“Every time you look at me, I can’t believe my eyes,” Lucy Lucy sings on “Dancing in the Leaves,” the latest ethereal single to emerge from the What So Not and Buunshin collboration.
Beautiful words about a new love interest? Think again. Born from a chance encounter with a swarm of ducks in the Netherlands, “Dancing in the Leaves” is actually “an attempt to capture the unfathomable love given to you by your pet,” What So Not explained on his TikTok.
“Dancing in the Leaves” is a soaring, dreamy, and glitch-driven DNB track, with the lightest of drums and audible crackling static hanging heavily in the air. Every so often, Lucy Lucy’s delicate vocals are emphasized with a glitchy guitar run and synth-y chords. “So lovely,” the lyrics proclaim – but also a fitting description of the song itself.
Since the inception of the What So Not project (real ones remember when he was a duo with Flume!), Emoh has continuously pushed the boundaries of sonic storytelling in electronic music. He was early to the peak trap days with tracks like “Jaguar” and “Tell Me” in the 2010’s, and he was early to the 2020’s resurgence of DNB in the US with 2019’s “Oogahdamn!” Since then, he’s really found his stride in the DNB world, carving a niche in the more minimal, experimental side of the genre. With “Dancing in the Leaves,” he really showcases just how far he’s come.
Buunshin, a hot rising name in DNB, was a perfect choice for the collab; the two artists had also teamed up earlier last month for another similarly dreamy DNB single, “Threads.” Originally a science teacher, Buunshin credits his foray into DNB to his fascination to the technical aspects of the genre. Finally, enlisting Lucy Lucy (a What So Not favorite; she’s racked up credits on no less than 5 WSN tracks!) on vocals was another perfect choice to round out the trifecta.
Overall, “Dancing in the Leaves” is an emotionally rich, technically masterful release, carrying the listener on a journey of both energy and emotion. Check it out, now streaming on platforms everywhere!