Faux Poly: End of Year Roundup

Throughout the past year we’ve released a diverse run of releases that captures the full spectrum of what we stand for as a label: club-focused tracks with feeling, personality, and purpose. From debut EPs and returning collaborators to new voices joining the label family for the first time, each release marked a distinct moment while contributing to a broader, evolving story. The throughline for this year was a shared commitment to craft and community: artists pushing their sound forward and records living and breathing on real soundsystems. 

This roundup is an opportunity for the Faux Poly team to reflect on those moments, celebrating the artists and records that shaped our year and helped define the direction of Faux Poly moving forward. Label founders Joe Danvers-McCabe & Warren Cummings (Kassian) are joined by label manager/partner Devin (D.D.) Curry and label assistant Nico Delaney (Marksson) to offer their thoughts on each of our 2025 releases, highlighting personal favourites and what makes each EP unique.

Launching 2025 for Faux Poly with their stunning debut EP Night Crush, Rosie and Nadia (Kiara Scuro) drew inspiration from their earliest gigs together and the nocturnal spaces that shaped their friendship, resulting in this beautiful three-track release. This EP was a highlight in our schedule and became a powerful statement to open the year, perfectly capturing everything we love: bold club music with heart and intention, with their own vocals sprinkled throughout to give it real personality. Night Crush has recently been listed as one of Resident Advisor’s Best Releases of 2025 - so huge congrats to Rosie and Nadia.

Joe: This is arguably the first ‘house’ leaning release that we’ve put out, the A1 ‘The Witching Hour’ has been essential for warming up pretty much every Kassian set since we got our hands on it.

Warren: Working on this release was amazing and we got to celebrate with everyone involved at one of our busiest album launches to date. I really love how strong and confident this EP balances dancefloor reliability with emotion, each track really brings a new flavour and feeling for the start, middle and end of a set.

Devin: This is one of those EPs to always keep on your stick.. Really fun, bouncy tunes that are beautifully and tastefully produced and fit a variety of sets. It makes sense that it’s the work of Kiara Scuro, who understands what really works on the dancefloor thanks to countless gigs. I absolutely love house music and “Twilight Tool” is one of the Faux Poly tunes that keeps finding its way into my sets.

Nico: Loved getting involved with this release as my first proper project with Faux Poly. It was great to celebrate it together at the launch party. Twilight Tool is a banker for me! 
 

German artist Jonas Landwehr was our first international act to join the label in 2025 with Ur Luv / Next2U, a sleek and emotionally charged two-tracker that quickly became one of our standout releases. Building on his signature blend of warm textures, inventive percussion, and subtle melody work, Jonas delivered a pair of tracks that feel deeply tactile and full of intimacy encapsulating the sound of the label perfectly. Ur Luv / Next2U is our first two-track release, and one we’ve been proud to champion throughout 2025.

Joe: We heard Jonas’ releases early in the year and immediately hit him up for some demos, he sent these two over and we just had to have them. The blend of weighty bass is so perfectly contrasted with those raw emotional vocals. A great way to uplift a set and throw some huge energy into the mix.

Warren: As our first double sided single really opened the doors for powerful two-trackers that don't necessarily over complicate a purpose or concept. It really lends itself to the 2025 dance scene and definitely inspired our first Kassian release on the label in a long time.

Devin: Jonas is such a talented producer with a great ear for melody and the little details that make a track really pop. These tracks flawlessly strike a balance between accessibility and unique underground aesthetics.

Nico: Next2U is one of my favourite releases this year. The reworked vocals, combined with the modular aspects of Jonas’ creative style, make this an absolute USB essential. I also love the sound of the Oberheim OB-6, which Jonas mentioned was key to shaping the EP.
 

frankydrama’s And One, a release that captured his distinct approach to club music: playful, sharp-edged, and instantly memorable. As an artist who has been steadily shaping his own lane, this EP felt like a turning point - a confident statement built on bold percussion, inventive sampling, and that unmistakable off-kilter groove he does so well. His tripped back machine drums paired with bass led melodies and an unmistakable groove reminiscent of early Berlin Tech House with sprinkles of the Madrid party scene he’s accustomed to. Even though Fran’s stripped back approach and sound signature is somewhat new to the label the groove a feeling made this one feel right at home.

