Receptor x Finalfix Interview

With the release of their latest collaborative track making big waves on the floor, we present Receptor x Finalfix Interview with the two masterminds behind the madness!

Welcome back Finalfix, and greetings to Receptor! Excellent work with this track, is this the first time working on a collaboration together? How did this collaboration come to fruition and what inspired the idea for this track?

Finalfix: Thanks for having me, and I’m glad you’re enjoying it! The whole thing started back in 2023. I’d been chatting with James, who’s half of Magnetude, for a while. At some point, I just said, “Bro, you’ve gotta hook me up with a collab with Receptor!” And he was like, “I can make that happen.” Honestly, I couldn’t believe it at first, but here we are! We connected on Discord, and Mitya (Receptor) sent me an early version of the track. It already had those naughty vocals in the build-up and this massive, rolling drop. From there, I just ran with it.

Receptor: The idea came from old-school Neurofunk, the kind of stuff from the early 2000s that really had a dirty, gritty sound. I’d been thinking for a while about making something with a raw, almost pornographic edge to it—it felt like an interesting mix of elements. I’d made the demo ages ago but wasn’t sure where to take it. Then James reached out to me out of the blue and asked, “Would you be up for collaborating with Finalfix?” I thought, why not? This concept was sitting in my head, and I knew it could benefit from a fresh, modern perspective. Shant (Finalfix) did a great job. He kept the core concept I had in mind, but brought a modern sound to it, which I think made the track feel new while still holding onto the original vibe. I’m really happy with how it turned out.

For me this is definitely one of the heavier tracks on Evolution Chamber. Did you go into the studio as normally would or was there something different with releasing on this label?

Finalfix: Honestly, not really. I approached it the same way I usually do—I just made what I thought would sound good, and then we discussed the results. The only difference was that I was getting feedback from someone I really admire. The feedback from the team was super helpful, and once I implemented it, it actually took the track to the next level.

Receptor: Whenever I’m working on a DnB tune, I always keep Evolution Chamber in mind as the first potential place to release it. I am one of the founders of the label, so it is also my home. With this track and pretty much every track, I started with a general idea—From there, I just let the creative process take over. I never really know exactly how a track will turn out when I start. It’s a lot of experimenting, playing with melodies, sounds, and, in this case, samples. The journey unfolds as I go and I just flow with it and see where it takes me.

With both of you separated by your geographical locations, did that impact the writing process for you at all?

Finalfix: All the collaborations I’ve done so far have been long-distance, so I’m pretty used to it. In fact, I think I’d find it harder to be productive sitting in the same room as someone. I’m not sure I’d be able to tap into that same flow. But, of course, there’s something to be said for the kind of learning and energy you get from being in the same space with someone.

Receptor: It wasn’t an issue for me. We live in a time where it’s so easy to stay in touch, and even though we use different DAWs and equipment, it doesn’t really matter. In some ways, I think the distance helps us both stay focused when we’re working on our parts individually. Sending stems back and forth gives you time to really apply yourself to what’s in front of you, without distractions.

Finalfix, this is your second collaboration on Evolution Chamber. Will we see any solo releases from you on the imprint in the future?

Finalfix: I see no reason why not. It does take me a good while to finish a tune though. I wish I could split myself up into five people and release on all these amazing labels all the time.

Receptor, you recently shared a post about your return, how are you feeling?

Receptor: My last release was back in 2021, and in such a fast-paced industry, it’s easy to fall off the radar. During that time, I was going through some personal things, but I was still writing music in the background—just not with my full focus. I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have the support of the label, who kept encouraging and motivating me. When I made the post, I was honestly a bit worried that people might have forgotten about me. But the response was overwhelming, with support coming from all corners of the world. It was such a great feeling, like being completely resurrected. It has helped me a lot with my motivation and confidence and now I have more energy and focus to want to get more music finished.

How has the response been from artists and fans to this collaboration?

Finalfix: People are mega excited about Receptor’s return—some are even in disbelief! I’ve had messages from people asking for extra confirmation that this release is really happening. Receptor’s music is so highly respected, we all love his music so much and people have been craving his sound. We’re all very excited to hear more. He is one of my DNB heroes.

Receptor: The response has been incredible and really heartwarming. A lot of producers I hadn’t heard from in a long time reached out, asking, “Are you really coming back?” and others couldn’t believe it—some ‘fans’ in the comments even thought I was joking! It’s been a huge surprise for a lot of people. I’m quite secluded and not that close with many producers, so having so many of them reach out, including some I have never spoken to before, was really nice.

From the start of your journey as a producer up to now what do you think about your older tracks?

Finalfix: I’m actually kind of proud of what I was able to accomplish with so little back then. No Patreon tutorials, no money, no mentor, or connections. Just a broken laptop and a seemingly endless supply of inspiration and fun. That being said, I definitely released some horrendous tracks in those days. And I honestly wish some of them would disappear from the internet completely! In my first five years, I focused more on the melodic and liquid side of Drum & Bass. People tell me it’s nice to see where I started, but I wonder sometimes… Is that really the case?

