Denham Audio, piri and Tommy Villiers Provide a Crash Course in Intimacy With Lofty, Vocal-Led Drum & Bass Single “Heavy Handed” via HARD Recs
Born from three corners of the UK’s electronic underground, Denham Audio, piri, and Tommy Villiers collide on “Heavy Handed,” a spellbinding drum and bass single landing August 22 on HARD Recs.
“Heavy Handed” glows with intimacy, led by piri’s airy vocals, which drift over jungle-rooted breaks, pulsating basslines, and shimmering atmospherics. Tommy Villiers injects warmth with luminous guitar riffs and crisp instrumentation, while Denham Audio locks the track into motion with rave-tested precision. The result is a high-energy yet tender cut, made of equal parts dancefloor euphoria and emotional release.
Being candid about how the single serves as somewhat of a crash course for intimacy behind closed doors, piri explains the underlying meaning of “Heavy Handed,” saying: “There’s no way to be coy about this, the song is about partners being a little too rough in the bedroom! It’s a real problem I’ve picked up on from my own experiences and countless stories from friends, and it was really nice to vent feeling this onto a track. It’s almost educational! The beat moves from being soft and sweet in the verses to really hard in the chorus to match the theme of the song, which I think is really cool. It reflects the contrast in the sensation I’m desiring in the song versus the frustrating reality of things. I love how you can literally FEEL the difference. I know this topic is not easy to bring up face-to-face, so maybe people can use this track to drop a subtle hint to their sneaky link!”
Each artist carries a weight of influence into this collaboration. Denham Audio first shook the global stage with “Make Me,” a breakout single boasting more than 45 million streams and championed across BBC Radio 1, Capital Dance, Rinse FM, Triple J, and beyond. His upcoming sets at Club Glow at Hootananny Brixton and The Warehouse Project’s Halloween blowout reinforce his standing as one of the UK’s sharpest tastemakers.
Originally based out of Manchester, piri & tommy had a meteoric rise nothing short of explosive, with their viral track “Soft Spot” hitting No. 20 on the UK Independent ‘Singles Breakers’ chart and a career total surpassing 225 million streams. Their recognition as a BBC and MTV “One To Watch”, as a TikTok No. 1, and a BBC Radio 1 “Hottest Record in the World” underscores their instinct for hooks that resonate well beyond the club.
Tommy has been tapped for remixes by Disclosure and LF System, collaborated with legends like MJ Cole and General Levy, whilst piri has collaborated with icons such as salute and the up and coming Omar+. Their sound consistently bridges UK garage, drum and bass, and indie pop with their own unique sound working across almost any genre.
Together, the trio craft “Heavy Handed” as both a tribute to drum and bass tradition and a forward-facing vision for where the genre is headed. With its balance of raw emotion, magnetic groove, and razor-sharp production, the single stands as a commanding statement from three of the UK’s brightest innovators.
