Sammy Virji and Issey Cross Drop New Dance Track “Nostalgia”

Sammy Virji has spent the last few years quietly reshaping the contours of UK garage—not by reinventing it wholesale, but by refining it into something sleeker, more melodic, and unmistakably his own. With “Nostalgia,” a new collaboration with rising vocalist Issey Cross, Virji lands what might be his most emotionally resonant track yet—one that delivers catharsis as readily as it delivers bass.

If the title didn’t tip you off, “Nostalgia” doesn’t just hit the dancefloor—it lingers in the heart. It opens with a bassline thick enough to anchor the weight of its wistful subject matter, and from there, Issey Cross takes over. Her voice glides over the groove with aching clarity, spinning a tale of love lost and time gone by. It’s subtle, but the emotion is undeniable.

Then comes the drop—not the kind of screeching chaos you’d find in a warehouse rave, but a euphoric, almost cinematic burst. Think sunbeams through smoke machines. The synths shimmer like fading memories, while the rhythm invites movement without demanding it. It’s dance music for those still nursing a bruise or two, the kind of track that says, “You’re allowed to miss them—and you’re allowed to dance through it.”

What makes this song stand out in the current UKG and house landscape is its honesty. While much of the genre has swung back toward minimalist rhythm workouts or gritty bassline revivalism, “Nostalgia” leans into feeling. It’s lush, but not saccharine. Emotional, but never overwrought. It has the touch of a producer who knows the power of restraint—and a vocalist who can turn a whisper into an anthem.

Fresh off an electrifying Coachella appearance, Virji clearly isn’t slowing down. If “Nostalgia” is any indication of the direction he’s heading, he’s not just chasing bigger stages—he’s making music that belongs there. And with Issey Cross in tow, he’s found the perfect voice to guide us through the glow and ache of what once was.