Rollin’ With Sikka

Expect to hear a lot more about Doncaster’s up and coming talent, Sikka. With a highly touted debut EP on Dj Hybrid’s imprint as well as scores of remixes and tunes currently making the rounds, Sikka is primed to make waves in Drum and Bass. Best DNB sat down to chop it up with Sikka about his forthcoming debut EP on Deep in The Jungle and a host of other things including his influences, weapons of choice for production, and more!

Introduce yourself and tell us a bit of the history behind Sikka.

I’ve been producing DnB for around five years. I’m an alcoholic. Dry for around five years. Basically, I started to learn Music production to focus my mind whilst drying out. And here we are.

Where did you get your name from?

I don’t have a normal mind, It’s short, direct and memorable.

Who are some of the artists that influence you the most?

My main influences in music have been most early rap pioneers and DnB influences came in the form of Calyx, BSE and such. Those guys made me want to learn to produce drum n bass. I’ve always admired Liam Howlett’s music as well. We have the same tastes and musical upbringing. I’ve done tracks and had to shelf them because sometimes they sound too much like ‘The Prodigy’.

I have been perusing your catalog and you have a wide variety of styles out there, but you seem to have landed on Dark, rolling Jungle and really come into your own with that vibe. Is that an accurate account of your style or how would you describe it?

I don’t go for any sub-genre. I do a track and it turns out the way it does. Unless I’ve been asked for a specific style. I think my rollers and jungle style stuff stands out right now because that’s what people are looking for at the moment but I try to make every track on an EP different so you get something you can listen to in full. I’m tired of hearing EPs where the same drums and /or bass are used on every track.

Talk about your upcoming release on Deep in the Jungle, I have been hearing good things!

DJ Hybrid had a load of my music and picked the ones he liked for the EP. I didn’t do a jungle EP he just picked the most jungle influenced tracks. We did however, make two tracks together for the EP. Love those. I try to make music that makes me feel a certain way. There’s emotion in all of my music. I’m an emotional guy and if a track doesn’t move me then it gets binned. Most of my stuff is angry though. Lol.

What other releases/projects do you have in the works that you are excited about?

I have some more collabs with DJ Hybrid, lots of remixes for lots of labels, my gosh, I’m excited about all of it. I love drum n bass!

As you have been coming up in the DnB world, what is something you learned that would have helped you early on?

I wish I could have learned how to mix a track from the start. I’ve never had anyone show me. I’ve never had a video to help. My early stuff is awful. The musical ideas are OK but the mixing is just bad, very bad.

What D.A.W. are you using for production, and is there any tool/instrument/effect you can’t do without?

I use Ableton. The only plugins I use are Massive, sausage fattener and a transient shaper. I’d be ok without the plugins to be honest. Abes has it all.

If you could collab with any artist, of any genre / style, who would it be and why?

Liam Howlett. That guys mind is a treasure trove.

Who is your favorite non-dnb artist?

I love ‘The Prodigy’, Placebo, most early Rap, Britcore, I’m into 80s synth pop, I’m not sure I have one favourite artist or group.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, where can we connect/follow you (Social Media, Website, etc)?

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Youtube

Beatport

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