Premiere: Izy - Irene Remixes Vol 2

Forward thinking Aussie producers Silentjay, Sensible J and Kawel Che aka Maru Nitor-Zammataro work their magic on cuts from the neo-soul trio’s debut album.

Image credit: Kira Piru

After releasing the first volume of their Irene remixes last year, Naarm/Melbourne-based neo-soul trio Izy (pronounced eye-zee) continue their album remixes, returning with volume 2 that’s premiering on Pilerats today!

With their debut album Irene released back in 2021, we were treated to 10 cuts of jazzy, r&b-inflected neo soul goodness that channeled the likes of D’Angelo or Curtis Mayfield with their own special twist. The album is also packed with potential samples to be loaded up into an MPC or other beatmaking weapon of choice… so it’s no surprise the album spawned a bunch of remixes with Elle Shimada, Zepherin Saint and Osunlade all stepping up for housey flavours of Irene Remixes Vol 1.

Now it’s time for Izy to unleash Vol 2, this time calling in some of the big guns from the Aussie beatmaking scene taking things in more of a downtempo, beatsy direction, with Silentjay (Sampa The Great, Hiatus Kaiyote) and Sensible J (V V Brown, Remi) both turning in remixes, as well as Izy’s own drummer, Kawel Che aka Maru Nitor-Zammataro.

Opening proceedings is Sensible J’s take on Smile, flipping psychedelic jazz of the original into a bright, boom bap influenced affair. Next up are Kawel Che and T Surana, taking No Further You into a groove laden club anthem, taking cues from Latin-productions and a sprinkling of Jersey Club while featuring vocals from two exciting emerging First Nation’s vocalists, Jamahl Yami, and T Rookie T. Closing things out in dreamy, head nod inducing fashion is Silentjay’s appropriately titled “Jazz Cafe” remix of Out The Door.