Maverick Sabre - I Need (Conducta Remix)

Single

19 Jan

In 2012 the debut album Lonely Are the Brave by the talented Irish singer-songwriter Maverick Sabre was released. However, we are now treated to a re-release like the famous Taylor Swift album of 2021, Red (Taylor’s Version). Sabre, who has grown accustomed to self-releasing on FAMM over the years, opted to re-release Lonely Are the Brave (Mav’s Version) in November of 2022, “Wexford-raised soul singer made his name with his stellar 2012 debut but has never received royalties from the album, which was originally released on the major label Mercury.”, Laura Murphy wrote for The Irish Times in 2022.

Sabre teased in June of 2022, “If I was to get mc's on a new 'I Need' remix. Who would you want to hear?”. ‘I Need’ would later receive the remix treatment by Conducta, a prominent figure in the UKG scene, in early 2023. Sabre is a fan of dance music collaborations credited with Shy FX and Sigma, so this new remix by Conducta is well within the Irish songwriter’s wheelhouse.

Conducta produces an excellently polished remix. Crisp drums, punchy bass and these delightfully tropical steel pan drum chords make the track an early summertime hit, although released in January to combat the seasonal depression most will likely be feeling. The lyrical content beautifully offsets the playfulness of the melodies and drums. Due to the increased speed, the verse becomes rhythmic elements driving the track to the next chorus, which receives a context change and is now looking forward to better things to come rather than remembering.

Maverick Sabre - Lonely Are The Brave (Mav’s Version) Album Artwork — Maverick Sabre - *Lonely Are The Brave (Mav’s Version)*

It took a while with subtle inflexion changes between releases, but I think the version Conducta remixed was the new release. This offers up new challenges for the producer. I believe the 2012 version's chorus sits more on the beat, following a more traditional vocal delivery style that could have been easier to match to the musical timing, essentially becoming a copy-and-paste job over the top of a beat. Conducta opts to use the 2022 version, where I think Sabre displays a richer singing tone and a delivery that has become synonymous due to its syncopated and rhythmically exciting style. Using the 2022 version means that syncing the vocal would be a more arduous task, but overall fits the skippy nature of UK garage and even offers more rhythmic interest.

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