Bristol’s own DJ Cosworth takes the wheel with Hard30 EP on his own Hardline imprint, with a debut that lives up to its name – three fierce, finely-tuned cuts that fuse tech house toughness with the rolling swagger of UK garage. This is music for dark rooms, low ceilings, and high energy.
Opening track Nuff Gyal kicks things off with serious intent – driving, no-nonsense percussion rides a warm, fuzzy bassline that feels almost soft to the touch, yet in Cosworth’s hands becomes a relentless engine. Snippets of dancehall-inflected vocals flicker in and out like taillights, while electro-tinged synths ripple over the top. It’s a brilliant blend of weight and playfulness – fierce but not cold.
Speaker (Boom Mix) strips things back further, all sharp edges and tension. The percussion is crisp and minimal, pads hover ghost-like, and vocal snippets slip into the gaps. But then – that bass. When it hits, it hits hard: drier, deeper, and totally dominating, pushing the track into darker territory without losing the groove.
Closing the set, 808 Deejay leans fully into its UKG roots while folding in enough sonic weirdness to keep things exciting. Arid synth stabs contrast with thick pads, and the whole thing is peppered with bleeps, squelches and a heavy low-end churn. It’s muscular, raw and detailed – a closing statement that feels like a dispatch from the heart of a thriving Bristol underground.
With Hard30, DJ Cosworth proves why he’s a name on the rise – this is bold, bass-heavy club gear that cuts straight through the noise.
