Like every other one before it, at All Crews HQ it’s a Jungle summer! So we’re back chatting to crews from around the world about their love of Jungle Drum & bass. This time round we’re off to the Med to get the Italian Jungle Drum & Bass debrief…
SSARAMOOD
Tell us about your first introduction to Jungle Drum & Bass..
I grew up surrounded by records of all kinds, which gave me the chance to explore a wide range of musical genres from an early age. Jungle Drum & Bass came into my life a bit later, as a sort of natural continuation of my reggae and funky, hip hop roots.
I still remember stumbling upon New Forms by Roni Size while digging in a record store, it completely blew my mind. That sound gave me chills and sparked a deep curiosity that’s still with me today.
It wasn’t just the music, the Jungle and DnB scene immediately felt like home. The energy, the care people have for each other, the overall vibe, it’s where I feel most myself.
I’m deeply grateful to my collective, Sumo Music, who took me in and helped me dive deeper into this amazing world. They saved me, both artistically and personally.
How has DJing changed the way you listen to music?
DJing completely changed the way I listen to music. At first, I would select tracks based on how much they moved me emotionally, if they touched my heart or made me want to dance.
Now there’s a deeper layer to it, I listen to understand the intention behind a track, its energy, the mood it carries. When I hear a tune on a system and see people dancing to it, I realize how powerful music really is.
I no longer think in terms of whether a track is “good” or “bad”; instead, I try to feel what it’s trying to say. It’s like each track tells its own story, and as a DJ, I get to help deliver that story at just the right moment.
Who are some DJs and Producers who inspire you as a DJ?
Honestly, I’m still in that beautiful phase of constant discovery, digging through old-school gems and fresh underground releases, so it feels a bit too soon to define any solid reference points.
Right now, what inspires me most is the act of searching itself, finding sounds that surprise me, challenge me, and shift my perspective. That said, women like DJ Storm and DJ Flight have had a huge impact on me. They’ve claimed their space in a scene that hasn’t always made it easy for women to be seen or heard, and they’ve done it with strength, skill, and consistency. Watching them do their thing has taught me that we don’t have to adapt to fit this world, we can shape it ourselves.
And honestly, the scene is full of incredibly talented producers with such high-quality output that picking just a few is almost impossible. Ask me again in a few years , I’ll probably have a much longer and even louder list of inspirations
Find ssaramood on: Instagram, Mixcloud, Linktree
HLZ
You’ve got tonnes of releases.. How was it releasing on one of the most iconic labels you’ve been on, Metalheadz?
I dare say I have a special relationship with Goldie, he is a mentor, he is inspiring and I’ve been lucky enough to work together with him on some music, so stay tuned. I really get to see his vision and yeah, it’s a unique one.
Metalheadz is home, it’s more than a label. For me that is a real special feeling. Back in the day when I started this, I was living in Milan, and DJ Storm and Digital were regulars and they really shaped my vision. So yeah, it is one of those classic stories where you think “damn, I’d love to have music on Headz” and years after, here I am with an album. A beautiful circle of life.
How is the Italian Jungle Drum & Bass scene right now?
I have to be honest, I moved back to Italy 3 years ago and there are a lot of dynamics I still don’t know. I don’t think it is in a good shape, like many other countries we have a decline of nights and spaces after covid, but there are some young crews doing nice things, so hopefully they’ll keep pushing. And for the love of god, from a 44 year old man, please Italian crews , give space to young DJs and producers, don’t gatekeep!
What do you hope to accomplish in the future in regards to music that you have not done thus far?
Complex question, I don’t like to set goals like ” I want to release on this label or that label” , for me it is a distraction and possibly detrimental to creativity. I think it is experience speaking, but at least for me setting these types of goals doesn’t work, going back to Headz, the real good things with labels started when I changed my approach to production putting fun back into it rather than chasing “the dream”. Ilive by that approach. A relaxed mind is a creative mind, and when I do this good things will happen.
I’d love to start a label, 100%, but it is not the right time. I know I’ll be a detailed control freak about this and I’ll know when it will be the right time.
Find HLZ on: Instagram, Soundcloud
Qua Rush
Tell us about the origin of your moniker, Qua Rush.
The story starts way back in 2003/2004 when I registered on a Myspace-like website with the name Quarashi89 as a tribute to one of my favourite bands at the time, Quarashi. That soon became my nickname and once I started DJing and producing music, I needed to find a name that could represent me; since the name came from a band, I had to find something similar-sounding that wouldn’t get me in trouble, so here I am as Qua Rush.
