At the turn of the century Dance music had a distinctive sound that Lagerhaus Techno with sweep trance Riffs that create an atmosphere that now conjures up memories of glow sticks, green lasers and parachute pants. Many artists today try to recapture this magic, but few succeed – until now. The British 1991 has managed to combine the essence of the late 90s and early 2000s with modern Drum and bass in his nostalgic dancefloor anthem “Jungle” with Alex Hosking.

Published on Chaos/Polydor 1991’s ‘Jungle’ was a festival favourite this summer, thanks to its high energy and seamless crossover appeal. Alex Hosking’s vocals are perfect for large rooms, and his lyrics stick in the mind like blank spots. An artist who has taken off in recent years, 1991 continues his streak of success following ‘Cyclone’, ‘Worlds Apart’ and ‘Horizon’. Just last week he hosted an intimate pop-up party on a packed boat in London to celebrate the new single, with Alex Hosking performing alongside him.

“‘Jungle’ was a crucial part of my sets this year,” says 1991. “It started with a fantastic vocal hook that my friend Alex Hosking sent me and I knew straight away that it would fit perfectly with an instrumental I was working on. I was inspired by the euphoria of trance at the turn of the millennium and that formed the overall theme for the track.”

There must be an unwritten rule that all drum and bass artists must mention the word “jungle” in one of their tracks to cement their place in the genre. Over the years, dozens of DNB producers have used “jungle” in their songs, paying homage to a cultural movement that represents a significant chapter in the history of British dance music. Jungle music is the precursor to drum and bass, combining elements of reggae, dancehall and hip hop with breakbeat rhythms, fast tempos and fat basslines. Although drum and bass and jungle are now different genres, they still share many common elements.

With “Jungle,” 1991 not only honors the roots of drum and bass, but also pushes its evolution forward, proving that the spirit of the genre and the community that spawned it is as alive as ever. Listen to 1991 and Alex Hosking’s “Jungle” below.

Photos courtesy of 1991 Instagram and Stoff London.