Richie Blacker, one of Danny Howard’s Future Fire artists of 2021, has returned to Armada Music for his solo debut on the label. Released in the wake of his last release on Armada Electronic Elements ‘Kitchen Party’ with UK duo My Friend, ‘Wizards Of E’ is the first in a series of four singles from Belfast-born talent.
Listen to Richie Blacker - Wizards Of E
Written in his studio above Belfast’s White Dragon Tattoo, Richie Blacker’s ‘Wizards Of E’ nods to the rave scene of the early ‘90s whilst flaunting the core elements that would make it a dance floor staple today. Captained by inspiring chords, up-tempo beats and vocals drenched in nostalgia, this thoroughly uplifting production sets the tone for the upcoming singles1.
“‘Wizards of E’ is an uplifting nod back to the early-‘90s rave scene,” Richie Blacker says. “It has euphoric pads, rave speed breaks, drums and percussion, infectious M1 pianos and catchy female old-school vocals, and I think it really captures that era perfectly. The track turned out exactly how I wanted and I’m absolutely buzzing that Armada believe in it as much as I do.”
ABOUT RICHIE BLACKER
A DJ and producer forged in the Irish underground club and rave scene, Richie Blacker has ushered in the most exciting new sound in years: a collision of house, techno and rave records from the early ‘90s melded together to create an elusive, original sound of his own. ‘Summer of Rave 89’, released in late July 2020, has been a game changer for Richie; it was exclusively in the hands of Skream, who played it a year before release, and was kept as a secret weapon at festivals and clubs to get the crowd jumping. Skream decided to release it on his Of Unsound Mind label alongside two other euphoric rave tracks including ‘Sesh Gremlins’. These releases gained full support from BBC Radio 1 tastemakers Danny Howard and Pete Tong, who championed the releases for many consecutive weeks on their show. Richie rocketed to the top of the Beatport charts and held the number 1 position for over a month. With support coming from the likes of Sasha, John Digweed and Adam Beyer, and with numerous Radio 1 plays under his belt, he is a new rising star in the electronic house scene.