SONIKKU Keeps the Summer Alive with New Bella Union Double A-Side ‘Heatwave/Drowning’
- Undrtone Blog
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
SONIKKU’s music has always lived between worlds. Pop and club, sunshine and melancholy, emotion and movement. His new double A-side release on Bella Union, ‘Heatwave/Drowning’, captures that duality perfectly. Out on vinyl and digital from 10 October, it is the sound of late summer stretched into infinity.
Following his prolific run of releases in 2024, including ‘The World is Bleak but Sometimes Beautiful’, ‘Whirlwind of Malevolence’ and ‘Kissing in the Strobe Light’ on Jaguar’s UTOPIA label, SONIKKU shows no signs of slowing down. His latest two-track release finds him in full creative flow, pairing the Balearic brightness of ‘Heatwave’ with the dreamy escapism of ‘Drowning’.
“I was really inspired by being on holiday and listening to Balearic music while driving around the Greek islands,” he says. “I wanted to make a record that captured that feeling.”
‘Heatwave’ plays like a summer souvenir. Built around a yearning vocal and warm, shimmering synths, it is a slice of dancefloor pop that feels nostalgic but new. “It is like the party on the beach side of the record,” he says. “‘Drowning’ is more romantic and surreal. It has a bittersweet feel to it.”
‘Drowning’ dives deeper. Long harmonium-like chords, breakbeat percussion and ethereal vocals create a weightless sense of calm. “It is the kind of song that plays in my head when I dive into clear blue water and feel like I am entering another universe,” SONIKKU explains. “I knew this and ‘Heatwave’ had to come out together. They both have that summer vibe.”
His genre-fluid approach has made him one of London’s most forward-thinking club artists. “It is not really a conscious choice,” he says. “I have so many influences it is hard for me to stick to one genre, but I feel like I have built a distinctive sound. No matter what style I am doing, you can tell it is me through the sounds I use.”
That individuality has carried him across stages at fabric, Corsica Studios, Village Underground and Public Works in San Francisco, and to collaborations with SOPHIE, Partiboi69 and MCR-T. “When I am collaborating, I get inspired by making a song specific to that person’s personality, or an exaggerated cartoon version of it,” he says. “I have made songs with friends who are not professional artists using that same approach, it really excites me.”
This new EP continues a creative streak that has defined 2024 as his most productive year to date. “It is important to be easy on yourself and not get stressed if you are feeling burnt out,” he says. “There is no point in forcing something if you are not performing at your best. Take the time to listen to music, watch a movie, get inspired.”
That mindset has shaped his evolving sound, a series of records that explore different sides of club emotion. “Each EP is its own thing,” he says. “‘The World is Bleak’ was extremely DIY, made with friends for fun, while ‘Kissing in the Strobe Light’ was more serious, with songwriters and a label behind it.”
After a US tour and sets at Keep Hush, Soho Pride and London’s Carpet Shop, SONIKKU is heading next to Dreamland in Leeds, Zig Fest in São Paulo, and shows in Brussels and Birmingham. “I just feel really lucky that I have an audience in Latin America who love the music,” he says. “I am really looking forward to playing out there.”
Reflecting on his 2020 collaboration with SOPHIE, he is still deeply connected to that moment. “‘Sweat’ is my hit,” he says. “I am really grateful to have a song that resonates with so many people and for it to be with my favourite artist.”
As for what is next, he is already planning ahead. “My next EP is in the mixing process right now,” he says. “I am looking forward to releasing more new music next year.”
‘Heatwave/Drowning’ is out now on Bella Union, a shimmering reminder that even as the nights draw in, summer does not have to end.
Comments