Executive Overview
The contemporary global jazz landscape thrives on the friction between live musicianship and electronic production, a cultural crossroads where traditional acoustic arrangements meet the unyielding pulse of the dancefloor. Enter Henry “Horatio Luna” Hicks, the prolific Melbourne-based bassist, producer, and musical polymath whose relentless creative output continues to redefine the boundaries of modern improvised music.
With his latest full-length project, Ciccin, Luna makes his official, highly anticipated induction into the storied London-based independent label 22a. Remarkably, Ciccin serves as the bassist’s second major long-form release of the calendar year, following closely on the heels of Action Reaction, which dropped via his primary recording home, La Sape Records.
Known for his indelible imprint across a vast array of cutting-edge projects—ranging from the trippy funk fusion of The Psychedelic Freaks and the raw hip-hop sensibilities of his work with KJDBRD, to his foundational role in the internationally acclaimed 30/70 Collective—Luna has established himself as a vital architect of the Southern Hemisphere’s underground scene. Now, by joining forces with Ed “Tenderlonious” Cawthorne’s influential 22a imprint, Luna has found an institutional home that mirrors his own eclectic, cross-genre ethos.
Ciccin is an expansive, synth-heavy, and bass-thumping masterclass that seamlessly blends the sophisticated harmonic language of jazz with the kinetic, hypnotic energy of house music and broken beat. Supported by a tight-knit ensemble of long-time collaborators—including Matt “Tuff Minimal” Bush on drums, saxophonist Hugo Turudia, and keyboardist On-Ly—Luna has crafted a project that feels as vital and at home in a sweat-drenched, dimly lit London basement club as it does within the discerning playlists of contemporary jazz aficionados.
Detailed Chronology: The Making of Ciccin and Luna’s 22a Induction
To understand the weight of Ciccin, one must trace the dizzying trajectory of Horatio Luna’s 2026 release schedule and his gradual convergence with the 22a orbit.
The year began with the rollout of Action Reaction on La Sape Records, a project that cemented Luna’s reputation for fusing organic jazz textures with club-ready tempos. Yet, even as Action Reaction reverberated through international underground radio stations and record shops, Luna was already deep into the conceptualization of his next statement.
The seeds for Ciccin were planted during late-night studio sessions in Melbourne, where Luna convened a core circle of trusted musical allies. Seeking to capture the spontaneous, electrifying energy of a live performance while retaining the meticulous sound design characteristic of modern electronic production, Luna brought together drummer Matt “Tuff Minimal” Bush, saxophonist Hugo Turudia, and keyboardist On-Ly—the latter of whom had already turned heads earlier in the year with his own widely praised 22a-adjacent solo release, BURN.
As the tracks took shape, balancing thunderous upright and electric bass lines with lush synthesizer pads and searing horn lines, it became clear that the project required a very specific curatorial environment. Enter 22a.
Founded and spearheaded by saxophonist, flautist, and producer Ed “Tenderlonious” Cawthorne, the London-based label has spent over a decade cultivating an uncompromising aesthetic rooted in jazz experimentation, cosmic soul, and deep house music. For years, mutual respect had flowed between the burgeoning Melbourne scene and London’s underground tastemakers. When the finished masters of Ciccin reached Cawthorne’s ears, the alignment was instantaneous.
The official induction of Horatio Luna into the 22a fold marks a major milestone—not only for the artist himself, but for the trans-hemispheric dialogue connecting the Australian jazz diaspora with the UK’s legendary broken beat and club-jazz lineage. Ciccin stands as the physical manifestation of this transatlantic bridge, capturing a moment in time where geographical borders dissolve in favor of a shared sonic frequency.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Eclectic Ecosystem of Horatio Luna
To fully appreciate the artistic depth of Ciccin, one must examine the vast and interconnected ecosystem from which Henry Hicks emerged. The Melbourne music scene of the past decade has functioned as a global incubator for progressive jazz, neo-soul, and electronic fusion, and Luna has sat comfortably at its epicentre.
The 30/70 Collective Legacy
Perhaps Luna’s most notable institutional contribution is his role as a founding member of the 30/70 Collective. Alongside key figures such as vocalist Allysha Joy and keyboardist/producer Finn Rees, 30/70 evolved from a loose-knit jam collective into an internationally revered neo-soul and nu-jazz supergroup. Their genre-defying releases challenged traditional listener expectations, proving that profound spiritual jazz could happily coexist with heavy hip-hop grooves and broken-beat rhythms. The ethos forged during those early 30/70 sessions—where improvisation met heavy electronic sound design—remains the beating heart of Luna’s solo work.
