Right time, right place, fresh energy. Lara Sweeney a.k.a. London-based producer, DJ and vocalist Bklava has been dishing out irresistible anthems for buzzing dancefloors since 2019, when their debut single CNTRL (a link-up with UKG figurehead and early supporter Wookie) crash-landed amid a flurry of hype for the then-emerging artist and their heady blend of garage, house, breaks and live vocals.

Fusing a background in singing and songwriting with high-energy club bubblers, Bklava was named a “multifaceted, multitalented” rising star and a “quadruple threat” by the likes of Notion early on, with their 2020 self-titled debut EP for Ministry of Sound dubbed “essential lockdown listening” by Mixmag. The pandemic days could have slowed this speedy start. However, Bklava continued to connect with fans outside of physical club settings, via a Rinse FM slot and sets for the likes of The Warehouse Project, Mixmag’s The Lab LDN and BBC Radio 1’s iconic Essential Mix series.

Fast forward to today and Bklava’s stepping into a new independent chapter bookmarked by some major gear shifts, like the evolution of Spin Suga. Once a network for female, non-binary and gender non-conforming DJs and producers founded off the back of a uni dissertation exploring gender disparity in dance music, it now functions as an indie label, guided by the same formative intentions to support and champion those in Bklava’s community. It was inaugurated in October 2023 with Bklava banger Make It Work (which was tapped as a Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1) and, down the line, it will play host to new releases from underrepresented underground acts. Before that, though, it will welcome a bumping new Bklava mixtape that serves as an ode to the underground club culture that shaped who they are today. Bklava is taking cues from their own Autonomy EP as they embrace the future on their own terms.

The c u l8r mixtape reads like a subtle recalibration of the Bklava M.O. While past releases have largely centred them as a singer, emphasising their powerful voice, the mixtape reinforces the relationship between Bklava’s culture and their record bag. It shines a light on the darker, speedier DJ tools Bklava has drawn for since the very beginning, back when they’d play grassroots venues and cosy basement spots like Patterns in their former home city of Brighton. It also highlights Bklava’s production experience; they’ve been experimenting on Logic, learning from collaborators and honing their skills through remixes for the likes of Todd Edwards, Hamdi, Jessie Ware and Jamiroquai for some time now.

Their confidence in their own productions permeates the new project, on which Bklava strives to draw out emotions via beats, as opposed to the heavier themes and meticulous songwriting of previous endeavours. In the studio, they were inspired by the livewire energy, Korg M1 organ bass sound and walloping basslines that hooked them as a teenager. All Around Me – a collaboration with one of their “musical heroes” MJ Cole – is a fun and flirty bop with cooing synths and a hook that glues to the mind like trainers on a sticky dancefloor. Speed garage screw-facer Make Me (Wanna Move) with bullet tooth dares you to keep up, while a raucous collaboration with revered bassline pioneer Big Ang scratches that euphoria itch. Elsewhere, Free brings to mind the strong, vocal-led arrangements and soulful nature of ‘90s and ‘00s-era garage house – nodding once more to Bklava’s dance music discovery days.

They were studying Musical Theatre at the prestigious BRIT School back then. They binged radio stations such as Rinse FM and shows from DJ Spoony and Shadow Child, and would go digging for new artists and sub-genres on SoundCloud. UK house and dubstep were the go-tos within their friendship group, but garage house from across the pond held a special place in Bklava’s heart. Wide-eyed and ready for something new, they’d bounce around club nights drinking as much music as they could at college (and at university in Brighton). It was less about who was playing and more about the stimulation and exhilaration of nightlife settings; this idea of finding and losing oneself among like-minds and big tunes.

It’s not that they’d been removed from music before this. Rather, it had just been a different set of sounds reverberating through their childhood home in south London. Their father was into classic rock. He was similarly musical – writing music, playing guitars, singing and performing in a band – while their mother enjoyed dancing and drawing. Their parents’ interests piqued Bklava’s own, while their Irish and Lebanese backgrounds connected Bklava to two distinct musical heritages. As an artist, they have embraced their familial roots through sound and visuals; 2023 joyride It’s Your Time was accompanied by a video filmed in Beirut, with Bklava immersing themselves in a city and culture they last experienced as a child. (The trip followed a booked and busy travel year, where a slew of firsts – including a debut Boiler Room set at Belfast’s AVA Festival and a run of US gigs alongside piano house queen and Sinner sparring partner LP Giobbi – were ticked off in quick succession.)

The stars are aligning in a new formation for Bklava. Right now, their goal is to share club music that makes you feel good, and that makes them feel great too. It’s been liberating, humbling and self-affirming all at once, as they’ve navigated the new label and project, a move back from Brighton to London, and life as an independent artist. It’s no wonder they’re describing c u l8r as their truest body of work to date, combining longtime passions with newfound purpose. “Making it all fit, but making it make sense.”