After a short break from releasing Paper Dragon are ready to take it back to the old school with a collection of jungle and breaks-inspired music. During 2022 Ruth Royall stepped back from the collective to explode into the bass sphere. This has made space for a new approach, new collaborators, and new music that will get those woofers and tweeters of your 90s Jamo speakers pumping.
Following on from the previously well-received EP’s ‘Birds of Paradise’ and ‘Circuits’, the next collection of music due in 2023 ‘Amplified Nostalgia’ is darker and deeper. It is an immersive journey pushed forward by raw breakbeats and shockingly powerful basslines.
The collective is made up of core member Bruce Turner, Kris Burton and Jonathan Savage they maintain their high-end production ethic and along with keys player Torsten Jensen between them they have worked with the likes of U2, Kate Bush, Massive Attack, Rick Rubin, Brian Eno, Underworld, KOAN Sound, TC, Distorted Minds, Mura Massa, NAO, Mount Kimbie and Fred V & Grafix.
Paper Dragon have created a solid foundation in the dance music scene and are ready to move into this new phase. Their tracks have been regulars on Spotify editorial playlists they have has spanned the temperatures on BBC Radio 1, with their single ‘Reach’ going from ‘The Coldest Record’ on the Sound System with Jeremiah Asiamah to one of the ‘Hottest Records of the Week’ with Clara Amfo.
Earlier today, we premiered their new track ‘Strawberries’ which is set to mash up dancefloors across the music scene. ‘Strawberries’ features nostalgic sample vocals and euphoric piano licks, reminiscent of an era transitioning from house to breaks and hardcore. At a brisk 160 BPM, Paper Dragon’s latest single strikes a perfect balance between old-school bliss and the impeccable production skills of three artists at the pinnacle of their game!
Now the collective joins our Renegade Riddims series with a banging fresh and exclusive mix curated especially for you (and me!). The mix features music from artists such as Riya & Collette Warren, Ray Keith, DJ Marky, Kleu, Aphrodite, Watch The Ride and themselves amongst others.
Check out the mix below and download it for free here!
Q&A:
Sum up this mix in 10 words…
Bangers + Bangers + dubs = Double Banging MIX
What’s your personal favourite track on it?
One of the dubs is Kravitz remix of our next single Strawberries, this is probs our fav track at the moment, we can’t wait to get this out there hopefully in September, but keep an eye out for it a few big DJs have a copy of it already!
What’s the special ingredient in this mix?
We have used Serato for this mix, Kris is the best DJ out of us all and it has allowed him to flex some skills adding some extra specials flare to the mix, that along with jazzy soulful, jungly vibe combined with some harder edged old school and new school flavours it has little something for everyone. It also has my new favourite double drop Couple Guinness and Gin and Juice Refix by DR Meaker that on slaps hard!!
Tell us about your next EP?
We are about to drop Amplified Nostalgia on 18th Aug, the last single Strawberries is out 4th Aug and on the EP there is bonus track that is bit different from the rest it is homage to electro and has Lottie Jones on the vocals, the EP also contains remixes from Lateral and two emerging producers RETINAZ and Maxumuss who we found at dbs music in Bristol, we all do some teaching there and it great place to find amazing talent. We were really pleased to be able to give them a little opportunity and share their tunes. The EP has been voyage into creating an old school sound with new school production, with each track representing one of steps in genre from rave to breakbeat to jungle and hardcore.
What have you got coming up?
So we have the EP out 18th Aug! Then we have the Kravitz remix of Strawberries out in September, then we have more new music to see us through the rest of the year, we are currently working some new vocalists including Jasmine Knight, Lottie Jones and Yemi Bolatiwa and looking to focus our sound a bit more for the next set of releases. We really want to get out and DJ some more, we have been focusing on the music but it now time to get out and about so promoters please do hit us up!!
When was the last time you actually raved?
So between us we get out and about quite a bit, Kris is regularly DJing at The Shakespeare in Totterdown Bristol, that is more of mixed genre party not so much of the DnB vibe, but still fulfils the raving quota! Bruce was last out at Glastonbury and Jon works in Tour Management and show production, so is fortunate to be at raves and events most weekends. He runs the Glade Dome at Glastonbury, where he did enough raving for the year! This year they had DnB heavy line up on the Thursday, he hosted the likes of Charlie Tee, Randall, Bou and Axel Boy! He also went on a little jolly to Secret Garden Party a few weeks ago where his highlights were raving to Fabio and Grooverider and the Outlook Orchestra, Leftfield and Underworld
And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?
Yes!! Thank you for the support, we get so much nice feedback on the music, we like to produce a bit of an eclectic mixture of styles, I think it comes from the years of different influences, that does mean we don’t always fit in the box, but we are happy to be a bit different and people always seem to appreciate the quality of the production and that pleases us, so thanks for listening and we hope you enjoy the music we have coming out soon!!
TRACKLIST:
Riya & Collette Warren – Vices (Bladerunner Remix)
Break, DLR and Randall – Song and Dance
RAHMANEE – Badboy Steppa
Ray Keith – Chopper
Watch The Ride – Times Up
Koherant – Endless Haze
DJ Marky – Mystic Sunset
A Zone feat Aphrodite – Calling The People (Bladerunner Remix)
Kanine – Your Love
Paper Dragon – Holding On (Lateral Remix)
Paper Dragon – Strawberries (Kravitz Remix)
Kleu – Matter
Shy Fx Feat Gappy Ranks – Warning (Bou Remix)
Selecta J Man ft Suku – Couple Guinness
Dr Meaker – Gin and Juice Refix
Krust – Warhead
Aphrodite – Bad Ass
K-65 – On The Floor