There’s something magnetic about a track that feels like coming up for air after holding your breath too long. That’s exactly the energy NURKO brings with “Back Home,” a standout cut from his debut album Solstice, which dropped on July 31. If you’ve been following the melodic bass scene, you already know Jack Leech’s work hits different—airy leads, emotional weight, and production that actually moves you. This one continues that tradition while fitting perfectly into the larger story he’s telling right now.
New York-based NURKO didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Coming from a family of musicians, he started on drums and piano young, mixing classical foundations with a deep love for electronic subgenres. Early singles like “Goodbye” and “Your Embrace” caught the ear of curators such as Chill Nation and MrSuicideSheep back in 2015. From there the streams stacked up—“Let Me Go,” “Sunsets,” and a Halsey “Without Me” remix that cleared 50 million views on YouTube. Collaborations and remixes with Gryffin, Seven Lions, Said The Sky, JVKE, Adventure Club, and Dabin followed. Then came the big one: “Sideways” with ILLENIUM and Valerie Broussard, which cracked the top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic chart and has pulled more than 40 million streams. His 2022 EP Arrival earned critical praise and launched a headlining run that included Webster Hall and the Hollywood Palladium. Signing to Astralwerks put him in the same company as Alesso, Alison Wonderland, and Chris Lake. Later projects like Discovery and 2024’s UNITED kept the momentum going.
Solstice is the full-length statement. Nineteen tracks of cinematic melodic bass, dance-pop accessibility, and indie-pop heart, built around the idea of turning toward the light. The album features a stacked guest list—Kiesza, iann dior, Micah Martin, Casey Cook, Crystal Skies, Amidy, Monika Santucci, VNDETTA, Stefan PVDS, and more. Themes of healing, heartbreak, hope, grief, and resilience run through the whole project, the same emotional territory that has connected NURKO with fans for years. “Back Home” sits right in that lane: future-bass textures, soaring melodic moments, and that signature airy production style that makes the whole thing feel both intimate and massive.
What makes the release land even harder is the Thrive Together initiative NURKO launched alongside the album. Under the banner “Healing through music. Together,” the project turns the emotional connection listeners already feel into real-world support—benefit concerts, awareness activations, storytelling, and partnerships with mental health organizations. NURKO has said he wants people to feel less alone. The music has always lived in that space; now he’s building infrastructure around it. An album-themed tour is set to be announced in October 2026 and will kick off in March 2027 with dates across major cities.
In a scene that sometimes prioritizes festival drops over lasting feeling, NURKO keeps choosing the harder, more human path. “Back Home” is another reminder that melodic bass can still carry real weight. Whether you’re already deep in the catalog or just discovering him through Solstice, this track rewards a proper listen.
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What do you think of NURKO’s latest chapter? Drop your thoughts on “Back Home” or the Solstice album in the comments—I’m curious which moments hit you hardest.
