Skrillex has released 'Thistle,' a collaboration with UK producers Randomer and Blawan and Brazilian singer and songwriter MC Dricka. The track, which has circulated as an ID for years, arrived quietly in fans' inboxes this week.

Breakbeat meets baile funk

The track opens with bouncy, rolling percussion before MC Dricka's vocal settles in as the song's through line, steady while the production shifts, twists, and turns unpredictably around her. The repeated "I'll do anything" keeps the track in line while Skrillex, Blawan, and Randomer pull 'Thistle' around in every direction. Intricate Skrillex production weaves through breakbeat and baile funk elements with crisp reverberant snares snapping throughout. The final product is bright and danceable, driven entirely by the beat.

'Thistle' is not the first time Skrillex has drawn from Brazilian sounds, having explored similar territory on his recent collaboration with RHR, 'SYRINX.'

Contra and festival season ahead

Last week, Skrillex launched Contra, his new curated live music platform, with a debut two-night event at Kraftwerk Berlin alongside Knock2, ISOxo, Hamdi, and more. The platform is designed to explore multi-genre collisions between artists across contemporary music.

Skrillex has upcoming festival appearances at Primavera Sound, Bonnaroo, and Summer Smash Festival, and will headline Goldenvoice's inaugural Head Trip Festival this October in Indio, California.