Smoakland Melts Minds with Their First Liquid Smoak EP, 'Morning Rituals'

Two years after launching their beloved Liquid Smoak mix series, dynamic duo Smoakland has crafted a liquid drum and bass EP all their own.

Smoakland’s musical talent and respective personalities, both on and off stage, have proven hard not to fall in love with as their faithful following continues to grow. Last year was absolutely massive for the bass duo as they saw their busiest year of touring yet. From performing at major festivals like Lightning in a Bottle and Electric Forest to supporting huge names like Liquid Stranger and Zeds Dead, it’s safe to say Smoakland had a breakout year.

While they might be known for their dubstep releases, it’s been no secret that these two have always had an unmatched love for drum and bass. Some of their earliest releases, like their remixes of Brandy’s “I Wanna Be Down” and Zeds Dead‘s “Hadouken,” have combined dubstep and drum and bass elements, and they began to tap into the melodic side of things with their original Liquid Smoak mix in late 2020. This hour-long mix featured their own remix of Shamil’s “Focus,” as well as hits like “Touch” by Hybrid Minds and “Unsaid” by Pola and Bryson, and was an immediate hit that had fans eagerly awaiting the next.

The second volume of Liquid Smoak dropped in 2021 and easily stole the hearts of fans once again, while the third landed in December of last year, containing sneak previews of an entire EP’s worth of Smoakland’s own liquid drum and bass creations. Now, Morning Rituals has finally arrived via their label, Left Coast Records and the duo alluded to this EP being just the first of plenty more Liquid Smoak originals to come.

Morning Rituals kicks off with the opening track of Liquid Smoak III, “Falling Down.” In theme with the EP’s namesake, morning birdsongs echo atop a lush soundscape to introduce the track, creating a calming, sun-softly-rising image in the mind’s eye. Sparks fly when the beat finally drops for an uplifting wave of drums and silky-smooth percussion fit for an opening track.

“Hold On” is the second tune and was released as a single earlier this month to build excitement for Morning Rituals. UK-based vocalist Megan Linnell drives the emotions home in this vibrant beat, with lyrics encouraging everyone to sing along. Sultry synths and basslines take control of the soundscape on “We’re on Fire” for a bit of a switch-up with even higher energy. While every track is going to pull heartstrings live, this one, in particular, is going to go crazy on the dancefloor. “Empty Room” is the final track and offers a melancholic, piano-driven beat with yet another dose of emotional lyrics to perfectly complete this in-your-feels body of work.

The Liquid Smoak mix series and its popularity planted the seed for Morning Rituals and all of the melodic tunes to come from the Smoakland duo, and we can’t wait to hear what’s next from them in this realm and others. Be sure to head over to Spotify or your preferred platform to get lost in your emotions.