TuneLab
SONIKKU
London | UTOPIA Takeover
Nothing says 'London underground' quite like the existential crisis of deciding whether to Shazam a Katy Perry remix or surrender to the pure, unironic joy of it. SONIKKU's UTOPIA Takeover live set is a glorious mess of electro house and tech house, served with a side of pop nostalgia that we're all secretly here for. Imagine a sweatbox where the disco ball spins just a little too fast, reflecting off cheap glitter and cheaper lager. Hovering around 136.9 BPM, this set is a lesson in dynamic range, with the harmonic focus firmly in the 12A key for most of its runtime, allowing for seamless, energy-building mixes.
The mid-range energy dominates at 0.49, giving tracks like Simian Mobile Disco's 'Hustler' their wiry, funky punch, while the low-end (0.42) keeps things grounded and groovy. SONIKKU's mixing is playful and precise, weaving between genres without ever losing the thread. The highlight is undoubtedly the audacious drop of Katy Perry's 'California Gurls (Passion Pit Main Mix)', a pop gem recontextualized into a rave weapon. Wesley Martins & Nørus's 'Avoid the Spikes' is a marathon-length builder that sets the tone, while Oliver Heldens's 'Désenchantée (Oli’s EuroRave Mix)' is a euphoric, hands-in-the-air moment.
DeBasement's 'Juicy Juice' with Marie Davidson adds a sleazy, spoken-word cool, and Watergate's 'Maid of Orleans' remix brings a touch of trancey grandeur. It kicks off with the hypnotic pulses of 'Avoid the Spikes', peaks with the communal singalong of 'California Gurls', and winds down with the smooth deep house of Oliver Handsome's 'E4'. A journey from curiosity to catharsis.