TuneLab
KETTAMA
Boiler Room : London
Of course we're here, squinting at the screen as KETTAMA drops another unreleased weapon in a London warehouse, because nothing says 'underground' like a globally streamed Boiler Room set. The man treats this platform as a personal testing ground for basslines that could level buildings, and we're all willing test subjects. The crowd is a sea of nodding heads and raised fists, bathed in that classic Boiler Room strobe—the kind that makes you feel like you're in a low-budget sci-fi film, with air thick from anticipation and spilled beer. Locked into a relentless 142.2 BPM average with a tight range of 140-143, this is a masterclass in percussive, driving tech house. The harmonic foundation is unwaveringly in 12A, with over a third of the tracks anchored here, creating a cohesive, hypnotic groove that feels both familiar and constantly evolving.
KETTAMA's mixing style is surgical yet explosively energetic; he layers kicks and hi-hats with precision, building a wall of sound that's heavy yet endlessly danceable. The energy profile is telling: with average lows at 0.44 and mids at 0.43, the set has a deep, pulsating core that never relinquishes its grip, while strategic high-end spikes at 0.13 are deployed like punctuation marks to jolt the room forward. The opener, 'Soul Mass Transit System - Jump (Rushing Mix)', is a statement of intent—all raw, rushing energy and no apologies. 'Knuckleheadz - House Rocca' is pure peak-time ammunition, its relentless percussion a test of the sound system's limits. The cheeky, brutal flip of 'Calvin Harris - Blessings (KETTAMA Remix)' showcases his genius for subverting pop into devastating club fodder.
Dropping Skepta's 'Miss Independent' is a smart, crowd-pleasing nod to UK bass culture's roots, while 'Sir Spyro - Topper Top' brings a welcome grimey swagger, proving his dig goes far beyond predictable four-four. Don't sleep on the closing track either—'Sidney Charles & BUGS - Trip Advisor (Rhythm, Snare, Bass) [2025 Warp Mix]' is a warped, bass-heavy beast that leaves a lasting impression. It's a relentless ascent from the adrenaline-pump of 'Jump (Rushing Mix)', through the mid-set carnage of his own edits and UK bass anthems, to a peak defined by that Calvin Harris demolition, culminating in the gritty, distorted finale of the 'Trip Advisor' warp mix—a closing statement that ensures we'll be hitting replay before the cameras even stop rolling.