Louis the Child has long been associated with a glittery and upbeat sound of happier times (Summer 2016, anyone?), known for their future bass/pop hits like “It’s Strange”, “Better Not”, and their massive remix of Ty Dolla $ign’s “Blasé”. Lately, however, they’ve started to make it clear to the world that they’re interested in branching out. In a recent Instagram reel, they laugh, “We just be making whatever the f*ck we want.”
On the tail of everything from a summer-y collab with Snakehips to a diabolical drum and bass remix of Charli XCX ‘Party 4 U’, the release of their latest collab with rising experimental bass artist Nikita, the Wicked proves they’re doing just that. The new track, “Hold Still”, features the heavier, darker side of LTC.
Robby and Freddy are no newcomers to a darker sound; in fact, the duo just dropped a bass-heavy set at Electric Forest with friends Daniel Allan, LYNY, and 33 Below, to rave reviews. And Nikita, the Wicked was an effective, if not pleasantly unexpected, choice for partner on this latest project. The self-proclaimed “dance music villain” has played for huge underground names (oxymoron?) like DEF and FUXWITHIT and opened for artists like Levity and Kayzo this past year.
“Hold Still” is the epitome of an LTC/Nikita brainchild – the perfect mix of Nikita’s filthy wubs and LTC’s trap beats – all over chopped vocals of Khia’s “My Neck, My Back” throughout. The entire song comes in at just under three minutes, but the artists used every second to immerse the listener with a heavy and dark bounce. Its dangerously thick buildups and massive second drop make the track sound somehow both festival- and warehouse afters-ready at the same time. With this new heater, LTC and Nikita prove that sometimes all we need for a banger hit is some grimy bass and a 2000’s hip-hop classic.