Joe: This release has that quirky ItaloJohnson energy that Warren and I both love, something we often use to warm up our club sets. Fran was a pleasure to work with and we can’t wait to have him back on the label in 2026.

Warren: Playful, bold, and full of character, it’s a record that never failed to light up the room when we dropped it, perfectly balances space and style in a really alluring way. Excited to hear more from Fran.

Devin: This is music for the club, made by an artist who understands the club - just listen to “The Record” and hear it for yourself. frankydrama has done outstanding work pushing dance music forward in the Madrid scene through his productions, label, and events.. His passion for the culture really shines through in this super solid and unified collection.

Nico: A great EP to continue our overseas artist run in early 2025. I love the hypnotic vocals on ‘The Record’, the kind that pull you into the groove on a night out, where hours pass like minutes.

Guava returned to the label this year with All Out, a release that perfectly showcased his fearless approach to club production. Known for blending precision with playfulness, he delivered a track that feels razor-sharp and rhythmically unpredictable while still carrying that unmistakable Guava warmth. Bradley Hutchings blessed us several times throughout 2025 with live renditions of tracks from this EP and his previous Afterglow project, becoming the first artist to reinterpret music from our discography in a fully live, unfiltered setting using organic instrumentation. Hats off to you Bradley.

Joe: Guava is the producers’ producer. The warmth and depth on this record is just gorgeous and manages to hit super hard without needing to shout.

Warren: This one became one of those EPs we could always rely on to instantly shift the mood on the dancefloor. I also really admire Bradley's approach to balance of an EP, sort of a throwback that really makes each release feel special and considered.

Devin: I love eclectic producers who explore different sounds, and Guava really shows his range on this EP. He takes the listener from the sexy electro of “Wilga” - one of my favourite Faux Poly tracks this year - to the proggy techny “All Out,” all while somehow managing to keep the package cohesive and consistent throughout. Guava brings the vibes to everything he touches and it’s been a privilege to champion his music.

Nico: It was great to put some questions together for Guava - I ended up learning a lot myself. Using his Ableton template tips has really helped remove barriers to creativity and let ideas flow. “Maranello Yellow” is the standout track for me.

Roaming Data delivered something truly special this year with the Once Again EP, a release that distilled his meticulous approach to sound design into one of our most emotive club moments of 2025. Driven by crisp percussion, carefully sculpted synth work, and a subtle melodic warmth that lingers long after the track ends, the Once Again EP felt both expansive and deeply personal.

It quickly became one of those records we reached for across parties - reliable yet full of surprise, understated yet powerful on a system. Roaming Data continues to carve out a space that’s entirely his own, and this release stands as a testament to his evolving craft and the unique texture he brings to the Faux Poly catalogue.

Joe: As soon as we heard “Once Again” and “UGOT” we knew we wanted to release Carter on the label. We’ve been a fan of basically all his releases and it was great to land our first Bristol based artist on the label. The title track has been going off at our shows, especially when we played it in Mumbai on the first date of our Indian tour, it blew the roof off.

Warren: “Once Again” was a personal highlight for us, subtle yet powerful and extremely reliable. It carried a beautiful sense of weight every time we played it and was always a joy to mix, with the vocals cruising effortlessly over the top, watching it quietly draw people in on the dancefloor was special. Also seeing it supported on some of the biggest stages at Dekmantel was the icing on the cake.

Devin: “Once Again” is one of those special bangers that comes along and cannot be denied. Then Roaming Data went ahead and made three other incredible tracks to not only round out the EP but give us new insights into his vision for dance music. I might be biased but RD is a special talent that I’ll be looking forward to hearing more from.

Nico: A sick EP. Every track sounds great on a proper system. The balance between murky and euphoric moments feels spot on.

Rose Holland made a luminous entry into the Faux Poly universe this year with Daybreak, a release that showcased her instinctive touch for atmosphere and emotion. Built around glowing pads, delicate rhythmic details, and a rising sense of clarity and warmth, Daybreak feels like one of those rare Eps that can shift the energy of a room in an instant. 
Subtle but deeply affecting, the kind of piece that invites you to pause for a moment before drawing you back onto the floor. Rose brought something fresh to the catalogue with each track focused on her vocals and the messages which are so strong in her lyrics. Daybreak is our first vocal led EP from any artist so this one really stands out as a new era for Faux Poly.

