Look, here at Mixmag we don’t throw around the phrase “sound of the summer” lightly. However, it would be difficult to not label Eliza Rose’s huge breakout hit ‘BOTA (Baddest Of Them All)’ proper SOTS material — considering that it has become the battle cry of the 2022 festival crowd, the anthem of TikTok party animals and the most hummed under your breath when you’re waiting for the bus tune (we think anyway) this summer. It’s a simple track, but that is why it's just so good. Created alongside Manchester-based producer Interplanetary Criminal, ‘BOTA’ features Eliza’s silky vocals over the top of a blissed-out 90s-esque house rhythm with enough breakbeat punch to have you wafting your wrists with fervour towards the nearest soundsystem. The lyrics are deliciously catchy, to the point where you’ll be trying to resist the urge to mimic Eliza’s sugary sweet tone declaring “Do you wanna dance, baby?” or the sultry chorus “she’s the baddest of them all” at any given time. Maybe ‘BOTA’ was the baddest of them all all along.

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As I. Jordan’s first release under their new moniker, ‘First Time Back’ was always going to be permeated with significance. Alongside the single vocal-heavy, blissed-out ‘Always Been’, ‘First Time Back’ really does feel like a reintroduction. Amid the 90s-rave-esque bassline and the crackling breaks there are ethereal trance synths and crisp percussive swoops; the bolshy, playful kick drum thrown in throughout the mid-section of the track almost feels like a calling card while the euphoric piano stabs are a reminder of what draws us to them as a producer over and over again. It’s feel-good club music at its finest from Jordan.

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Tied together by the catchy vocal “Imma make you scream, make your heart disappear” - this rough, sexy track looks a firm festival favourite this year. With perfectly timed beat drops and racy synth moments - it shows the best of VTSS’ producing abilities and marks her Ninja Tune debut with grace and sophistication. The track isn’t as harsh as many of her older tracks, which skyrocketed her into fame within the techno sphere, but instead offers a more minimal and precise execution - allowing listeners to lose themselves in every beat. The Polish producer is clearly entering a new era with this track, one that cements her as the centrepiece of all of her artistry.

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Mall Grab delves into the world of drum ‘n’ bass with this track - and brings in rap legends D Double E and Novelist for a crossover tune. A change from his trademark high-octane dance sound, this track has rolling breaks, meaty basslines, and murky, syncopated drum patterns. This tune features the distinctive sounds of D Double E and Novelist, as well as astute poetry, a fluid flow, and hardcore elements.

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With a rolling drum pattern, soft vocals, blissful piano and deep bass to tie it all together - this track is a sombre narration of the heartache and desperation felt after a breakup. With ethereal sonics in the bridge which provide momentary bliss, listeners are dragged straight back down with the beat drop that takes them into the abyss which is felt when you miss someone.

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Euphoric and downbeat all at once, LYZZA’s latest track ‘Lucky You’ - soon to hit her new club-focused mixtape ‘Mosquito’ - bubbles with the kind of energy that you could only expect from a LYZZA cut. In her own words, ‘Lucky You’ is about “granting someone forgiveness even if they haven't asked you for it, for your own peace of mind” - a testament to the reflections on self-love built into her forthcoming record.

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Canadian mastermind Dan Snaith pulls on the Daphni mask for the next offering under his dance-focused moniker. Following May’s ‘Cherry’, Snaith’s first release under the alias in over five years, ‘Cloudy’ takes a different approach - peppy and carefree in equal measure, chugging along with a euphoric vocal loop.

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Making up part of Kode9’s ‘Escapology’ record - his first solo album in seven years - ‘The Break Up’ is the second piece of work to be released ahead of the full-length LP. It’s as much a discordant, experimental cut as it is classic Kode9, taking footwork slightly off-kilter, fitting for the theoretical world of Astro-Darien - a brand new sonic fiction project from Kode9. Falling and flowing through hard, crashing drums and eerie pitched-up synths, ‘The Break Up’ perfectly encapsulates this unusual world created by the multifaceted artist.

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Hyperpop luminary COBRAH returns with ‘Brand New Bitch’ - the anthemic lead to a whole new series of bubblegum bangers from the Swedish artist. ’Brand New Bitch’ is less an invitation to the dancefloor, more a pumped-up cut oozing with harder beats and COBRAH’s sultry vocals.

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“You gotta keep on, I gotta keep on” will forever be sampled and this version of Q-Unique and D.Cooper’s track could be a favourite. It’s swimming with liquid bass with moments to pause and really appreciate the original — but also get you ready for the next naughty drop.

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If you haven’t already heard this, where have you been? Up there as one of the songs of summer, this track isn’t just super feel-good for its creativity but also for the inclusion of TSHA’s partner, Mafro, who features his astonishing vocals to provide the finishing touches. Pure euphoria is found within this banger.

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A ringtone drifts into the sound of texting, reflecting a flip from the ‘90s to the modern day. A female-empowering track that somehow plays with a dance drum beat and a sax solo. Shygirl and Channel Tres share their smooth and sexy vocals making it the ultimate bop.

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Combining an eerie synth and ethereal vocals, ‘Beno (Soft)’ from New England-born, London-based producer Maya Q is a haunting, yet vibey club-orientated track full of meandering percussion and staunch breaks. Starting out calm, the track slowly introduces different musical elements until in its toe-curling peak, the layered over vocals become repetitive and bewilderingly distorted — perfect for a late-in-the-game club spin.

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