Melbourne’s Okayden is no stranger to the stage. But not in the way you might expect. Before stepping into his spotlight, he honed his craft behind the mixing desk, shaping sound for music theatre productions and live performances. Years of fine-tuning other voices gave him an intimate understanding of texture, balance, and emotional impact — skills he now pours into his music with a deliberate yet free-spirited touch. Stepping from the wings to center stage, Okayden brings a unique perspective: an artist who not only performs, but also knows how every layer of sound can be woven into an experience.
With ‘Sugar Water,’ he steps into the vulnerable territory of queer love; that first rush of connection, equal parts sweet and uncertain. In its original form, the song was an alternative pop daydream, wrapped in tenderness and introspection. But with the Polybit Remix, created alongside VRDA and Polybit himself, it surges into an entirely different dimension—a DnB-driven club cut that transforms those moments of emotional hesitation into something kinetic, urgent, and alive.
The vocals remain the heart of the track. The delivery is earnest and unguarded, carrying the wide-eyed vulnerability of someone falling headfirst into new emotions. His tone balances softness and clarity, letting each word land with quiet intention before the beat sweeps you forward. There’s no forced drama here; just the intimacy of someone telling their truth over a heartbeat that keeps quickening.
The performance shines in its restraint. Even as the remix injects adrenaline into the song’s veins, the singer doesn’t overcompensate vocally; she lets the production carry the momentum while she stays grounded in emotion. This contrast is where the magic lies: the tenderness of the voice against the restless rush of DnB percussion creates a tension that mirrors the song’s central theme; the uncertainty of new love amid the pull of desire.
Production-wise, the Polybit Remix is sleek, tightly wound, and relentlessly propulsive. The drums hit with crisp precision, their syncopated patterns snapping like the nervous excitement in your chest. Layers of shimmering synths and sub-bass grooves flood the space, creating an atmosphere that’s both euphoric and slightly dizzying. The instrumentation isn’t overcrowded—it’s deliberate, each element entering and exiting like characters in a scene, ensuring the vocal always stays in focus while still allowing the track’s club energy to peak and surge.
Together, Okayden, VRDA, and Polybit have crafted something that moves beyond being just a remix. Sugar Water – Polybit Remix doesn’t replace the intimacy of the original. It reframes it, translating the tentative joy of queer love into a late-night anthem that makes you want to move, sweat, and maybe text that person you’ve been thinking about.
Listen to “Sugar Water – Polybit Remix” on Spotify
Follow Okayden here for more information
