Nightmares On Wax

With a legacy spanning over three decades, Warp Records longest serving artist George Evelyn - better known as Nightmares On Wax - has continually redefined the possibilities of sound. From the sample-rich days of Smokers Delight and Carboot Soul to the introspective and transformative journey of In A Space Outta Sound and Shout Out! To Freedom, he’s created a body of work that isn’t just about music, but emotional resonance, culture, and evolution. Rooted in the sound system culture of Leeds, George’s journey began when - courtesy of his Mum - he spent £5 on a battered old speaker box he dubbed “Echo45” which changed the course of his life. With Echo45 Sound System, Nightmares On Wax takes that lineage a step further - a mixtape that feels like both a celebration and a declaration. And it's more than that- 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.

Echo45 Sound System is made up of 13 brand new tracks by Nightmares On Wax and also includes a special, full continuous mix which weaves in sound-design, toasting to create a truly unique stylised pirate radio inspired broadcast. It will be available digitally on November 14th and on gold vinyl 2LP on December 5th. “Bang Bien” - the first single and a standout collaboration with Yasiin Bey out today is a fusion of futuristic beatwork and social commentary that pulses with global urgency. Moments like this remind us why Nightmares On Wax, Warp Records longest serving artist, is a pioneer and remains at the vanguard - bridging eras and continents with ease.

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.

Throughout Echo45 Sound System, 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, Moxie, Cosmo and many more nod to the cultural weight and history of sound system culture. He enlists London-based menswear designer Nicholas Daley whose much celebrated work explores ideas around identity, heritage, and memory for the creative direction of the project, styling, overseeing photography and design of the merchandise line. These additions and collaborations 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 Sound System 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 Sound System, 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.