Parisian producer Darius take cue from Kadhja Bonet on electro-soul ballad "NOTHING TO ME"

The quantised wooze of Darius’ latest offering reverberates on the most chill of frequencies, echoing between Shoreditch House’s rooftop pool playlist and the setting sun itself. Topped with Kadhja Bonet’s high flying vocals, the Parisian producer gives us a masterclass in neo-soul, whilst simultaneously showcasing his DAW chops.

“I have been in awe of Kadhja Bonet […] from the very first listen, I was touched and obsessed by her angelic voice and her soulful, sixties pop compositions,” shares Darius. Soon, they got in contact via Instagram and linked up in what can only be imagined as a studio decked out to the (sy)nth degree.

The result is a track that moves away from the four-on-the-floor of Darius’ brand of house/disco which has been refined over his past releases. Rather, the lavish use of filters and a Fender Rhodes makes “NOTHING TO ME” sound like French Touch on one too many downers, as the instrumental stumbles beneath Bonet’s cryptic lyrics, the pair ascend to the land of spicy margaritas and immaculate vibes.

Sonically inspired by the “psychedelic sounds of the ’70s mixed with electronic music”, it’s clear that Darius is no amateur behind the desk. The cleanliness of the production makes the track gleam as if the song itself is affirming from the next sun lounger along that ‘everything’s crisp’.

Reflecting on the hurdles of the track’s inception, Darius tells Best Fit that “the real challenge in producing "NOTHING TO ME" was matching Bonet’s voice as much as possible on an instrumental level.” Bringing more power and depth to his melodies, all the while finding influence in the likes of Tame Impala, Mild High Club, and Toro Y Moi, the textures weaved by Darius are silky.

Bonet is “part of these inspirations,” he closes, “and I think that subconsciously all these inspirations of the psychedelic sounds of the ‘70s mixed with electronic music came back. In the end, I am very proud of the result.”