IN TUNE WITH AUDIO: A PEEK INSIDE THE MASTERMIND [INTERVIEW]

This icon needs little introduction his history runs deep developing into a driving force in DNB focused on his own technique pushing the boundaries, dominating the drive, in his own lane always at the top of the game. Audio has injected this scene with his ethereal artistry that embodies another realm transcending this reality. His legacy is riddled with rhythms intermingled with the lines of life creating more than a personality but an enigmatic entity. It’s an absolute honor to interview this legend coming in hot off of two massive releases on Blackout and Neuroheadz plus monthly content on his Patreon, Audio is an absolute machine; always has been, always will be. Let’s take a look at what makes him tick and get some inside info on what’s coming up next in this exclusive interview!

‘OUTSIDE THE MARGIN EP’ [BLACKOUT MUSIC]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/soundcloud%3Aplaylists%3A2117859011″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

‘RIDE OR DIE/ORLOK’ [NEUROHEADZ]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/soundcloud%3Aplaylists%3A2159904155″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for Best Drum and Bass!

What’s your favorite part about being a producer and DJ?

I suppose the thing I like most about my profession is that I’m actually doing it and it’s not a distant pipe dream. The fact I get to make dnb and play to amazing crowds worldwide is something I never thought was a realistic possibility for me, when I first discovered jungle it seemed like the hardest thing in the world to get into, which was also partly the attraction to this at the time very small hardcore scene.

What makes a tune set worthy in your mind? How do you organize your library so you’re ready for a gig?

It’s pretty simple if I like it!! and if the mixdown is correct then it’s in, as for organizing my sets I know what I’m going to start with and maybe 2 or 3 tracks after that then just go from what I’m feeling and what the crowd is telling me from their reactions at the time.

Talk a bit about solo bookings in comparison to a B2B. How does the technique change to carry the vibe?

I don’t really do many b2b sets and if I do its usually with people I know very well so I know how they DJ and have a rough idea of the style they will play, the only thing that really needs to be discussed is how many tunes we are gonna play before switching and its usually 3 tracks each to keep things exciting and maintain energy.

As a DJ where is your favorite place to play a set? Where would you like to play that you haven’t yet?

I’ve been very blessed over the years to play some of the most amazing venues and countries in the world, some of favs have to be womb in Tokyo, Le Bikini in Toulouse, Sala Industrial Copera in Granada plus some huge festivals like Dour, Boomtown, Let it Roll, Beats for Love and EDC Vegas, as for somewhere I haven’t played yet it would have to be the great wall of China that would be pretty sick.

Speaking of touring, I saw a comment recently that said you’re coming stateside in 2026!? Can you tell us any more about this?

Ahaha yes a lot of people for the longest time thought I couldn’t get into the U.S, that’s simply not true, truth is the last time I came over the parties were not in a place they are now, so I came home from touring pretty disheartened, plus coming from a very healthy scene across the UK and Europe I just thought ” I’ll stay here and DJ around Europe ” skip quite a few years and still haven’t been back and the scene seems to be at the strongest its ever been so it’s now time for me to return, I don’t have any specific dates locked in yet as I’m still in the Visa stage, but it will happen!

I notice on the recent releases you’ve been working more vocalists into your tunes. Was there anything in particular that inspired this? Can we expect more vocal inspired tracks from you moving forward?

Yes it was a conscious decision as it’s something I’ve kind of shied away from in the past and I’m not really sure why lol, it’s definitely something I will be doing more of in the future, it adds so much to the music and the collaboration itself, creating with other people is a super cool experience.

What’s your favorite part about collaborating with other artists?

The surprises that each person brings, you maybe thinking there gonna go a certain way with a song or an element and they go in a completely different direction which you never even thought about, that’s what I love about.

As one of the biggest forces in drum and bass you have worked with so many artists and labels and been on the biggest events, is there an artistic goal you haven’t reached yet?

Hmmm maybe collaborating with Wu Tang Clan or Slipknot!! They would be dreams coming true, as for dnb yes I’ve done a lot, but that’s the beauty of the studio, everyday is a fresh page I can start again, I’m like Galactus always hungry for the next tune!

Describe your typical creation process a little bit. I saw a post recently touching on the construction of your tune and how you usually write the drop and then the build but this time you went the other way and it came with some challenges yet still turned into an absolute anthem! So additionally, what are the rewards of breaking out of your comfort zone?

Yes I did it was actually the track “Red Flag” that I wrote the intro first then wrote a drop to that, which is the opposite to how I usually work. after 20 plus years of writing music sometimes, just occasionally it’s nice to change it up, the usual process is drums then bass, get a 32 bar loop going that smacks then work backwards to the intro, once I’m happy with that then I move on to arranging the rest of the track. The benefit from doing things in a different order is you can get some unexpected results which when creating is where the magic happens.

How do you balance the creation process with everyday life?

You could say it’s my job but to me it’s so much more than that, I hit the studio every morning and roll through to about 3/4pm then I’ll start cooking the evening meal, I love cooking and get just as much pleasure from it than I do from music production. I’ll chill with the family watch an episode of whatever TV show we are watching at the time (right now its Welcome to Derry). My wife has to get up early to go to her office so I’ll squeeze another couple of hours in the studio when she goes to bed, before it all starts again the next day.

