Sarz
Mixmag Lab London
We've all been that person at 3am trying to Shazam a rhythm that defies Western notation, and Sarz's Mixmag Lab London set is a glorious tribute to that global scramble, blending Afrobeats, amapiano, and hip-hop into a fluid, dancefloor-centric narrative. The vibe is intimate yet expansive, a London basement pulsing with cross-continental grooves where every head-nod feels like a cultural exchange. On a technical level, Sarz operates at a fluid 118.7 BPM average, anchoring much of the progression in the sunny, open key of 12A while weaving in modulations to keep the rhythm section—dominated by log drums and shakers—front and center; the energy profile is all mid-range bounce with strategic vocal highs, creating a party that feels both laid-back and urgent.
The crate digging here is exquisite: Shallipopi's 'Cast' with ODUMODUBLVCK is a raw, street-level anthem, Asake's 'Mentally' offers melancholic melody over a driving beat, Heavy-K's 'Uyeke' revisit is a masterclass in amapiano swing, and the Sarz & Victony original 'Up' is a soaring, six-minute highlight of Nigerian electronic soul. Don't sleep on the subtle charm of the Rema & KUSH 'Charm' refix or the kinetic energy of FindSs's 'Move(rema)faster'. The journey begins with the smooth, soulful intro of Sneha's 'So This Is Love', builds to a peak with the anthemic release of 'Up', and winds down with the nostalgic, sing-along warmth of Drake and Rihanna's 'Too Good', proving that a great set doesn't need four-on-the-floor to move a room.