Get to know Poté, the bleeding-edge talent merging percussive prowess with psychedelic flair

As a regular on Lisbon-based imprint Enchufada since 2015 the St Lucian-born, London-bred talent honed his percussive prowess as he dived into the bleeding-edge world of contemporary bass music early on in his career, exploring the musical mutations that were forming between UK sounds and global genres like baile funk, kuduro and gqom to critical acclaim.

Taking this exploration a step further, Poté found himself working with the Gorillaz frontman and Kabaka Jr once again earlier this year, joining Albarn’s Africa Express project in South Africa. As well as working alongside a troupe of Albarn-approved artists on the project, he also hit the road as support on the European leg of Bonobo’s Migration tour, an experience Poté refers to as both ‘reassuring’ and ‘mind-blowing’.

Citing the likes of Arca, Sampha, Travis Scott and Branko as key influences and inspirations, he tells us: “There’s a raw honesty about their art which you can’t take away.” And he’s keen to make a similar impression with his own music. “It always has to come from an honest place, as otherwise it won’t carry the power I want it to.”

On ‘Spiral, My Love’ he delivers a bass- and melody-driven album fuelled by raw, confessional honesty. Perhaps we’ve found British bass music’s next icon.

‘Spiral, My Love’ is out now Deviation Music on September 21

Jasmine Kent-Smith is Mixmag's Weekend Editor. Follow her on Twitter