René LaVice started his new label, Device, somewhat quietly last month with a glitchy, funky track with S.P.Y. called “Hollywood.” As the label marked yet another huge step in LaVice’s meteoric rise through the D&B ranks, “Hollywood” took him up a notch production-wise and if we know anything about RLV, there’s no going back from here.
LaVice’s second track on Device is called “Showstoppaz” and was release last week with a premiere on – what else – his BBC Radio1 show. It features two grime artists, rapper Ayo Beatz and vocalist Krishane. Between them, Ayo and Krishane have worked with everyone in grime from Tinie Tempah to Wretch 32 to Labrinth and even Idris Elba. Why bring in such grime heavyweights on a D&B track, one might ask La Vice, but why not?
Grime and D&B are more linked than many people tend to see and indeed drum & bass has always lined up with hip hop, although UK fans don’t always see it that way. Making crossover tracks like this not only shows LaVice’s diversity in his own production but also that he can think outside the rave box and incorporate sounds that work from other genres as well.
Aside from the hard-hitting vox from Ayo Beatz and the melodic, Jamaican-influenced melodies of Krishane, “Showstoppaz” is loud, fast and steppy, just one step shy of being jump up. This track is definitely meant for the dancefloor but is also deceptively complex. The synths have a hint of neurofunk and there’s some really interesting ambient melodic work in the intro and breaks.
Of course a René LaVice track doesn’t have to be complex to move the crowd; he always does that, even if they’re in their living rooms. Still, it’s nice to see some multi-genre depth going on in “Showstoppaz” and RLV once again bringing surprises with his new label. RLV is determined to make you dance, whether it’s at a festival or in your PJs at home.
Check out “Showstoppaz” and “Hollywood” out now on the new Device imprint via Beatport and stay tuned, literally, to René’s BBC Radio channel. Also check out his next single “Lockdown” with A Plus is out next Friday and can be pre-ordered on Beatport. No slowing down as usual.