The Ninth Volume of This Never Happened’s ‘Root to Branch’ is Sublime

MALIAN, Rob Hes, and Olga Berg are the featured artists on the ninth volume of This Never Happened’s Root to Branch compilation.

While Lane 8 has looked to some major artists in the scene to grace his label with impressive tunes over the years, there’s more to what This Never Happened offers for fans of melodic house. Curated singles and EPs from global artists championing the sound have found a home on the imprint during this time, but the label has also dug deeper to showcase what the future holds on their Root to Branch compilation series. Artists like Jerro, OCULA, Avoure, and more have made their debut via this series, and now the ninth edition brings three more artists you should become familiar with.

German duo MALIAN leads the charge on Root to Branch, Vol. 9 with “Wake Up,” which sees them team up with Luis Kuper. Lane 8 mentioned that this track was a bit faster than they normally release on the imprint in a post on Instagram, but he felt it fit nicely from a sonic perspective. From the fluttering beat to the vocal inclusion and touch of piano notes, this one is a gem. MALIAN’s second offering, “Barco,” slows the pace but then booms with strings that will spark a fire deep inside you as you bust a move.

Pursuit Recordings owner Rob Hes offers the next two tracks on the compilation to act as a proper bridge. Joey White joins him on “Tribes From Mars” for a spacey ride that will make you feel as if you’re traversing the Red Planet and exploring its arid landscape. You’ll find “Paradise” soon enough when the second helping from him arrives as Paralel lends his helping hand to create a lush soundscape that wraps around the mind.

Olga Berg is one of the freshest artists to surface in the Root to Branch series. This Moscow-based DJ and producer began her journey in 2020 and might not have many releases under her belt, but she clearly caught the ear of Lane 8. The closing two tracks, “Rozen” and “3db,” provide a hypnotic ride for listeners to embark on as they’re swept away into her immense soundscapes, with the former offering a flourish of vocals while the latter sees her flex her deep, brooding style.

Listen to Root to Branch, Vol. 9 on Spotify or your preferred platform, and stay tuned for more from This Never Happened as we approach the final months of 2023.

Stream Root to Branch, Vol. 9 on Spotify:

Root to Branch, Vol. 9 – Tracklist:

Luis Kuper & MALIAN – Wake Up

MALIAN – Barco

Rob Hes & Joey White – Tribes From Mars

Rob Hes & Paralel – Paradise

Olga Berg – Rozen

Olga Berg – 3db

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