Joe: Having Rose arrive on the label was a huge breath of fresh air. Some original, vocal focussed dance music that still hits in the club. Rose Holland is absolutely one to watch, she’s an excellent producer, singer and songwriter with one of the sharpest ears we’ve heard.

Warren: A beautiful EP with real heart. I always find myself mesmerised by the depth and artistry across the vocals and and the production levels. Big ups, Rose, it was a pleasure to work with you on this record.

Devin: There’s something so exciting about hearing something fresh yet familiar, and Rose Holland created music that really pushed bass and dubstep sounds in a personal and unique direction through her use of field recordings, thoughtful and detail-oriented production techniques, and her own atmospheric vocals. I’m proud to have worked on this release with everyone.

Nico: The interview insight into Rose Holland’s process was really interesting. Knowing the Dawn melodies came from a bin lorry hum and bird-song field recordings makes it even better.

canary yellow closed out our 2025 EP schedule with Angel Club, a release that felt like the perfect final note for the year. With its mix of floating melodies, sharply detailed percussion, and a playful yet thoughtful exploration of contrast, the EP shows canary yellow’s ability to balance delicacy with real propulsion. The alternate 4×4 version of the break-led title track became a firm favourite for us - a smart reworking that opens up new space while keeping the original spirit intact. On the flip, “Front To Back” with Next To Blue shifts gears entirely, offering a trance-tinged fusion of house and techno that broadens the EP’s palette and rounds off the project with real flair.

Joe: This one just dropped out of the sky for us. Tim landed in our inbox with both versions of “Angel Club” and we signed him on the spot. A little later on he delivered “Front to Back” (maybe the day after they made it?) and we thought it would be the perfect B-side to compliment the A-side. There’s something in the water in LA right now, so many producers are creating incredible sounding bass music.

Warren: Our last guest EP of the year, Angel Club in both its iterations are extremely fun to play but there’s something really special about Front to Back and the power behind that groove and arrangement always gets me.

Devin: I grew up in LA and, while I’ve been gone a long time, I still love hearing and supporting talented artists from my hometown. canary yellow and his collaborator Next To Blue are definitely among the exciting producer/DJs coming out of the city’s underground, and the Angel Club EP nails that club-ready bassy feel with a healthy dose of west coast flavour.

Nico: “Angel Club” is one of my favourites to play out and has had loads of friends asking for the IDs. I found it interesting learning that he produces entirely in the box - especially when I catch myself heading down expensive hardware rabbit holes.

Kassian brought a refined sense of weight and restraint to the label this year with Ghost Dub / Locked, a two-track release that leaned into atmosphere as much as impact. Both cuts unfold with patience, built on tightly wound grooves, submerged textures, and subtle shifts that reward time on a system. Ghost Dub glides with a hypnotic, low-slung energy, while Locked tightens the screws with a more driving, propulsive feel, together forming a perfectly balanced pairing that becomes a quiet weapon in for DJ sets. A release that reinstates Kassian’s sound and vision for what the label stands for after almost 3 years.

Joe: It felt great to return to the label after wrapping up our album earlier in the year. We’ve been lucky enough to tour quite a lot in ‘24 and ‘25 so our ears had really evolved and we were excited to get back to straight up club music. Both these tracks have real pride of place in our club sets and it’s been nice to push ourselves into heavier and faster territory. More of this to come in ‘26.

Warren: It was a real joy to return to the label where we first began experimenting with more expansive dance music. This record gave us the freedom to create without overthinking concepts or micro-production, in contrast to the more structured approach we took on the K7 album. The process felt genuinely liberating and has helped set the tone for what’s coming next.

Devin: One of the things I love about Kassian’s music is how they’re able to sound like themselves, whether it’s an introspective deep cut off their Channels album or peak time bangers like “Ghost Dub” and “Locked,” which are not only amazing tracks on their own but also a strong mission statement for the present and future of our label. My journey to joining Faux Poly started years ago as a DJ in New York when I was playing out Kassian’s earliest EPs. It’s been inspiring to hear Warren and Joe’s continuing evolution as artists. I couldn’t be more excited about what they’re cooking up for next year!

Nico: A really strong way to end the year. Having been in the Kassian’s studio it’s great to recognise their synth choices - their signature sound comes through clearly on these club-focused tracks.