Who are some of your musical influences who motivate you to master your craft?
Thanks for the kind words, but honestly, I wouldn’t call myself a master of my craft, I like to see myself just as a dude who pushes buttons in front of a computer, I know, imposter syndrome doesn’t help much with self-esteem, but that’s the plate I’ve been served. I started listening to DnB thanks to GTA 3’s MSF.fm radio station in 2001, so at heart, I’m a big Moving Shadow guy. After that, I can clearly pinpoint Andy C’s set at Global Gathering 03, LTJ Bukem & Mc Conrad’s Progression Sessions and a Greg Packer radio mix as some of my earliest influences. Overall, I’m a big fan of funk, jazz, and old-school hip hop so I’m sure I draw inspiration from those cultures too.
What are two of the most enjoyable aspects of being a producer/DJ and one aspect that is the most challenging?
Honestly, the part I enjoy most about being a DJ/producer is the music creation process, spending time on a loop with a vibe, trying to connect with a particular emotion I need to get out of my mind, heart, or body. My songs are basically long self-therapy sessions, you can ask me about any tune I’ve produced and I’ll explain its origin or why it was created.
I create music just for myself, so I already feel “paid in full” even before the release date. If people can connect with it, that’s a big plus. I also really enjoy traveling and visiting new places, and using gigs as an excuse for exploration and inspiration. The most challenging part of what I do is that there’s never enough time to finish all the songs I want to write. I’m aware that I don’t maintain a particularly healthy balance between life and studio time but hey, you don’t easily stop a river, do you?
Find Qua Rush on: Instagram, Soundcloud, Linktree
Invaderhertz
Tell us about how the two of you came together and the history behind Invadhertz.
Hi everyone, this is Francesco from Invadhertz, answering on behalf of both myself and Alessandro.
We met over ten years ago while studying sound design at university in Rome. The Invadhertz project actually started a bit earlier, before university, as an electro/visual collective I formed with two other friends. Over time I developed a strong passion for Drum & Bass and naturally the focus of the project shifted in a bassy direction.
One of the original members left after a couple of years, while the other, Massimo, who was taking care of the visual and graphic side of things, stayed with us until around 2018/2019, before leaving to focus on other projects.
During our time at university, Alessandro and I became close friends and quickly realised we have a lot in common, both musically and personally. We started making music together, and eventually he joined Invadhertz. Since then, we’ve been producing music as a duo.
Besides Drum n’ Bass, what are some other genres the two of you have produced music in?
We’ve always produced different styles of music behind the scenes, but only a couple of our Invadhertz releases over the years haven’t been Drum & Bass. The most recent one was an EP called Noir that came out in 2021 on 4NCY, that one was a halftime kind of style.
Originally, the idea behind Invadhertz was actually to be a multi-genre project. We kind of naturally ended up focusing almost entirely on Drum & Bass, but lately we’ve been going back to making all sorts of different stuff, so I think we’ll be releasing something outside of DnB pretty soon.
On a different note, we’re also both working on solo projects, mine is called francesco.hertz and Alessandro’s is alessandro.hertz , we’re still trying to keep everything tied to the Invadhertz concept and in the same world in some way.
With my solo stuff, I’m making whatever I feel like with no limits. I’m focusing a lot on sync music, producing for other artists, and maybe doing some regular releases down the line too. I’m just going with the flow right now. Earlier this year I released a music library on Float Music, which I’m super proud of, and I’m currently working on more solo material.
Alessandro is doing very similar things, but he hasn’t released anything just yet, he’s been cooking up a lot of ideas.
What are some future projects that Invadhertz has coming up in 25′?
As I mentioned earlier, we’ve been working on different styles of music lately. Right now, we’re putting together a hip hop project with an artist and friend from the US, which I’m super excited about. It’s still in the works, so I’ll share more when the time’s right.
Besides that, we’ve got a few new Drum & Bass tracks ready to go and a few collabs we can’t wait to release! We’re currently planning all the releases for the next year or so. So yeah, keep your eyes and ears peeled, we’ve got lots of exciting stuff coming out!
Find Invadhertz on: Instagram, Soundcloud
WAS A BE
What are some of your proudest moments as a musician to date?
I think one of the biggest goals was playing at Fabric in London, which for me has always been the club par excellence.
Then I would also add Outlook Festival, Sun and Bass & Let it Roll. A special mention also goes to the Nameless Festival, which takes place not far from my place, on Lake Como.
