Exile, Lupole and Harry Shotta join forces on ‘Wishing & Waiting’, a vocal-led drum & bass collaboration arriving via Make Your Era, the label curated by Vibe Chemistry. Built around melodic hooks, expressive lyricism and detailed sound design, the track merges classic vocal DnB songwriting with contemporary production clarity. Buy/Stream it here: https://cygnusmusic.link/jkdxvok.
From its opening bars, ‘Wishing & Waiting’ carries a strong sense of character. Exile and Lupole construct a warm, melodic instrumental that nods subtly to early 2000s UK club culture while maintaining a polished modern edge. Rolling drums and fluid bass movement provide the track’s momentum, while layered harmonic elements create a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of Channel U-era garage and grime aesthetics, reinterpreted through a drum & bass framework.
At the centre of the record sits Harry Shotta, whose distinctive delivery brings narrative depth to the production. Known for his razor-sharp lyricism and effortless command across multiple BPM ranges, Shotta delivers verses that capture the emotional uncertainty of early-stage relationships. His writing taps into the familiar experience of anticipation, waiting for messages, counting the moments before seeing someone again. The result is a vocal performance that feels both personal and universally relatable, reinforcing the track’s crossover appeal across radio, festival stages and club systems alike.
The collaboration emerged naturally through the Make Your Era network, with Exile and Lupole first connecting through Vibe Chemistry before developing a creative partnership built around shared musical instincts. When the pair completed the instrumental, Harry Shotta was the immediate choice for the vocal. His ability to bridge rap, grime and drum & bass brought the final ingredient the record needed, transforming the track from a strong production into a fully realised song.
Musically, ‘Wishing & Waiting’ stands apart from the traditional intro-drop structure common within drum & bass. Instead, it follows a more song-oriented arrangement that places equal emphasis on melody, lyric and groove. This structure allows the track to move fluidly between listening environments, from radio play and personal listening to festival crowds and late-night club moments.
For Make Your Era, the release reinforces the label’s commitment to supporting collaborations that expand the creative boundaries of bass-driven music. Founded by Vibe Chemistry, the imprint has become a space where emerging producers and established voices can connect, experiment and define their own direction within contemporary drum & bass culture.
‘Wishing & Waiting’ highlights exactly that ethos. Three artists from different creative backgrounds combine on common ground, delivering a record that blends nostalgia, emotional storytelling and forward-thinking production.
Exile
Instagram – Spotify – SoundCloud
Lupole
Instagram – Spotify – SoundCloud
Harry Shotta
Instagram – Spotify – SoundCloud
Make Your Era
