Byron manages to deliver it in a playful and uplifting way that never gets pretentious or divisive.

The EP ends with a remix by New York’s Kush Jones. This is an artist who understands how to build a rhythm. He could take you anywhere from house to juke, footwork and techno, which is why he’s been getting so much love for his music recently. Kush is an artist who sees no boundaries in his music and still manages to create his own sonic universe. His remix of ‘I love yo’ takes a dreamy approach with soft chords running over an electronic rhythm with a pure, improvised feel. All elements fit perfectly and it's the ingenious ad-hoc programming and arrangement that pulls you into his boundless world from the first hit.