Hey there, music lovers! If you're anything like me, you've been craving that fresh wave of UK garage that's been bubbling up in 2025 – you know, those infectious beats that make you want to rewind and replay the good times all night long. Well, buckle up because Denham Audio, piri, and Tommy Villiers just unleashed "Heavy Handed," and it's straight fire. This track is a perfect storm of dance pop energy, future garage vibes, and classic UK garage shuffle that's got the underground buzzing and the dancefloors shaking. Releasing under the powerhouse HARD Recs label, it's the kind of song that hits like a 2 a.m. warehouse party in your living room. If you're searching for new UK garage tracks to add to your playlist, this one's a must – trust me, it's got that nostalgic yet futuristic edge that's dominating the scene right now.
Let's dive right in, shall we? Picture this: you're cruising in your 16v hatchback, Kenwood system blasting, and suddenly this breakbeat NRG kicks in. "Heavy Handed" opens with those insane jungle-rooted breaks courtesy of Denham Audio, layered over pulsating basslines that feel like they're designed to rattle your speakers. Then piri's airy, emotive vocals float in like a breath of fresh air – light, playful, and oh-so-relatable. She's singing about partners getting a little too rough in the bedroom, drawing from personal stories and those cheeky friend confessions, turning intimacy into a high-energy anthem. It's tender yet euphoric, blending emotional release with dancefloor-ready momentum. And don't sleep on Tommy Villiers' luminous guitar riffs – they add this warm, shimmering texture that elevates the whole thing from solid to unforgettable. The production is precise, with Denham Audio anchoring it all in that off-kilter future garage rhythm: chopped vocals, filtered reese basses, and dark atmospheres that make it feel both nostalgic and ahead of its time. Clocking in at just over three minutes, it's punchy, replayable, and screams UK garage revival 2025.
Now, a quick spotlight on these talented folks because their backgrounds make "Heavy Handed" even more exciting. Denham Audio, the UK-based trio of Jon, Emilio, and Peri (who met while living on Denham Road – cute, right?), are absolute tastemakers in the electronic underground. They've been dropping rave-ready EPs since the early 2010s, blending hardcore, jungle, hip-hop, and even sci-fi influences into their sound. Their breakout "Make Me" has racked up over 45 million streams, earning props from BBC Radio 1 and Rinse FM. As part of the Club Glow collective, they're all about that breakbeat NRG, and upcoming sets at Hootananny Brixton and The Warehouse Project's Halloween bash show they're just getting started. This track follows their collab "Undaground" with Ejeca, proving Denham Audio's knack for high-stakes, bass-heavy drops.
Then there's piri – real name Sophie Leigh McBurnie – the Manchester-born powerhouse who's been killing it in the dance pop and UK garage space. Half of the iconic duo piri & tommy (with none other than our collaborator Tommy Villiers), she first blew up on TikTok in 2021 with "Soft Spot," a viral hit that praised from Charli XCX herself and amassed millions of streams. Influenced by Disclosure, MJ Cole, and PinkPantheress, piri's style mixes DnB, disco, pop, and that signature UK garage bounce. She's dropped collabs like "Body Language" with Omar+ and "Guts" with Ellie Dixon this year alone, and as a founding member of the Loud LDN collective (championing women and non-binary artists in UK dance), she's all about inclusivity and raw emotion. Her vocals here? Pure dopamine – light and floating over those breaks like they're meant to be.
Tommy Villiers rounds out this dream team, bringing his multifaceted talents from Saffron Walden roots. A Royal Northern College of Music alum, he started with drum and bass on SoundCloud before co-founding bands like Porij and See Thru Hands. As piri's production partner in piri & tommy, they've charted with bangers like "On & On" and their mixtape froge.mp3, blending garage with hyperpop flair. Even post-split (they're still collabing, thankfully), Tommy's been remixing tracks like Mackwood's "Thunder" and dropping guitar-driven gems. His crisp instrumentation and warm riffs on "Heavy Handed" add that luminous pop edge, making it a bridge between underground UK garage and mainstream dance pop appeal.
What's cool about "Heavy Handed" is how it ties into the bigger picture of UK garage trends in 2025. The genre's having a massive revival – think the 20-year cycle bringing back those shuffled 2-step rhythms, soulful vocals, and gritty basslines, but with modern twists like grime, minimal dubstep, and deep house fusions. Artists are experimenting with tighter low-ends, cleaner mixes, and hyperpop influences, making it perfect for underground raves and festival stages alike. HARD Recs, the label behind this drop, is killing it too – founded in 2017 as an offshoot of Insomniac's HARD Events, they're all about innovative electronic sounds, from bass-heavy bangers to melodic masterpieces. They've got a roster pushing boundaries, and releasing on August 22, 2025, this track fits right into their ethos of high-energy yet tender cuts. It's playful, cheeky, and subtly educational on intimacy, all while serving as a dancefloor weapon. In a year where UK garage is blending with global influences like Brazilian funk and Aussie tormentors, "Heavy Handed" stands out as a Brit-core gem.
If you're hunting for new music in the dance pop UK garage niche, tracks like this are gold – they're shareable, vibe-heavy, and perfect for those late-night scrolls. Stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, or SoundCloud; it's already climbing the charts with early support from DJs everywhere. What do you think of this collab's sound? Does it hit that future garage sweet spot for you, or are you all about the classic 2-step? Drop your thoughts in the comments below – I love hearing what gets you moving!
And hey, if you're an up-and-coming artist itching to get your UK garage or dance pop tracks out there, don't sleep on distribution. Platforms like DistroKid make it super easy to upload to Spotify, Apple, and beyond, keeping 100% of your royalties and getting you on playlists fast. Plus, with this link, you'll score a sweet 7% off your membership: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2058328. It's a game-changer for indies looking to build buzz without the hassle – trust me, in this competitive scene, getting distributed right can skyrocket your reach.
There you have it – "Heavy Handed" is the UK garage anthem we didn't know we needed for 2025. Go spin it, share it, and let's keep the rewind going. Until next time, keep the beats dropping!
