Hot Picks: Carly Wilford Shares The Tracks Fueling Her Upcoming Love To Be Festival Set
- Undrtone Blog
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
Carly Wilford is relishing in the moment. From her weekly 4:4 show on Tomorrowland One World Radio, the platform’s first-ever house music show, to stand-out releases on Toolroom, Armada and Nervous, she has cemented herself as one of the UK’s most exciting names in house music. Her sets are a high-energy blend of classic cuts, underground heat and modern weapons, with support from legends like Green Velvet, Chris Lake, DJ Paulette and Vintage Culture.
With Love To Be Festival landing in Harrogate this weekend, where she joins Armand Van Helden, The Shapeshifters, Ultra Naté and more for an 11-hour celebration of house, Carly takes us through the tracks that have shaped her sound.
From Julie McKnight’s timeless Home to Joe Smooth’s eternal Promised Land, these are the records that fuel her dancefloors and still give her goosebumps every time she drops them.
Julie McKnight - Home (Knee Deep Club Mix)
This tune was released during such a golden era in electronic music, so many of the tracks that came out of Defected at the time made me fall in love with house music. Julie McKnight’s vocals are iconic, and this tune really is the essence and soul of what classic house music is all about.
DJ Falcon & Thomas Bangalter - Together
Is there a bigger House music classic than this? Two legendary producers and a tune that transcends time. Remember hearing this drop at Sankeys in Manchester and going on the hunt to buy it on vinyl immediately after. Moments like that still play out in my mind - when a DJ drops the perfect tune at the perfect time, instantly unites the dance floor, and it is then etched in your memory forever.
Intro - Alan Braxe & Fred Falke
This tune has been sampled quite a lot over the last few years, and it reminded me of the original, so I dug it back out and have been playing it again recently. I even started my set with it at Glastonbury a while back, as it’s a brilliant tune to reset a stage and draw in a crowd.
Doc Daneeka - Walk On In
The way this tune builds is absolutely ridiculous; it’s over 7 minutes of house music gold, and if the crowd knows, they know. It doesn’t fully drop until nearly 5 minutes in, where it makes your knees go weak when the bass line finally comes back in. Such an elite House tune.
Kings of Tomorrow - Fall for You (Hot Since 82 Remix)
The original of this tune is epic, but when this remix dropped, it gave it a whole new life. Have always had so much love and respect for Sandy Rivera as a producer, and the same with Hot Since 82. If you look at my Spotify, this tune is at the top of my most played.
John Cutler, E-Man - It’s Yours
The drum roll at the beginning of this tune gives you instant goosebumps because you know what’s coming. Then the keys come in, and by the time E-Man’s vocal drops, you’re melted. If you really listen to what he’s saying, there’s so much you can take away from this tune. “The light is knowledge… do you want it, and if you had it, would you flaunt it? It’s yours”
Hysteric Ego - Want Love
Andrea Olivia started a set he played at Ants at Ushuaïa with an edit of this a few seasons ago, and it reminded me what a weapon of a tune it was. Could listen to the melody on repeat, and it shows the power of a solid house instrumental.
Mark Knight - Yebisah
This is the ultimate House classic. Over the last few years, extended edits of dance tunes have got shorter, and this track takes you on a full 8-minute journey from start to finish. Have so much love and respect for Mark Knight, and this track proves just why he’s one of the best in the business.
Marco Lys - The Story Continues
This tune isn’t that old, but it is still a House classic. Whether you’re playing a dark club set or peak time at a festival, this always kicks off. Marco Lys is one of the most talented music producers out there, and this track shows why he is the producer’s producer.
Joe Smooth - Promised Land
There have been so many artists remixing and reworking this track recently, but nothing touches the original. It still gives me goosebumps to play, and its message is ever more relevant now than it was when it was released. An amazing tune to finish a set with.
Catch Carly Wilford bringing the energy to Love To Be Festival this Saturday at The Stray in Harrogate. Grab your tickets via: https://www.skiddle.com/festivals/love-to-be-festival.
With a summer packed full of global shows and heavy playlist support, Carly continues to bridge the gap between the underground and the main stage while staying true to her house roots.
Carly Wilford
Love to be...
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