Australian producer JVLY is expanding the borders of his sonic universe once again, this time handing the keys to Sydney outfit Mel Blue for a transformative take on his single ‘SOUTH’. The release serves as a compelling teaser for the upcoming 'SUNDERLUXE' EP— a comprehensive reimagining of his 2025 'SUNDER' project.
While the original version of ‘SOUTH’ relied on a certain "wonky" rhythmic tension to mirror the repetitive cycles of human behaviour, Mel Blue has steered the track into deeper, more atmospheric waters. The Sydney trio, known for blending London’s underground club culture with a distinct sense of nostalgia, have stripped back the urgency in favour of patience and texture. The result is a slow-burning piece of electronica that feels tailor-made for the quiet hours after midnight, swapping dancefloor energy for spacious, immersive grooves and softened percussion.
This collaboration follows a string of international and local reworks from the likes of France’s Contrecoeur and Brisbane-based Lemonade Baby. By bringing Mel Blue into the fold, JVLY continues to broaden the palette of 'SUNDERLUXE', which is set to feature a remix for every track on the original EP alongside a previously unheard B-side from the initial sessions.
Discussing the partnership, JVLY shared: “I’ve been a big fan of Mel Blue for a while now, so when I heard they were into 'SOUTH' and keen to do their own version, I was so hyped. Their stuff always has this beautiful mix of soul and nostalgia and energy that l knew they would bring to the track. 'SOUTH' is about these repeated loops we can get ourselves stuck in sometimes, and their remix just hit me when I first heard it because it just nailed that feeling in such a fresh way. To me it sort of feels like something you’d hear in Trainspotting, that vintage UK sound I love, but at the same time it’s super forward-thinking, and it just has this nostalgic feeling that perfectly hits what I was trying to capture with this song.”
For Mel Blue, the goal was to shift the emotional perspective of the track entirely. “The original feels to us like a moody reflection on needing to be more honest with yourself and in a relationship,” the band explained. “We wanted to take our rework of the track to a place where this realisation would feel like acceptance. We wanted to focus on the joy that comes with growing.”
You can stream the Mel Blue remix of ‘SOUTH’ on all major platforms now. Be sure to follow JVLY and Mel Blue on social media to stay updated on the full 'SUNDERLUXE' release and upcoming tour dates.
