Mixtape Mondays: The Heatwave, Hipsters Don’t Dance, DJ Mellow, DJ Mess

Words by Deejay Theory —

It’s Carnival season in London, and Notting Hill makes its triumphant return to the streets this weekend. If you’re one of the fortunate people attending the fete you’re covered — for the rest of us press play below to catch a slice of the energy via some loud mixes from The UK, Belgium and even Slovakia.

The Heatwave, Carnival Bashment 2013: Every year at this time our folks at The Heatwave lace their network of loyal ravers with a collection of some of the most anticipated reggae, dancehall and soca anthems that will soon rattle the streets. Producing one of the wildest bashment parties around with their regular Hot Wuk night, this team has all the right ingredients to serve up a well proper Carnival experience from start to finish. Slip some rum in your beverage and toss this on for a quick trip to the madness wherever you might be. If you’ll be at the real thing check out their massive Hot Wuk Truck Party this Saturday the 24th. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

Hipsters Don’t Dance, World Carnival #5: Also well familiar with all the big tunes that have been running the dance this year are the DJ/promotion/radio/blog team at London’s Hipsters Don’t Dance. Their diverse World Carnival mix series drops every year right before Notting Hill, but rather than feature the likely forwards they cross the board more globally incorporating some of the lesser-expected but equally boom tunes from The UK, Jamaica, Trinidad, Ghana and Nigeria. Lovers of dancehall, there’s always some remix versions to switch up the thing on HDD mixes, which this round includes gems from So Shifty x Natalie Storm and Dubbel Dutch x Aidonia. The HDD crew also happen to be throwing their World Carnival party this Saturday the 24th, more info on that here. Stream and download below, tracklist here.

DJ Mellow, Summer Mix Pt. 1: Dancehall Session: Wicked new mix from Brussels-based DJ Mellow, making his MM debut with this thick global bass roundup. This should make its way into the Carnival playlist same way as the dancehall and soca tapes to add some extra pepper. Working with Low Up Records and recruiting folks like Murlo and Serocee to the ting, Mellow definitely has a keen hand for tracking down some heavyweight tropical riddims and remixes, flexing some of that right here. Run it below, download here.

DJ Mess, Socaration 05: Couldn’t be a Carnival post without a 100% soca mix to round it out. Slovakia’s DJ Mess passes through MM with this all-out soca megamix reeling off over 60 singles, remixes and a handful of specials — should definitely note the Slovakian soca artists blended in there as well. If soca is your flavor or you just need an extra push at the gym this week, try this one on. Stream and download below, tracklist here.