In the last All Crews International of 2024 we’re back to where it all started here in the UK.
We check in with some Jungle veterans and newcomers about all things Jungle Drum & Bass, read on for our first round of interviews…
DJINN
You’ve been DJing for some time, what would you say are your top two most gratifying DJ experiences?
All the places that have had me over the past 20 yrs have been gratifying as each of them have had their vibes and positives, regardless of how big or small the gigs were. If I really think about it though, I guess I feel I’ve found it most gratifying to play at my own night, Formless, when it was running pre-covid. Although I had never put myself on at peak time, it always felt special to me to play at something I had curated, funded, promoted and put together myself. It’s the most gratifying, simply because it’s the most sentimental to me.
From a production perspective, what can listeners expect to hear from you going into the new year and a bit beyond?
I’m really an advocate of people interpreting music however they want & making their own meanings out of it , that is the essence of art to me, so I prefer not to say much about what I create really. All of the music I make is personal and I hope I will reach a point soon where I feel comfortable enough to share it and just let it all go.
I have always been curious about this and would like to hear the origin story… Tell our readers about how your DJINN moniker came to be.
Originally I chose it due to a DJINN being an entity which can be dark, but can also be light too, which resonated with my style as both a DJ & a Producer. As the years went by however, the story of the name seemed to evolve and reveal new meanings to me.
Find DJINN on Instagram
Sweetpea
To date, which releases of yours encapsulate your sound perfectly? How and why do they do that?
Sweetpea x Crystal Clear – Richness is Life
Sweetpea – The Afters
Two tracks, but two different vibes of Sweetpea. Richness is Life is pure bass pressure: I love anything that will put a speaker to its limits. The Afters expresses my love for deeper styles of Jungle.
Please take us through your creative process of putting together a track for release.
My creative process starts with what I call a ‘vibe setter’ . This could be a vocal, FX, or any sound, anything that sparks my interest. The vibe setter could be the mainstay of the track or it might disappear by the time the track is finished. Drums always come first, then a rough bass idea.
You’ve done so much for the scene and are an amazing ambassador for Jungle Drum & Bass, what are some insights you’ve learned along the way that would be useful to share with female DJs/producers who are struggling to breakthrough in the Jungle Drum & Bass industry?
The music industry is tough, don’t take anything personally. Rejection is something that you will need to get used to, it’s not a reflection on you as an artist. Just keep concentrating on what you’re doing, keep a good circle around you and keep on grafting.
Find Sweetpea on Instagram, Soundcloud
Louise +1 & Hughesee
Tell our All Crews readers everything they need to know about Distant Planet:
Distant Planet was established in 2011 by a group of rave enthusiasts with similar tastes, focusing mostly on dance music between 88′ and 95′.
In the beginning, we would regularly move venues to accommodate both family-friendly daytime events and all-nighters. We decided to keep our music policy all-vinyl sets to retain the original vibe. For our first release on our Distant Planet label, 300 vinyl copies were pressed in 2022.
Since we began hosting parties at the Venue MOT in South Bermondsey about six years ago, younger generations have become increasingly interested; many of them have parents who attended the original 80’s and 90’s parties. What we stand for is supported by the MOT staff.
Additionally, we also have our lighting engineer, who brings an extra visual element with lasers and lights which have become part of Distant Planet’s identity. Something to mention is the emphasis on dancing which is a really important aspect.
We are so appreciative that people who come to our parties really get into the music and put the effort into dancing the night away.
So here we are in 2024; our parties seem to have a strong sense of community and a loyal following, and there is a great mix of people from all backgrounds, surrounded by lots of amazing producers and DJs and generally nice people. Most of the DJs that spin records at our events are regular attendees who are well-known to the party-goers. It’s not the type of party where the DJs leave straight after their sets; they are more likely to be chatting in the smoking area.
I love the fact that we don’t have a stage and the DJs are not elevated; if you want to see the DJ, you need to get down to the front; this is where all the trainspotting happens, and many of the younger crews have taken inspiration from us and acquired turntables and started buying vinyl.
During the lockdown we broadcast several sessions from MOT via our YouTube channel, this helped to raise our profile. These sessions also meant that people in our scene who were isolated during the lockdown were able to come together online and share a common interest.
What are the top two most memorable Distant Planet events?
Simon: There are so many memories, but one that sticks in my mind is last year for Louise’s birthday, Our friend Humzah brought some cupcakes with candles for Louise.
