DJ Hank is a producer who lives on the Westside of Chicago where, aged 18, his introduction into the world of footwork, and inspiration to start producing, came from attending the Battlegroundz footwork battle night. His UK garage-meets-footwork hybrids have been a key part of Kode9’s sets for the last few years, featuring in the Burial & Kode9 mix for Mary Anne Hobbs back in 2018.

The ‘City Stars’ EP is crystalline and minimal, eschewing the classic footwork drum sound of the Roland 808 for a wider percussive palette. Previously, he sped up and remixed garage tracks for footwork speed, but here he's synthesised a new sound that integrates both sides.

Across six high energy tracks, the chopped, cyborgian R & B samples and swung rhythms of classic 2-step are rebuilt at 160bpm. The marimba and bells of early ‘80s Japanese ambient, inspired by listening to Mkwaju
Ensemble and Midori Takada, are also integrated into the mix, especially on the EP’s two closing tracks, ‘Kiosko’ and ‘Mkwa’, giving the music an additional retro-futurist refresh.