John Summit, Sub Focus and Julia Church Deliver Aching Dance Anthem, “Go Back”

by Michael Ryan · Published May 16, 2024

Conflicting sounds and emotions collide in "Go Back," Sub Focus and John Summit's new collaboration, but they fuel each other to deliver one of the year's best dance records so far.

Teaming up with the surging singer-songwriter Julia Church, they weave a latticework of house and drum & bass using threads of longing. Her lyrics, a poetic exploration of the indestructible bond forged between two kindred spirits, evoke a sense of being frozen in a cherished moment.

Embracing her role as a dreamer, Church invites her muse to take her deeper and deeper into a hypnagogic state while questioning whether their connection is more than a fleeting memory. Her vocals come to life through raw vulnerability before Summit chops them up in an atmospheric, four-on-the-floor drop.

It's then Sub Focus' time to shine as he implements a seamless BPM switch before dropping a euphoric drum & bass sequence, a masterful exercise in tension and release. As his kinetic basslines and soaring synths swell, Church's desperation intensifies, her vocals a quavering promise to give a part of her soul to be kept forever.

[embed]https://youtube.com/watch?v=o9Bgl8HUFZA[/embed]

"Loved getting in the studio with John last year," Sub Focus said in an Instagram post. "We came up with the idea of speeding up the tempo in the middle of the song between House and Drum & Bass, and the crowd reaction has been amazing every time we play it. Shouts to Julia for such an incredible vocal."

The new single arrives as Summit records his debut album, which he announced back in November 2023. He then released a handful of singles: "Hungover" (with Mathame and Camden Cox), "Shiver" (with Hayla), "Eat The Bass" and a remix of The Temper Trap's 2008 classic "Sweet Disposition" alongside Silver Panda. Summit has not yet announced the album's title or release date.

You can find "Go Back" on streaming platforms here.