How was your summer? Were you touring a lot?
Yeah, this summer was actually quite incredible. Obviously, I made a genre transition last year, probably around September. I had the idea before, but it really took effect around then. I also joined a new agency towards the end of last year. This summer has been amazing – lots of festivals and a whole new touring circuit, which has been really fun. Lots of new promoters too, so it’s been super busy in terms of shows.
Can you tell us a bit about that genre shift?
For people who know me, I came into the scene as a 140 dubstep producer. That was my first passion. It was the first genre I really fell in love with as a producer, but at that point, I wasn’t technically good enough to fully express what I wanted to in my music. So I took a step back and discovered Night Bass, which was a game changer. Me, AC Slater, and a few others pioneered a genre that blended house with a bit more edge, kind of what I was trying to do with dubstep. That era lasted about 10 years, which was a lot of fun because it felt like uncharted territory. That’s when my career really took off, and that’s where the genre shift started.
You’ve said before that you taught yourself how to produce via YouTube tutorials, can you tell us a bit about your beginnings as a self-taught producer?
So, I’m 31 now, and I started making music when I was 14 – it was a hobby at first. I got a trial version of FL Studio, but I couldn’t save any projects, so I had to finish everything in one go. It really taught me to work fast! From 14 to 17, it was just a hobby, but at 17, I started getting some attention from my music, and that’s when I took it more seriously.
Around that time, YouTube was becoming a big thing, so I started uploading my music there. It was one of the few ways to get recognised. I didn’t know many producers locally – just a couple of friends who dabbled – but most of what I learnt came from online resources. What was great about it was that I could look for specific things that I wanted to learn, so it was all very self-directed.
You started out as a production duo with Secondcity, why did you decide to go your separate ways and start making music solo?
We were good friends, but there was a big age difference, and we had a bit of a creative clash. He wanted to focus more on house music, while I was leaning toward heavier stuff. Once I felt ready to go off on my own, we mutually agreed to split. It just made sense for both of us.
You got your start early alongside a lot of UK dubstep legends. How have you seen the 140 and UK garage scenes evolve over the years?
The biggest change I’ve noticed is in UK culture. You can hear it in the music too, from the early days to what’s been happening recently. One of the main shifts I’ve seen is the growing influence of UK artists on the American scene. It used to be more about that classic American dubstep vibe, but now there’s a stronger UK presence, which has definitely caught people’s attention.
You were mentored pretty early on by Benga, right? What was that experience like and what did he teach you?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it mentorship, but he did take me under his wing and showed me the ropes. The main thing was that he supported me on the radio and helped me to get exposure, which was huge for me early on.
Were there any other key figures who helped shape your journey?
Yeah, definitely. DJ Walsh was another big one. He had a radio show in Caterham, and he invited me to join him there. I used to go over with LAXX and do live streams, it was one of the first times I got to be in a space surrounded by like-minded producers. I also spent time with N-Type, Skream, and Benga, just lots of people who were influential in that era.
