Auckland-based producer Montell2099 makes his NIGHTMODE debut with “BACKAGAIN : ME&YOU,” a conceptual double-sided single that introduces a new chapter in the producer’s evolving sound. Arriving September 25th, the release serves as an early glimpse into a larger project built around two interconnected bodies of work, with each A/B installment revealing one track from either side of the expanding framework.
Leading the release, “BACKAGAIN” pushes Montell2099 deeper into his bass-centric club sound. Menacing vocal refrains loop with an almost hypnotic persistence, gradually shifting in pitch as the track moves through a series of increasingly charged sections. Reverberating trap bombast gives way to frenetic percussion and fluttering synth textures before the arrangement takes a sharp turn into a ground-shaking four-on-the-floor house flip.
Rather than settling into a single genre, Montell2099 uses the track’s constantly evolving structure to blur the boundaries between trap pressure and dancefloor momentum. The production remains in motion from its opening pulse through its final transition, creating a track that feels deliberately unpredictable without losing its club-focused energy.
On the B-side, “ME&YOU” settles into a more fluid four-on-the-floor groove, pairing echoing vocals with a heavy bassline and chest-shaking wobbles lurking beneath the surface. Instead of building toward one singular peak, Montell2099 allows the track to breathe through a series of soaring rises and valleys, balancing its darker low-end weight against the luminous quality of the vocal refrain.
The result is a hypnotic club cut that is less concerned with a traditional drop and more focused on the journey between each crest and descent. Together, the two tracks showcase the producer’s ability to move between contrasting moods while maintaining a distinct sense of atmosphere and weight.
The release arrives on the heels of Montell2099’s debut album, “DUALITY,” which established the Auckland producer as one of New Zealand’s standout electronic artists. A restless beatmaker with an instinct for experimentation, his catalog moves fluidly through trap, hip-hop, hardwave, drum & bass, house, and bass music, often finding unexpected connections between otherwise disparate sounds.
Since breaking through from New Zealand’s electronic scene, Montell2099 has earned support and recognition from a broad spectrum of international and local tastemakers. His collaborative résumé includes work alongside RL Grime, Wilkinson, 21 Savage, Mura Masa, Netsky, Alison Wonderland, What So Not, Charli XCX, and more.
His work has also received attention from outlets including Rolling Stone Australia, Complex, XXL, Pigeons & Planes, and EDM Identity, alongside New Zealand platforms such as George FM, RNZ, and NZ Herald.
With “BACKAGAIN : ME&YOU,” Montell2099 introduces the next stage of his artistic evolution through a format that mirrors his appetite for experimentation. “BACKAGAIN” sets the tone with its collision of trap and house, while “ME&YOU” takes a more fluid route through luminous vocals, weighty low-end, and ominous swells. Together, the tracks offer a preview of where the producer is heading next as he continues exploring the space between bass music, club experimentation, and forward-facing electronic production.
“This song is the introduction to my next album ‘RE-WIRE // MONOCHROME,’ so I wanted it to set the tone for the attitude of the project as a whole. I haven’t released music in a while so the vocal ‘BACK AGAIN’ feels like a great fit for that narrative. Working with NIGHTMODE has been awesome! I’ve been a fan of the label for years now, and love what they do! It’s an honour to release a project with them and we’re super excited to get this out to the people.”—Montell2099
Montell2099’s new double-sided single “BACKAGAIN : ME&YOU” is available on all platforms via NIGHTMODE.