Back To Mine With D1RT TH13F

D1RT TH13F is a new electronic project from the Belfast-born, Mexico City-based artist, following more than two decades making records across indie rock, folk, pop and soundtrack work. Drawing on influences spanning West African music, Latin rhythms, post-punk and ambient music, Allard approaches house from the perspective of a songwriter and instrumentalist rather than a genre purist. That background comes through clearly on new single ‘Hold On’. Sparse percussion and understated melodic details give the track a spacious, hypnotic quality, while its bass provides the physical weight underneath. The result sits comfortably in deep house territory while retaining the cinematic atmosphere and songwriting instincts at the heart of D1RT TH13F. As ‘Hold On’ lands this Friday, DMCWorld goes Back To Mine with  D1RT TH13F.

Horace Andy – Skylarking

Horace Andy really entered my consciousness through Massive Attack’s Mezzanine. I was immediately captivated by his voice. I’d grown up with a lot of reggae around the house because one of my older brothers was a real aficionado, so hearing him felt both familiar and completely new.

Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder – Ai Du

I picked up Ali Farka Touré and Ry Cooder’s Talking Timbuktu at a flea market in London and completely fell in love with it. It became one of those records that just stayed with me, and it’s been a constant in my life ever since.

Morcheeba – The Sea

I met Morcheeba completely by chance at a mall in Portland before I’d ever heard their music. They were incredibly lovely, gave me tickets to their show that night, and it ended up being fantastic – still one of my all-time favourite gigs.

Roberto Torres – Caballo Viejo

Cumbia is still relatively new to me. I moved to Mexico City earlier this year and have really grown to love it, although I think the first time I ever heard the word “cumbia” was in a Joe Strummer interview. It’s been a fun rabbit hole to fall down.

Boubacar Traoré – Kanou

Boubacar Traoré is one of my favourite musicians. There’s something incredibly hypnotic and emotional in his playing, and I can listen to his records endlessly without ever feeling like I’ve exhausted them.

Blur – Movin’ On (William Orbit Remix)

Blur are my all-time favourite band, and Damon Albarn actually makes two appearances on this list. This remix album was probably the first time I really understood just how radically a song could be transformed in the electronic world. William Orbit’s recent passing was a tremendous loss.

Tinariwen – Tenere Den

Tinariwen are just an incredible band. They’ve consistently made amazing records while also helping bring much wider awareness to Tuareg music and culture.

CBC Band – Tình Yêu Tuyệt Vời

Vietnamese rock and soul from the late ’60s and early ’70s has become a recent obsession of mine. It’s also one of the few musical things my old man turned me onto, which probably makes it mean a little more to me.

Mura Masa feat. Damon Albarn – Blu

This Mura Masa record is wonderful, and this track in particular has such a beautifully mellow feel. It’s the kind of thing that works perfectly late at night without demanding too much from the room.

Marshall Jefferson – Move Your Body (The House Music Anthem)

It’s a bloody classic. There’s not much I can really add to what’s already been said about it — the record just grooves, and sometimes that’s enough.

‘Hold On’ lands on Friday September 25th 2026.