Talk a bit about the evolution of your sound. What has changed the most for you since you first started producing to the present day? How do you utilize new technologies into your work? What are the benefits of mastering formulas and techniques to streamline your flow?

Technology is the biggest contribution to my sound the things VST’s can do now compared to what they used to be able to do is night and day, so those complicated tasks now take secs so time can be spent being more creative which leads you down different paths thus evolving your sound. When I first starting working in studios all the equipment was individual hardware pieces so the room was huge and filled with lots machines with blinking lights, now it’s my laptop with a sound card and some monitors I still have the old school way of thinking, I don’t have endless VST lists of reverbs or delays I have 1 or 2 that I know inside out and that’s the same for all other VST’s I use, I have a small amount of them but I know them extremely well, I think that maximizes creativity, limiting your tools means YOU have to get more creative not relying on a VST to do all the work for you.

Your music constantly evolves pushing the boundaries, it’s pretty clear you do whatever you want (haha) absolute bangers, killer remixes/bootlegs, even the froggy bass! What motivates you to create this way?

I’ve always just done whatever I’ve wanted to do tbh, and that’s not me trying to sound impressive it’s just the truth, I don’t follow trends I evolve my own sound the way I want to, for me I’m not just a dnb producer it’s who I am, it’s part of me so I would never do something that I didn’t feel was right nor would I be pressured because it’s fashionable, and yes I’m sure that mindset may have lost me opportunities through my career but I’d rather have integrity and a history that I’m proud of.

Being an artist who has inspired so many who has inspired you on your musical journey? What are some of your favorite artists and bands both DNB and otherwise?

Drum and bass wise Ed Rush & Optical, Bad Company are my main ones without them there’s no me. Ed and Opt introduced grimy distortion to funky eerie tunes and then bad company came along and injected that high energy rave into the mix and that’s where I sit, right in the middle of that, as for non dnb I grew up on a diet of Cypress Hill, Wu Tang, Naughty by Nature plus Metallica and Slipknot, always music that pushed back.

Let’s get into the history behind the Sci Fi concepts infused into your tunes; this has always been sort of a signature so to speak. Where does this stem from?

My Dad basically, a very fond memory of childhood I have is our weekly visits to the video cassette rental store , where we would always grab a couple of movies to watch over the weekend which he would return on the Monday, my dad was pretty easy going with ratings so I got to watch all kinds of madness and the mid eighties was great time for movies, so when “Predator” came out we grabbed it and my life was changed forever, its these movies rentals with my dad that are the direct result of me sampling and trying to recreate these films in my tunes.

What’s your favorite part about remixing someone else’s tune? Do you ever hear songs and instantly get ideas for your own version?

I really enjoy the process of remixing, again it’s that limitation thing, you have to use curtain elements from someone else’s music but bend it and mold it into a new shape that is both new and the original song at the same time

What’s your favorite production tool?

EQ most underrated tool

Any advice you’d give to upcoming producers or DJs trying to establish their name?

Always do you, if you don’t people will see through that shit and you won’t get anywhere.

Care to share any thoughts on social media and how it’s changing the game? How have you balanced the content versus creation as artists have even more roles to manage these days?

Its crap tbh, there was a time were your music would do the talking for you and that should be enough, but now we have to almost advertise ourselves like it’s a shopping channel, very sad state, I do as little social media as I can get away with lol

Tattoos! Can’t help but mention the sick ink! Your artist did the art for the ‘Outside the Margin EP’ on Blackout. What brought on that collab? How many tattoos do you think you have? What’s your favorite tat?

At this stage I kind of just have one tattoo that just happens to go over most of my top half!! yes is was great to get Raph to design the EP art, I always wanted him to design some art work at some stage it was just great timing that it was this one, and I’m super happy with the result he is such a talented guy.

You’ve been hitting Neuroheadz with a ton of releases this year. What’s it like working with them lads? Seems like you always have a lot of fun and come up with interesting ideas, tell us a bit more about all that.

Yes love them lads!! It’s great working with them as there super motivated and up for anything, the promo videos that we do to promote my releases have turned into a bit of a thing, and gained lots of support! And they’re something we all love doing, hopefully full movie coming soon!!

2025 was massive for you, always releasing tunes and on the move. Touch on some milestones or important moments that stand out this year. What’s in store for the future of Audio?

2025 was great year, had a remix album out , countless remix’s and bootlegs, some epic shows in Tisno for hospitality and Czech for beats for love festival, 2026 has some super cool stuff planned already so no time to stop !!!!!

Thanks again for this interview I really appreciate your time, we can’t wait to see what’s coming next from Audio!

Enjoy a few more of Audio’s killer tunes from the collection and be sure to check out Audio’s extensive catalogue of releases HERE 

BURR OAK –  NO ONE IS INNOCENT (AUDIO REMIX) [EATBRAIN]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A2192454059″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

FOODCHAIN [RAM RECORDS]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A186953080″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

BURNT BRIDGES (ED RUSH REMIX) [BLACKOUT MUSIC NL]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A2082925446″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

STAMPEDE [RAM RECORDS]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/soundcloud%3Atracks%3A313392117″ params=”color=#728542&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

This interview celebrates the milestone of 300 articles published on Best Drum and Bass. Thank you for sticking with me on this journey!