Drum-and-bass-pop-fusion duo, piri & tommy have had a remarkable trajectory to success since their formation in 2021. Their singles ‘on & on’ and ‘soft spot’ made waves on TikTok, before peaking on the UK charts. This led to further syrupy and feel-good alt-dance tunes that fizz with 90s nostalgia, whilst their debut froge.mp3, released in October 2022, seemed emblematic of the real-life couple’s loved up charisma which their fans have always loved them for.
‘Feel It’, their most recent release, is a bit of a milestone for their careers. Not only is it a collaboration with one of the late 90s most iconic electronic names: UK garage pioneer MJ Cole, but also as it marks the duo’s amicable split. Both professionally and personally, they’re no longer a couple.
Yet, however sad this finale might be no tune could have marked it better than ‘Feel It’. MJ seems to take the reins in forming the UK garage-oriented beat, whilst Tommy’s cloudy guitar textures are used to full jazzy effect here. Up until this point, the duo have mainly used electric guitar in their live shows. As such, it’s a great to see them embracing, in their studio work, how their sound has evolved.
Throughout the tune, old school and new school garage collide as the 2-step beat skitters over piri’s light-hearted vocal-lines “keep it up, I know I’ll be catching feelings / I can’t stop, give me something cos I need it”. It’s all unashamedly summery and joyous tune, ready-made for festivals in the coming year. In a certain sense, it’s disappointing to see a duo with piri & tommy’s popularity go their separate ways. But on the other hand, it’s exciting to see them marking this point in their careers by collaborating with an electronic-name as iconic as MJ Cole. If dance artists as young as the former two can build themselves up to work with veterans of their genre, there’s not much to be concerned or disappointed about. I’d even say that, in the hands of drum-and-bass forerunners like piri and Tommy Villiers the future of dance music looks bright.
Words by Caradoc Gayer
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