The album marks WheelUP's evolution, spiritual and sonic, breaking from his celebrated broken beat legacy to explore new frontiers in his production. The album’s title track, 'Inner Light', sits centrepiece in the album, pulling together its dynamic, high-spirit threads with global groove overtones and sax-led strut.
'Inner Light' is centred around “the guiding life force (what is called Chi energy in Eastern cultures),” WheelUP explains, emitting positive energy through thoughts, decisions and actions. He adds “The project represents a musical vibration that aligns with my own inner light.” 'Inner Light', ventures into house and disco cuts, alongside WheelUP’s signature mastery of broken beat production, showcasing his resourceful artistry and genre-spanning vision. “I think my sound is in constant evolution,” he adds.
Opening the album is 'Angel', made with label mate Steven Bamidele, a neo-soul-tinged, funk-filled disco number. “It’s a new direction of travel musically, one which I am very much enjoying.“ WheelUP adds, the perfect introduction to his branching out. Steven appears later on 'Take My Word' which carries through the funky disco feel, with bass licks and tropical percussion.
Amongst the collaborations is Sean McCabe, “A legend in house music” as WheelUP describes. The Bristol-based producer has amassed an impressive discography, delivering inspired reworks for labels like Local Talk, Z Records, Strictly Rhythm, Room Control, Tribe, Quantize and his own label Good Vibrations Music. A self-confessed lover of “vintage synthesisers – picked up from listening to classic New York boogie and ‘80s soul”, which can be heard through 'Commit To Sound'. The vintage synths and nostalgic chords are paired with a crisp modern finish and samba-esque percussion. A deep broken beat cut, the track is reminiscent of early 4hero.
Victoria Port, the vocalist in WheelUP's live band, features prominently across the album, lending her signature warmth and ethereal vocals. “Victoria brings a wholesome energy and angelic vocal delights,” WheelUP shares. “She’s such a positive, sweet-hearted person. I love making music with her just as much as performing live.”
Port’s vocals grace tracks including 'Voice Inside', 'Find A Way', and 'Duality', culminating in a high-energy finale on 'Night Vision with Abacus'. On this club banger, the trio locks into a driving house groove, with tight drum syncopation and peak-hour intensity. “'Night Vision' is probably my first fully defined house record,” says WheelUP. “I went in on the synths to channel a Kaytranada-esque, Quincy Jones, and Neptunes-style warmth.” The result is a feel-good closer that leaves the album on a euphoric high.
The project follows a recent tour across China and WheelUP’s sophomore album, ‘We Are The Magic’, along with recent remixes, including his take on Alice Russell’s Rain and fresh reworks of his tracks by Wipe The Needle, Afriquoi, and Makoto.
Tracklist:
1. Angel
2. Voice Inside
3. Flash
4. Best You
5. Commit to Sound
6. Inner Light
7. Find a Way
8. Duality
9. Take My Word
10. Magnetic
11. Juggle
12. Tepid
13. Safe in Your Arms
14. Night Vision