Receptor?

Receptor: That’s a really great question. I actually think most of my old tunes are brilliant. Not out of arrogance or because they’re mine, but because they transport me back into time. When Drum & Bass was, in my opinion, braver and more daring. It felt more creative, and nearly everyone had their own unique sound. Honestly, I miss that time. It doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate modern DnB, I do! It’s just that era was different, both personally and musically. Back then, I felt that there was a lot more freedom. Originality was the priority, which is why I am so happy we have Evolution Chamber as that is the primary focus.

With my older tracks, I can hear the creativity and musicality. The ideas are amazing, and I’m really proud of them. That said, they do lack the overall quality that today’s advanced engineering provides. I’ve even thought about remixing and remastering some of them. Those older tracks inspire me every time I write music today. I often remind myself of what I created in the past, and it drives me to produce new material. Back then, I drew inspiration from artists like Spor, Pendulum, and Current Value. Now, I find inspiration in my own older tunes. Today, I want to create new music that channels that old creative spirit but with my modern vision.

Self expression is a big part of creating, and I think we kind of give a part of ourselves to art. Would you agree?

Finalfix: It’s a strange thing. I don’t particularly like suffering or sacrifice or the idea of being a tortured artist. But it seems like it’s often inevitable. Sometimes my tracks and concepts express my state of being at the time of production, even without me consciously trying to do so. Almost like my body craves that expression before my mind realises it. And you intuitively feel at every step of the way if you’re honouring your gut feeling or doing it a disservice. This probably results in honest music, and sometimes, the manifestation of coincidences in your life. I won’t go deeper into that as I’m still trying to make sense of it haha. Sometimes the expression is on purpose though, and the concept is predetermined by yourself. And sometimes you just want to stick to a certain sound and honour that. But during all these kinds of creation, “honouring” seems to be the recurring sentiment as you keep building on top of something else and want it to be beautiful in one way or another.

Receptor: I totally agree. I started writing electronic music back in 2004 when I first got a PC and began using E-Jay, so I’ve devoted 20 years of my life to this art form. In my opinion, every track shows the world a part of you. Your mood, surroundings, and life experiences can all affect your creativity and the emotions in the music you create. I believe music, like any art form, is sacred, and for many of us, it’s the only way to truly express how we’re feeling at any given moment.

 Today there are many producers out there just starting. Who are some of the newer artists that you look out for?

Finalfix: I’d definitely recommend checking out OMNEUM, Nebulate, LYLY, Fryware, Nemean, Ekwols, Screamarts, and Neolyth. Some of them are a bit more established, so I can’t technically call them newcomers, but these are definitely artists to keep an eye on.

Receptor: Honestly, I’m not always able to keep a close watch on up-and-coming producers, but one artist who recently caught my attention is Justin Hawkes. I really love his music; he’s incredibly talented. Within Evolution Chamber, we all listen to the demos, and a few of the artists whose music has stood out to me are Skrimor, A.Way, HRSPX, and OMNEUM. Oh, and there’s also a very cool up-and-coming producer from Belgium named Finalfix. I think everyone should definitely keep a close eye on him!

If you could pick a favourite track from each other, which track would you pick and why?

Finalfix: It has to be “Lullaby”! I remember hearing it for the first time, and there’s this switch-up that just blew my mind. It’s definitely one of my favourite Drum & Bass tunes. The theme is solid, and everything in the track complements it perfectly. Another favourite of mine is “When You’re Touching Me.” “Kislorod” is fire too, and I can’t forget about “Ass”!  Hahaha! 

Receptor: I’d pick “Hope Is Lost.” When I heard it for the first time, I thought, “Who is this guy? How dare he do this?” It really captures that old vibe I was talking about—daring, original, charismatic, and it just sounds unique. Honestly, there are so many of his tracks that I really like from Finalfix. I do think the whole ‘Hope Is Lost’ EP is genius.

What do each of you have coming up in the future that you’d like to share?

Finalfix: I’m currently juggling multiple projects. I’ve got a few solo tunes in the works, some collaborations lined up, and there are also some production-related things I can’t quite reveal yet!

Receptor: Oh, there’s a lot happening on my side! For quite some time, people have been asking about my older tracks and whether they’ll ever be released on streaming platforms. So, I set up my own self-release label, Receptor Music, and with the help from James & Yasha Wolf, I’ve been re-releasing all my old tracks and back catalogue on all streaming and digital stores, ensuring everyone has access to them. On top of that, I’ve got a lot of new material coming out as well. I have another single coming out on Evolution Chamber next month, featuring an incredibly talented vocalist from India, Soham Pathak (also known as Yush!). Additionally, I’ll be releasing two collaborations with my friend Paperclip on his label, Paperfunk Recordings, also in November. Plus, I have 2 collaborations dropping on Receptor Music with Russian singers ChensyChens and Nevalyashka. I’m also working on another collaboration with Magnetude and trying to wrap up around 6 to 8 more singles. I’m feeling really inspired right now and can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Links

lnk.to/EVOC049

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