TuneLab
Emma Korantema
Keep Hush Open Deck: Keep Hush X Pirate Studios
Emma Korantema’s Open Deck set is a glorious, genre-agnostic celebration of the global club, proving that the best DJs are the ones who make afrobeats, dancehall, and UK rap feel like parts of the same irresistible whole. The Pirate Studios setting is intimate and raw, a blank canvas where the music does all the talking, and the crowd is a reflection of London’s beautiful diversity. Technically, it’s a rollercoaster from 94 to 176 BPM, averaging 122.9, and harmonically leaning on 12A with touches of 3B and 4B to glue the eclectic selections together.
The energy is low-heavy at 0.63, with mids at 0.30 and highs at 0.07, creating a warm, bass-forward sound that keeps bodies moving regardless of genre. The mixing is fluid and intuitive, trusting the swing of amapiano log drums and the swagger of rap acapellas to carry the momentum. For crate diggers, the selections are impeccable: 'CKay - Love Nwantiti' opens with its instantly recognizable, viral charm, 'VHOOR - Embraza' is a slick, percussive afro-house weapon, 'Fracture & Nah Eeto - Shada Shada' is a broken-beat delight with gorgeous vocals, and 'Obongjayar & Sarz - Sweetness' closes with its soulful, uplifting grace.
The inclusion of both the original and Sean Paul-featured 'Baby Boy' edits is a playful, crowd-pleasing masterstroke. The journey is a vibrant tour: it begins with the sunny melodies of 'Love Nwantiti', peaks with the rhythmic complexity of tracks like 'Embraza', and winds down beautifully with the soulful closing of 'Sweetness'.