Harlequiin Returns With ‘Bite Back’, A Dazzling Fusion of Hyperpop Energy And Smooth R&B

London-based artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Rory Simmons—better known by his electrifying alter ego Harlequiin—returns with ‘Bite Back’, a vibrant new single featuring the intoxicating vocals of Atiya Imani. Blending the kaleidoscopic sheen of hyperpop with alternative electronic textures, the track is a high-voltage continuation of the sound world established on Harlequiin’s early-2025 debut album, Even As She Spoke, She Began To Lose Her Form, while introducing a fresh and sultry R&B flair.

From its first shimmering synth pulse, ‘Bite Back’ unfolds like a technicolour rush. Tuned vocal fragments, skittering garage-inspired drums, and luminous synth layers build a rich, rhythmic playground for Imani’s breathy, magnetic delivery. The result is a track that feels both deeply physical and artfully off-kilter—an invitation to lose yourself on the dancefloor, but with Harlequiin’s signature left-field twist.

Speaking about the collaboration, Rory says:“I wrote ‘Bite Back’ with Ati — off the back of an AG Cook type beat. We wanted to make something that felt clubby and sexy, but also had some of the irreverence of a Charli XCX track.”

As with his previous releases, Harlequiin continues to draw attention from across the airwaves, with BBC Radio 6 Music, Soho Radio, Reprezent, and Radio X among those championing his sound.

Simmons himself is no stranger to musical innovation or collaboration. A seasoned performer and composer, he’s worked with a remarkable roster including Jamie Cullum, The Maccabees, Blur, Raye, Paolo Nutini, Mount Kimbie, Labrinth, Friendly Fires, and Dermot Kennedy—bringing his trumpet, production, and compositional skills to stages and studios worldwide. His performances have graced legendary venues from Montreux Jazz Festival and Glastonbury to Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.

Beyond the stage, Simmons’ musical curiosity extends into film, television, and contemporary classical composition. That spirit of boundary-blurring creativity pulses through every Harlequiin track—melding improvisation, pop futurism, and electronic experimentation into something unmistakably his own.

With ‘Bite Back’, Harlequiin cements his reputation as one of the UK’s most inventive and multifaceted sonic architects—a project where sophistication meets playfulness, and where the club and the avant-garde collide in dazzling colour.