Seemingly appearing from nowhere in 2012 with their U.K. number one single "Feel the Love," London-based electronic outfit Rudimental originally came together a few years earlier as the production name of duo Piers Agget and Kesi Dryden.
Agget's DJing brought him into contact with DJ Locksmith, who joined the pair, followed later by a chance meeting with Amir Amor at a studio in Hoxton, London. Rudimental's first release, 2011's dancehall-inspired "Deep in the Valley," appeared on garage, grime, and dubstep label Black Butter and was quickly followed by "Speeding" and "Spoons." Picked up by Asylum Records/Warner Music off the back of their first few singles, 2012 saw the release of the drum'n'bass roller "Feel the Love." Championed by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1, the single reached the top of the U.K. charts the same weekend as the four-piece played on their home turf at the Radio 1 2012 Hackney Weekender. In 2013, Rudimental's debut album Home arrived. Working with some of the U.K.'s finest talent, including the voice of 2012, Emeli Sandé, the album's mix of dubstep, R&B, house, and drum'n'bass received positive reviews and went straight into the number one spot on the U.K. album chart. Hit singles from the album continued into 2014, including the U.K. number one "Waiting All Night," which won a BRIT Award for Best British Single. Rudimental scored another big hit in 2015 with the Ed Sheeran collaboration "Bloodstream," and geared up for the release of their second full-length, We the Generation, which was announced as including collaborations with Dizzee Rascal, Lianne La Havas, Bobby Womack, and several others. ~ Rich Wilson