Diversified Project Portfolio
Luna’s restless creativity prevents him from remaining confined to a single lane. His discography and collaborative history reveal a musician who actively seeks out stylistic friction:
- The Psychedelic Freaks: A vehicle for Luna’s more mind-bending, trippy funk-fusion explorations, pushing the envelope of live improvisation.
- KJDBRD Collaborations: A direct nod to hip-hop fundamentals, showcasing Luna’s ability to lock into subterranean, head-nodding grooves.
- Solo & Ensemble Works: Whether operating under his birth name or his Horatio Luna moniker, Hicks balances complex harmonic ideas with foundational dancefloor functionality.
The 22a Label Pedigree
Luna’s new home, 22a, is far from a standard record label; it is a cultural movement spearheaded by artists who refuse to let genre categorizations dictate their output. Led by Ed “Tenderlonious” Cawthorne, the label has built a bulletproof reputation through landmark releases, including:
- Tenderlonious’s Solo & Collaborative Ventures: Spanning genre-jumping synth explorations to his recent critically acclaimed live big-band recording, Africa/Brass Live.
- Collaborative Projects: Notable cross-pollinations, such as Tenderlonious’s work with Italian producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Lorenzo Morresi.
- The Ruby Rushton Quartet: Cawthorne’s flagship spiritual jazz outfit, which has continually pushed modern British jazz to international acclaim.
By embedding Ciccin into this catalog, Luna joins an elite lineage of artists who view jazz not as a museum piece, but as a living, breathing, and ever-evolving dance music.
Official Statements & Artistic Insights
Reflecting on the philosophy driving Ciccin and his broader career trajectory, Horatio Luna has consistently emphasized the indivisible link between jazz history and contemporary club culture.
"Jazz was never meant to be sat down and listened to in silence; it was born in the dancehalls, the juke joints, and the underground clubs," Luna notes when discussing his dual allegiance to acoustic tradition and electronic production. "When you look at the iconic forefathers of the genre—from [Thelonious] Monk to [John] Coltrane—they were the avant-garde innovators of their day. They were pushing buttons, breaking rules, and defying categorization. That is the tradition I want to carry forward."
Speaking on his decision to partner with 22a for this release, Luna highlights the creative symmetry between his own vision and the ethos cultivated by Ed Cawthorne:
"Working with Ed and the 22a family feels less like signing to a traditional label and more like finding your tribe. They understand that a track can have complex jazz harmony, live improvised saxophone, and a 4/4 house groove without losing its soul. They champion out-of-the-box thinking because that’s the only way this music survives and grows."
Ed Cawthorne, speaking on behalf of the 22a imprint regarding Luna’s induction, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration:
"Horatio brings a distinct energy that aligns perfectly with what we’ve been building at 22a. He treats the bass like a lead instrument, but he understands the space, the rhythm, and the hypnotic power of the groove. Ciccin is a powerhouse record that connects the dots between Melbourne’s incredible underground scene and the UK dancefloor."
Future Outlook: What Ciccin Portends for Contemporary Jazz and Electronic Fusion
As Ciccin makes its official debut and ripples through the global underground, its release signals a significant paradigm shift in how contemporary jazz is produced, distributed, and consumed.
For years, a rigid wall separated the "purist" jazz market from the electronic dance music (EDM) and club-culture sectors. However, artists like Horatio Luna, alongside peers on labels like 22a, Jazz Re:freshed, and Brainfeeder, are actively dismantling those architectural barriers. By prioritizing dancefloor functionality without sacrificing harmonic sophistication or instrumental virtuosity, Luna is helping to forge a sustainable, forward-thinking blueprint for the future of improvised music.
Looking ahead, Luna’s integration into the 22a roster opens up tantalizing possibilities for future international collaborations, cross-continental live performances, and boundary-pushing studio projects. As live instrumentation continues to make a powerful resurgence across international club circuits—from London and Berlin to Melbourne and Tokyo—producers and bassists of Luna’s caliber will undoubtedly lead the charge.
Ciccin is not merely an album; it is a manifesto for the modern groove. It proves that when you honor the deep foundations of jazz while keeping your ear firmly pressed to the sub-bass frequencies of the modern club, the resulting music transcends genre, geography, and expectation. Horatio Luna has arrived at 22a, and contemporary improvised music is all the richer for it.
