“A modern take on broken beat. The inspiration continues” – Gilles Peterson
“The epitome of West London’s sound” – Toddla T
“Broken beat legend!” – Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra)
“A hero to the broken beat scene” – TRENCH
“Honorary Bugz” –Afronaut (Bugz in the Attic)
WheelUP is the moniker of West London’s broken beat revivalist, producer, DJ – Danny Wheeler. Holding down radio residences on stations such as Balami, Worldwide FM and 1BTN, WheelUP has had releases on CoOperation Records, Jamz Supernova’s imprint Future Bounce, his home label Tru Thoughts, plus boasting remixes for Goldie’s Fallen Tree 1Hundread and Wah Wah 45s. All in all Danny has cemented the WheelUP name as part of the new school of bruk.
WheelUP’s debut album ‘Good Love’ released in 2021 via Tru Thoughts, featured the likes of Afronaut (Bugz in the Attic), Abacus (Pola & Bryson) and label-mate Tiawa, and followed with remixes from Daz-I-Kue, Anushka, Yadava and Thijsenterprise. The album was heavily praised for its resurgent broken beat sound by the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC 6Music), Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra), Benji B (BBC Radio 1), Bonobo, Ben UFO, Emma Jean-Thackray, Laurent Garnier and many more. “Take Me Higher feat. Tiawa”, the second single from the record, was playlisted on BBC 6Music.
‘We Are The Magic’ is the sophomore album from WheelUP and is set for release in 2023 via Tru Thoughts. Built around concepts such as the law of attraction, humanitarianism, and spiritualism – ‘We Are The Magic’ adds to the broken beat canon while showcasing WheelUP’s most mature and forward-thinking work to date. The LP boasts contributions and collaborations with a host of talent: Kaidi Tatham, Sam Interface, Abacus, Victoria Port (Anushka), Toya Delazy, Spaceship Coyote, Destiny Will, Brint Story, Steelo and more.
As an artist, producer and DJ of dual Zimbabwean and British heritage, growing up in the epicentre of bruk that is West London, it was only natural that Danny would gravitate towards the ‘West London Sound’; as WheelUP puts it: “It’s in my musical DNA”. Originating from the drum and bass world as Danny Wheeler, WheelUP follows the footsteps and lineage of 4hero, evolving from jungle/D&B to broken beat/bruk and was knighted an “honorary Bugz” by the original dons of broken beat, Bugz in the Attic, due to WheelUP’s work in pushing the bruk sound to new audiences.
Since the world has reopened, WheelUP has been taking his live and DJ sets to clubs and festivals like Shambala, Lost Village, Love Supreme, We Out Here, Kendal Calling, Brick Lane Jazz Festival, Night Tales (b2b with Jamz Supernova that was broadcasted on both her BBC shows) and many more. After his debut London headline show at Paper Dress Vintage, WheelUP launched his own club night, aptly titled ‘WheelUP Presents’, inviting key inter-generational players in the broken beat scene such as Afronaut, Jamz Supernova and Ben Hauke to the stage, as well as performing alongside the likes of jazz stalwart Emma-Jean Thackray and broken beat legend Kaidi Tatham on the London circuit.