Who else do you look forward to playing out with in Italy?
I’ll make a random list of DJs/producers I’d like to play with and hope some promoter makes my dreams come true:
Dangerous When Bored, Alix Perez, Ivy Lab, Sam Binga, QZB, HLRTY, Fracture, Dismantle, Addison Groove, Numa Crew, Sgio Sgia, Neffa T, Joy Orbison, Ben Ufo… & many more
How has your style of production evolved from when you first started making tracks?
Let’s say it’s constantly evolving, soon I’ll change my alias moving to lower bpms, but this doesn’t mean there won’t be any more productions at 160-170 bpm. I think evolution is inevitable, and I can’t wait to let you hear all my new music.
Find Was A Be on: Instagram, Soundcloud
Frame
Tell us about the labels you’ve released on, especially any that are in Italy..
Frame was born in late 2015, with my first EPs released on the Italian label Singularity Audio, thanks to early support from VTK. I soon dove deeper into music production, studying with DJ Luca Fronza, a breakbeat legend, and later met Neve, a key figure in Italian Drum and Bass. Through him, I joined The Dreamers Recordings, releasing jungle/footwork tracks including the EPs Natural Sounds (2017) and Primitive Jungle (2019), with airplay on Rinse FM and Vision Radio.
In 2018, I dropped the On the Road EP on Delta9 Recordings, and began collaborating with PHOG, releasing on Atmomatix and Inaba Audio. In 2019, I released the Ehiua EP on Locked Concept (played on BBC Radio 1), and Out There on Warm Ears Music, later remixed by M-Zine. I also dropped singles on labels like Parallel Depth, Anticlockwise, Lost Recordings, Influenza Media, and Terra Firma, plus a remix for OaT and an LP on Type Konnection (Timeloop).
By 2021, I expanded globally—releasing a footwork EP on BLDSMX (with Treega), a single on Trust Audio, the Havana EP on Parallel Depth, and Arabic Gum on Unchained Recordings. My collab with London-based Qua Rush led to multiple releases, including a 2023 EP on Delta9 featuring Bazil MC, and earlier projects on Impact Music and Flight Pattern.
In 2022, I dropped Toolbox with HABIT on Citrus Recordings, and Come Bring Me with Crimson on Fokuz, followed in 2023 by the Spaghetti Funk EP on Fokuz (feat. Mastalot and Qua Rush), and a footwork collab with Mr. Freex on Nucleoroto (Mexico).
In 2024, I released Animal Cookies on Heavysonics, a blend of jungle and rollers and after a short break, I’m back and ready to drop new remixes and tracks.
Please tell us about Rude Sound:
Rude Sound is a crew I founded in 2019 in Trento, my hometown. What began as a small local project quickly became a collective of DJs, producers, and MC’s, Base, Magno, Sam Charlie, Arme, de__la, Montelemon, General B, and Gigaman, all united with a love for bass music.
From the start, we focused not only on music but also on visuals, thanks to our designer Brave, who handles all the artwork and live visuals. We’ve also collaborated with visual artists Babbu and Lucifero for stage design and installations.
We started with pop-up events to spread Drum and Bass culture locally, and over time, began booking major Italian acts like HLZ, Neve, Was A Be, Synth Ethics, and collectives like R.U.M. and Type Konnection.
Our sound is rooted in Drum and Bass, but we explore the full spectrum of underground bass, from jungle to footwork and dubwise. In our fifth year, we took things further by hosting international legends like Aphrodite, Benny Page, General Levy, Phace, QZB, and more.
Now, besides club nights, we’ve launched radio shows to reach wider audiences and this is just the beginning.
Did you mix first, and then start producing? Or the other way round?
I first got into DJing when I was 16. It all started with breakbeat vinyls, messing around with an old setup and learning the basics of scratching thanks to a DJ friend who lived near my small hometown. That was my first real contact with the world of DJ culture.
Not long after, I got my hands on a pair of Pioneer CDJ 100s and began exploring deeper sounds, mainly Dubstep and Drum and Bass. I spent countless hours digging through tracks, learning to mix, and playing small sets wherever I could.
Over time, my focus became crystal clear: Drum and Bass completely took over. I fell in love with the music, the culture, the energy of the parties, and the tight-knit community around it. From that moment on, I decided to dedicate myself fully to DNB, not just as a DJ, but also as a producer, driven by the same passion that first pulled me into the scene.
Find Frame on Instagram, Soundcloud, Mixcloud, Linktree
