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WILKINSON & IIOLA
link up on new single
‘CLOSE YOUR EYES’

The final release ahead of Wilkinson’s
hotly-anticipated new album Cognition

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Dance music superstar Wilkinson has joined forces with UK singer-songwriter iiola on new track ‘Close Your Eyes’, out 21st January on his own Sleepless Music label.

A cinematic dancefloor creation, ‘Close Your Eyes’ is characterized by fluttering synths, rousing breakbeats and iiola’s enchanting vocals. Wilkinson’s first release of the new year, it follows acclaimed releases ‘Used To This’, ‘Frontline’, ‘Keep Dancing’ and the recent Childish Gambino-sampling ‘If You Want It’. All five tracks will feature on his forthcoming third solo album Cognition, out 6th February and available for pre-order now. He will also perform live at a sold-out Brixton Academy on 26th February.

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A typically prolific 2021 saw Wilkinson remix international electronic lynchpin Diplo and fellow D&B titan Sub Focus, plus a trip to New Zealand where he became the fastest electronic act to sell out a tour in the country’s history. Further headline performances at Return II Dance, BBC Radio 1 Dance Weekend and a special performance at the The British Grand Prix at Silverstone for McLaren are but a few moments of note in what has been another whirlwind year for the legendary DJ and producer. 

One of the most recognisable names from the world of D&B, Wilkinson has sold out Brixton Academy twice, amassed half a billion streams across his back catalogue, worked with artists such as Naughty Boy, Laura Mvula, Wretch 32, Jem Cooke and Karen Harding, and even scored a platinum UK ‘Top 10’ hit with 2013 smash single ‘Afterglow’ featuring Becky Hill. He is also the #1 D&B artist in the world this year in terms of both streaming and ticket sales.

Drawing support from BBC Introducing, iiola started writing and producing songs at the age of 13. She later went on to study Songwriting at BIMM in Bristol before heading for London, where her music career continues to go from strength to strength. More recently she linked up with Doncaster dance favourite Franky Wah on single ‘Bring Me Back To You’.

‘Close Your Eyes’ sees Wilkinson commence the new year with the same invigorating energy in which he finished the last.

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Follow WILKINSON
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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Iiola

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BIO

Hailing from the leafy suburbs of South West London is one of the UK’s best known electronic artists… Wilkinson. His first insight into making music came aged of 9 when his parents bought him a drum kit. Mark ‘Wilkinson’ joined a few bands playing at venues as far as the Birmingham NEC and as close as the local old people’s home. This swiftly ended at the age of 14 when Wilkinson discovered his passion for dance music. In his final year at college, he tried his hand at making beats, leading him to buy his first bits of production gear and turning his bed- room into a studio. A few years and part time jobs later, after driving his family mad with large amounts of bass loosening the brickwork of his house, Mark secured himself a studio not far from his home. 

After fine-tuning his production skills, Wilkinson passed a few songs on to Hospital Records via Cyantific, which led to his first release on Hospital’s’ Sick Music 2 compilation. A few months later he sent a folder of tunes to Ram Records and within days received a phone call from Andy C inviting him for a meeting at the Ram HQ. 

Fast forward a few years later and Wilkinson has cemented himself as one of the most successful stars in dance music. Following his club anthems ‘Tonight’, ‘Take You Higher’, ‘Too Close’ and countless others… Wilkinson released ‘Half Light’ charting #20, Dirty Love which peaked at #10, ‘Hopelessly Coping’ peaking at #23 on the UK Top 40 and ‘Afterglow’ which became a top 5 hit on the UK Chart, selling 1.2million copies, racking up over 200 million streams and certified with a Platinum selling disc. To date he’s sold a mighty 3 million singles and been streamed over half a BILLION times!

His debut album ‘Lasers Not Included’ went to number 1 on the iTunes Dance Chart in 10 countries and his tour schedule takes him across the globe performing everywhere from Glastonbury, SW4, Reading & Leeds to EDC Las Vegas, his Ibiza residency at Amnesia and festivals from New York to New Zealand.

He’s gone on to build a fierce live reputation with his band over the last 5 years, selling out London’s Electric, The Forum and Roundhouse, and remarkably the iconic Brixton Academy twice! Not to mention headlining international festivals including Snowbombing, Pukkelpop and Sziget.

Having remixed and collaborated with the likes of Rag N Bone Man, The Prodigy, Ed Sheeran, Chase & Status, Wretch 32, Naughty Boy, Laura Mvula and Becky Hill, he’s scooped ‘Best Single’, ‘Best Album’, ‘Best Video’, ‘Best Producer’ and ‘Best Live Act’ at the National Drum & Bass Awards, not to mention the VEVO Viewers Award at the MVA’s. 

His second, critically album ‘Hypnotic’ (released April 2017) became the most successful D&B album of the year, charting at #14 on the UK iTunes Album chart and became a top 20 iTunes Album across 6 countries, winning him an army of loyal supporters and some unlikely fans from the likes of Zane Lowe, Skrillex and even a certain Elton John! 

2020 saw Wilkinson team up with fellow D&B titan Sub Focus to release their collaboration album ‘Portals’ via EMI. The record charted at #1 on the OCC Official Dance Chart and saw all three singles playlisted by BBC Radio1. In fact, over recent years Wilkinson has remarkably been playlisted by BBC Radio1 14 times! 

2021 sees the beginning of his 3rd studio album campaign. Now releasing on his own imprint Sleepless Music via BMG; stay tuned, as this bonafide electronic star continues to rise. 

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.AMNPLIFY – DB