WheelUP - We Are The Magic (2023)

“WheelUP never misses!" – Jamz Supernova (BBC 6Music)
"He does it every time!" – Gilles Peterson
"The epitome of the West London sound" – Jaguar (BBC Radio 1)
"A fat, funky and bass-charged cut" – DJ Mag

‘We Are The Magic’ is the new sophomore album from producer and DJ WheelUP aka West London’s Danny Wheeler. Built around concepts such as the law of attraction, humanitarianism, and spiritualism – 'We Are The Magic' adds to the broken beat canon while showcasing WheelUP's most mature and forward-thinking work to date. The LP boasts contributions and collaborations with a host of talent: Kaidi Tatham, Sam Interface, Abacus, Victoria Port (Anushka), Toya Delazy, Spaceship Coyote, Destiny Will, Brint Story, Steelo and more.

Journeying through broken beat, jazz-funk, hip-hop, trap, bass, house, neo-soul and beyond, across the album’s eleven tracks, WheelUP embarks on a sonic exploration filled with synthesis, polyrhythms and creative innovative techniques. Talking about the concept of ‘We Are The Magic’, Danny explains: “It’s a somewhat esoteric idea that we (humanity) are the magic of life, whether that is a smile from a stranger that uplifts another person or some piece of kindness that has a butterfly effect and affects someone or something else in a positive way. Magic is excitement, the spark of life and life itself is a magical experience.”

The album is centred around collaborations with the West London producer. From lead-single “More Love” and titular track “We Are The Magic”, which features the emotive vocals and lyrics of Victoria Port, singer-songwriter from duo Anushka; the ethereal 4hero-inspired and LP opener “Infinity” with Abacus, the alter ego of Harry Bryson from drum & bass duo Pola & Bryson (who’s additional production is tangled throughout the web of the record), the colossus bruk-bass riddim “Copacetic” with More Times co-founder Sam Interface, and “More Love feat. Brint Story” linking with the legendary broken beat don Kaidi Tatham.

The singles from the album have seen support flood in from the likes of DJ Mag, Jamz Supernova (BBC 6Music), Gilles Peterson (Worldwide FM), Jaguar (BBC Radio 1), Beatport and many more. Elsewhere on the record WheelUP collaborates with his Zulu sister and live band member Toya Delazy on the hypnotic “Soze” and the celebratory “Giya”. WheelUP also links up with artists from his debut LP ‘Good Love’, on the esoteric soulful beats of “Rising”, with vocalist Destiny Will and Alabamian rapper Brint Story adding his effortless flow to “More Love”. “Singularity” flexes Kaytranada vibes alongside Worldwide FM Award Winner, Steelo. WheelUP pushes boundaries and the scene forward by fusing broken beats with trap and spotlighting emerging talent, American MC Spaceship Coyote, who closes the record with “BlackJoy Freestyle”.

‘We Are the Magic’ is the follow-up release to WheelUP’s debut album ‘Good Love’ released in 2021, featuring the likes of Afronaut (Bugz in the Attic), Abacus (Pola & Bryson) and label-mate Tiawa, The album was heavily praised for its resurgent broken beat sound by the likes of Benji B (BBC Radio 1), Bonobo, Ben UFO, Emma Jean-Thackray, Laurent Garnier and many more. “Take Me Higher feat. Tiawa”, the second single from the record, was playlisted on BBC 6Music.