aya - Lip Flip
Aya Sinclair has swiftly risen to prominence, becoming one of the hyper-club space's most obscure and exciting voices. Her fascinating sound stems from a clear understanding of the rules of dance music and the compulsion to break those rules. Originally named LOFT, Aya Sinclair would release under labels like Wisdom Teeth, which would become the precursor for what would come. Sinclair became known as aya (remember the lowercase), and the music became, for lack of a better word, weirder. Currently running the YCO label alongside BFTT and with many releases under her, including the excellent 2021 album im hole, the Manchester-based talent is taking Clubland by storm. aya's Latest release on the YCO label Lip Flip (2024) comes out of left field once again, with a far-out brand of ultra-esoteric afrobeat being the driving force.
aya blows the bloody doors off with the first track on Lip Flip, 'Essente!' Together with the haywire vocals courtesy of Ecko Bazz, aya crafts a totally out-the-box Afrobeat banger, slinging together some of the most inspired sound designs I've ever heard. Pops and clicks inhabit 3D space, making this an absolute club must for any experimental DJs worth their salt. The odd-ball sound design continues further as 'Leftenant Keith' adds one of the under-the-radar yet weighty baselines this side of dubstep's heyday. The track's grimy, energetic and chocked full of unrelenting vocal chops that create a solid rhythmic base. aya goes wild with freakish syncopation and a funny feeling that this is partly a mash-up of UK fairground music in the builds, "Scream if you want to go faster!"
aya swings the pendulum in the other direction, exchanging the afrobeat for more atmospheric and experimental sounds. Oppressively dark at times, 'Dexxy Is A Midnight Runner' catalogues the fear of the night and the endorphin rush. Creepy textures laden with crackling vocals are enough to make you remember why you're afraid of the dark. This is until 'Lip Flip', the final track, slings on the strobe lights and fills you with wonky energy. Bright pulsating synth hit like a slap in the face, waking you up, eyes wide in the middle of a boogie. 'Lip Flip' is a throwback to the old LOFT tunes. It's so good to see one of these incorporators onto EP. It's pseudo-serious and full of playful energy – listen out for it, ripping up dance floors soon.
Tracklist:
Essente!
Leftenant Keith
Dexxy In A Midnight Runner
Lip Flip
Label: YCO (2024)
aya - Lip Flip