#22 Feat. New Releases in House

After a successful re-launch in 2023, Alinka and Shaun J. Wright's Twirl imprint starts the new year with intention. Marked by a future-focused ethos, while always linking back to their Chicago roots, Twirl is passion-led, BS-free and driven by a distinct attitude and energy that permeates all their releases going back to the label's inception in 2014. Encapsulating this timeless spirit is Alinka's latest three-track work 'Edgewater', named after her old neighbourhood in Chicago, where she grew up after arriving from Ukraine as a refugee in the late '80s. The EP opens with 'Lake Shore Drive', a fleet-footed jam, mixing up silky chords with a low-slung acid line that builds to a thrilling crescendo. 'Weather the Storm' first appeared in Alinka's well-received/ Beats in Space mix last November, and is a punchy slice of house, driven by deep melodic synths and personality-packed stabs. 'Red Line' is five minutes of pure key-laden joy and has future classic written all over it. "The 'Edgewater' EP is an ode to Chicago and the music that changed my life forever. Edgewater is the neighbourhood I grew up in, and the last place I lived in Chicago. We used to ride the Red Line train and drive down Lake Shore Drive at night listening to music and soaking in the city lights. Those experiences shaped me. I want to create that timeless energy on the dancefloor that Chicago House is to me." – Alinka 'Edgewater' follows an outstanding few months for Alinka, highlighted by the 'Day Dreamer' and 'Sorry for Not Trending' EPs on Twirl, and her 'Teachers' four-tracker on Rekids, which was a Bandcamp Best Electronic Music pick. She also enjoyed a pair of career highlights, returning to play K41 in Kyiv in September and November respectively for the crew's birthday. The former was made RA Mix of the Day.

Alinka

#66 Feat. Staff Picks in Indie Dance

The successful re-launch of Alinka and Shaun J. Wright's musical baby Twirl continues. Following her critically acclaimed 'Day Dreamer' EP and a supreme label debut from friend Serge G., 'Spanish Cassette' (feat. remixes from Wright and DJ Holographic), Alinka returns with a classy three-tracker 'Sorry for Not Trending'. The EP was created during a fertile writing period in late 2022 that birthed her recent 'Day Dreamer' work, with the Kyiv-born Alinka finding solace in music creation following the loss of her grandmother, while processing the escalation of the war in Ukraine. 'Sorry for Not Trending', is a tongue-in-cheek nod to influencer culture, led by the glorious first single 'Deep Into The Vibe'. Imbued with the spirit of Chicago, where Alinka was a resident at Justin Long's .Dotbleep party at Smartbar for almost a decade, the cut is a masterclass in fun, as catchy riffs, bouncy drumlines and an infectious old skool energy propel it forward. 'Neon Fantasy' is a cosmic trip; crisp and driving, it's made for late-night moments when the dancefloor demands a thematic shift to keep bodies moving. 'Night Tales' brings forth proggy melodic flourishes and chugging b-lines, for a singular yet satisfying closer. "'Sorry For Not Trending' is a playful reference to today's culture of clicks, likes, and follows, and the concept of equating online popularity and trends to artistic value. It's a reminder to look beyond what the algorithms tell us is worthy and to form your own path. It's music for the dance floor. I want to create the sort of energy that makes people close their eyes and dance like no one's watching instead of staring at the DJ. That's the message of these tracks for me." – Alinka

Alinka