With a legacy spanning over three decades, George Evelyn—better known as Nightmares on Wax—has continually redefined the possibilities of sound. From the sample-rich days of Smokers Delight to the introspective and transformative journey of Shout Out! To Freedom, he’s created a body of work that isn’t just about music, but emotional resonance, culture, and evolution. With Echo45 Sound System, N.O.W takes that lineage a step further—a mixtape that feels like both a celebration and a declaration. And it's more than a compilation—it's a living, breathing sound system experience that merges soul, roots, hip-hop, dub, and electronic textures with fearless spirit. Featuring a carefully curated ensemble of collaborators—including Yasiin Bey, Greentea Peng, Sadie Walker, Liam Bailey, and more—the record doesn’t just reflect where Nightmares on Wax has been. It boldly announces where he’s going.
Growing up deep in the sound system culture of Leeds, George dropped a fiver, courtesy of his mum, on a battered old speaker box he dubbed “Echo45”. Turns out that box would link him up with Kevin Harper, one of the founding members of N.O.W., a chance meeting that, without it, might have changed the course of his life entirely.
Opener Echo45, We Are! featuring Oscar Jerome sets the tone with a rallying call—both grounding and uplifting. What follows is a genre-fluid journey that sways between deep grooves, conscious lyricism, and ethereal production. Dive Into with Louis VI simmers with jazzy ease, while Desire blends the timeless soul of Liam Bailey and Haile Supreme into a nostalgic slow burn. Then comes Bang Bien—the first single and a standout collaboration with Yasiin Bey. It’s a fusion of futuristic beatwork and social commentary that pulses with global urgency. Moments like this remind us why N.O.W remains at the vanguard—bridging eras and continents with ease.
The project’s emotional center I Remember is a deeply affecting cut featuring Greentea Peng. It’s reflective, vulnerable, and rich in texture—what Evelyn has always done best: create music that listens back. Other key highlights include True and Starwood Bound with Sadie Walker, whose voice delivers both fragility and force. Tracks like Mumzie Riddim and Hop-to-Mystic bring a familiar warmth via Liam Bailey, anchoring the project in dub-heavy, soulful comfort. Cuts and scratches throughout the continuous mix are decorated by the legendary Scratch Bastid.
Throughout Echo45, Evelyn weaves in the voices of UK scene elders and tastemakers—vocal drops from multiple contemporaries such as Gilles Peterson, Goldie, Daddy G, Natasha Diggs and more nod to the cultural weight and history of sound system culture. These additions ground the mixtape in a UK lineage while opening the floor to new interpretations of what that lineage can become. Yet for all its collaborative energy, Echo45 still feels unmistakably Nightmares on Wax. The production is effortless—deeply rooted, yet endlessly expansive. The record breathes with purpose: a sonic manifesto of unity, freedom, and forward momentum. In a time when music often chases the moment, Echo45 invites us to slow down and feel it. As with his best work, Evelyn’s latest creation isn't just about the sound—it's about the space it creates. A space to reflect, connect, and imagine. With Echo45, Nightmares on Wax reasserts himself as a cultural force—not nostalgic, but timeless. A master curator of mood and message, George Evelyn continues to bottle the past and pour it into the future.
….Don Letts aka The Rebel Dread
