Song You Need: Joy Orbison’s journey through rave’s past and present

The FADER’s “Songs You Need” are the tracks we can’t stop playing. Check back every day for new music and follow along on our Spotify playlist.

Often, when an artist is asked to pin down the infuences on their work, they shy away from specifics in an effort to maintain the air of genius inspiration. "We only really listen to '90s R&B," protest the gloomy indie band who stand accused of sounding a lot like The Cure and, frankly, nothing like Mariah Carey.

On new track "2M3 2U," however, British electronic producer Joy Orbison fronts up to his inspirations and gives each one a loud shout out. "I see this one as a bit of a U.K. take on hyperpop. But with a bit of bass weight," he explains in a statement. He continues: “The vocal part could be a sample of some garbled message of love in Blade Runner or the Fifth Element," adding DJ Narrows and "the catchiest wobble" of TikTok-era drum & bass to the mix, too.

The track elegantly stalks its way through an array of influences, gaining confidence with each potent bass vibration. The drum track sets the steady pace with hi-hats employed between the sound of wheel-ups and sub-woofer shaking synths. The aforementioned vocal samples push this club banger into more alien territory too, a neat analogue to the voices of his family members Joy O used to lend emotional heft to last year's excellent Still Slipping Vol. 1. Overall, "2M3 2U"'s collision of cult sci-fi sounds and Gen Z expressions in dance music is a potent mix.