By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, the global electronic music landscape has long looked toward the subterranean chambers of Farringdon as a compass for the industry’s evolution. The legendary nightclub Fabric, and its subsequent recording arm fabric Records, has served as a rite of passage for the world’s most influential selectors. Today, that lineage finds a new champion in the form of Manfredi Romano, better known to the international clubbing community as DJ Tennis. The Life and Death label founder has officially unveiled his contribution to the prestigious "fabric presents" mix series, a 20-track journey that acts as both a personal manifesto and a sonic map of his diverse musical heritage.
The release, which is now available across all major platforms, is headlined by the debut of his latest single, "Hello Hello," alongside a collaborative effort with Ashee titled "I Wanna Know." However, the compilation is far more than a vehicle for Romano’s own productions; it is a meticulously curated tapestry that weaves together the disparate threads of psychedelia, sound design, and the raw, unpolished energy of early rave culture. By bridging the gap between high-concept experimentalism and the functional requirements of a peak-time dancefloor, DJ Tennis has delivered a mix that challenges the current obsession with genre-specific "formulas."
Romano’s relationship with Fabric London is one built on decades of immersion. Long before he was a regular fixture behind the decks in the club’s iconic Room 1, he was a student of its atmosphere. In a statement accompanying the release, Romano reflected on the profound impact the venue had on his development as an artist. He described the club as a "place where I shaped my taste," recalling nights spent "getting lost in the middle of the dancefloor" and the disciplined practice of "learning to really listen." This pedagogical approach to the clubbing experience is palpable throughout the mix, which prioritizes narrative flow and atmospheric depth over simple beat-matching.
The tracklist for "fabric presents DJ Tennis" reads like a who’s who of contemporary electronic innovators and underground legends. The journey begins with the haunting, atmospheric "Theme From William Basinski" by Fordell Research Unit, setting a tone of intellectual curiosity. From there, Romano dives into the complex rhythms of Djrum’s "Out of Dust," a track that exemplifies the blend of breakbeat and cinematic soundscapes. The inclusion of artists like Paurro, ATRIP, and the enigmatic pairing of Danny Daze and .VRIL on "Stargate" further illustrates Romano’s commitment to showcasing talent that pushes the boundaries of traditional techno and house.
One of the most significant highlights of the compilation is the "M-High Edit" of Josh Wink’s seminal "Higher State of Consciousness." By including a reimagined version of such a foundational piece of rave history, DJ Tennis pays homage to the 1990s warehouse aesthetic that informed his early years while simultaneously updating it for a modern sound system. This duality—the tension between the past and the future—is the heartbeat of the entire project.
The visual identity of the mix is as provocative as the audio. The cover art features a striking image of a brain presented on a plate, a metaphor Romano explains as an exposure of "memory, influence, and process." It is a literal and figurative representation of the artist laying his intellectual and creative foundations bare for the listener. This vulnerability is reflected in the music, which eschews the safe bets of mainstream "business techno" in favor of tracks that possess a "DIY background" and an "experimental" edge.
The release of the fabric mix comes at a particularly high-velocity moment in Romano’s career. He recently captured the attention of the crossover market with a club-ready rework of "Playa Paradiso," featuring the soulful vocals of Eliza Rose. That collaboration demonstrated his ability to pivot between the underground and the more melodic, vocal-driven side of electronic music without losing his signature grit. Furthermore, his cultural footprint expanded beyond the DJ booth last month when he and fellow producer Demi Riquísimo made a surprise cameo in the fourth season of the critically acclaimed BBC and HBO series, Industry. The appearance signaled a growing recognition of DJ Tennis not just as a musician, but as a tastemaker whose influence permeates the broader zeitgeist of contemporary style and media.
To understand the weight of this new compilation, one must look at the history of the "fabric presents" series itself. Inheriting the mantle from the original "Fabric" and "FabricLive" series, which featured legends like Ricardo Villalobos, Carl Craig, and John Peel, the current iteration seeks to provide a comprehensive snapshot of a DJ’s soul. For DJ Tennis, this meant selecting 20 tracks that he would "genuinely play in Room 1." The result is a mix that feels alive, breathing with the kinetic energy of a packed room at 4:00 AM while maintaining the intricate detail necessary for home listening.
Tracks like Giammarco Orsini’s "Progression" and Vitess’s "Insane" provide the rhythmic backbone of the compilation, offering a masterclass in groove-driven house. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Confidence Man and the quirky, infectious "Vamos A La Beach" by Mungo Sound Machine adds a layer of levity and unexpectedness that has become a hallmark of a DJ Tennis set. He is a selector who is unafraid to take risks, often shifting tempos and moods in a way that keeps the audience in a state of constant discovery.
His own contributions to the mix, "Hello Hello" and "I Wanna Know," serve as the anchors of the project. "Hello Hello" is a masterclass in tension and release, utilizing a driving bassline and ethereal synth work to create a sense of forward motion. It is a track designed for the specific acoustics of a space like Fabric, where the low-end frequencies can truly be felt. "I Wanna Know," featuring Ashee, leans further into the collaborative spirit of the project, blending Romano’s penchant for dark, moody textures with a more traditional house structure.
The full tracklist of the compilation is a testament to the global nature of the modern underground. From the Dutch influence of M-HIGH and Easttown to the London-centric sounds of Djrum, Romano has curated a truly international experience. The inclusion of DJ Romain’s "Deep Reaktor," edited by Tennis himself, serves as a bridge between the classic New York house sound and the more industrial, European sensibilities that Romano often champions through his Life and Death imprint.
As the electronic music industry continues to grapple with the pressures of social media algorithms and the homogenization of festival lineups, "fabric presents DJ Tennis" stands as a defiant celebration of the "experimental, DIY background" that birthed the scene. It is a reminder that the best dance music is often born from a place of curiosity and a willingness to get "lost" in the sound.
For fans of Romano, this mix is the culmination of years of stylistic evolution. For newcomers, it serves as a perfect entry point into the mind of a man who views the dancefloor as a laboratory for human emotion and sonic exploration. Out now via fabric Records and available for purchase on Bandcamp, the compilation is more than just a playlist; it is a permanent record of a master craftsman at the height of his powers, paying tribute to the club that helped make him.
fabric presents DJ Tennis Tracklist:
- Fordell Research Unit – ‘Theme From William Basinski’
- Djrum – ‘Out of Dust’
- Rudy With a Hoodie – ‘LOVELOVELOVE’
- Vitess – ‘Insane’
- Paperkraft – ‘Funky Bluh Bluh’
- Giammarco Orsini – ‘Progression’
- Klon Dump – ‘As 2’
- Andre Zimmer – ‘Simpli-city’
- DJ Tennis & Ashee – ‘I Wanna Know’
- M-HIGH – ‘Intrusive Thoughts’
- PAURRO – ‘Bubbles’
- ATRIP – ‘Sinai Ray’
- Danny Daze & .VRIL – ‘Stargate’
- Mungo Sound Machine – ‘Vamos A La Beach’
- DJ Tennis – ‘Hello Hello’
- Easttown – ‘Bubblicious’
- Josh Wink – ‘Higher State of Consciousness (M-High Edit)’
- Haris – ‘Supadrug’
- DJ Romain – ‘Deep Reaktor (DJ Tennis Edit)’
- Daskal – ‘Unbalanced’