Watching him try to light them in the DJ booth with some strong air conditioning behind him, blowing them out at most attempts was hilarious. We all sang Louise a Happy Birthday at the end of her set; it was such a nice moment.
Louise: Yes, so many good parties over the past 6 years! One that stands out to me. It was Hughee’s birthday this time, and we had messed up the set times, Bizzy B had been playing (for the first time at Distant Planet); this was a long time coming, as the man is such a legend and has been so instrumental in the evolution of the Jungle scene. After his set, it was supposed to be Equinox, however, Equinox thought he was on later, so Hughesee and Bizzy B ended up doing a B2B session for an hour until it was Equinox’s turn an hour later. For Hughesee, getting to play alongside such a legend was a pretty magical moment, and the crowd seemed to enjoy seeing an impromptu B2B from them.
When all is said and done, how would you like people to remember Distant Planet?
Simon: Hopefully for keeping it real and staying true to the sound, and for keeping the sound alive and bringing people from all backgrounds together in a quest to explore the music.
Louise: For keeping vinyl culture alive, being super friendly, and having a lot of attention to
detail with the many people who attended over the years. Hopefully, memories of it being an amazing
raving experience.
Find Distant Planet on Instagram, Youtube and Soundcloud
Donya B Bass
You make tunes across different genres, which genre is the most fun to produce tunes in and which is the most challenging?
My love for music stems from my childhood and my family, multiple genres were played around me, so I find making music as a whole pretty enjoyable. However, Jungle is the most fun to produce. When I first started producing Jungle, the challenge was trying to create something that’s super different and unique, never been heard before. So I felt it was only right to just be myself, and use sounds and instruments that I like, even if it is really different, and put my own spin on it.
DJing or producing, which one has your heart and soul?
I would say they both have my heart & soul. I have DJs and producers in my family so from young, both Dj’ing & producing were something I knew I would fall into.
When I’m producing it’s therapeutic for me, I get to hide in my bubble and just create. DJ’ing for me, I love playing tunes that have inspired me and also showcasing my own music is the best. I listen to music everyday, if I’m not producing, I’ve got music on in the background.
Please tell our readers what they can expect to hear from you for the rest of 2024 and into 2025.
I have a bunch of new music coming for 2025 Jungle Drum & Bass releases & House & Garage releases coming with some really cool collaborators, it’s super exciting, stay tuned for this. End of 2024 I look forward to dropping some self releases, remixes and edits.
You can find me on Bandcamp, SoundCloud and Instagram.
MRS MAGOO
You’re always gigging throughout the world, where would you like to DJ, that you haven’t played yet?
At the top of my list would definitely be Japan! It would be an absolute dream to play a gig there. The parties look like they have such an incredible energy and vibe, and I feel like it would be an amazing experience. Plus, I’d be in heaven with the food, there’s so much great cuisine to explore, so it would be the perfect mix of work and pleasure, haha!
With respect to production, what can people look forward to from you for the balance of 2024 and into 2025?
Honestly, I’m still learning and growing as a producer, so right now there’s a lot of experimenting happening. I also have a project in the works with DJ Hybrid, but it’s been tough to find studio time together with our busy schedules and the distance between us. That said, I’m really excited about how it’s shaping up, and I can’t wait to get it wrapped up and out there!
What are some things that are meaningful to you, outside of music?
Outside of music, friends and family are incredibly important to me. They play a huge role in my happiness and personal growth, offering support and inspiration in everything I do. Nature and travel are also very meaningful to me. I find that being outdoors brings me a sense of peace and clarity, while exploring new places fuels my curiosity and creativity. Both provide me with a deeper connection to the world and keep me grounded.
Find Mrs Magoo on Instagram
K Super
Please tell our All Crews Readers everything they need to know about Certain Sounds.
Certain Sounds is a Breakbeat Hardcore, Jungle Drum & Bass outfit based in Manchester, set up by myself & Deejay Atlas in 2018. We solely ran events for a while and earlier this year we launched the record label side of things with the “Selections” cassette series. We’ll be following that up with the next tape in the series, next year as well as dropping our first vinyl release, which I’m mega excited about. In the meantime we have a Mix Drop incoming next month over on our Soundcloud and we’ll be heading down to London with some mates to do a Certain Sounds Takeover at Planet Wax in November.
Please tell our All Crews readers about your proudest moment to date as a producer.
I’m not naturally musically talented in the slightest and probably like most producers have a big chunk of self doubt with my own productions, so getting anything across the finish line is always a nice moment and releasing them on labels you’re a fan of is an added bonus. A stand out moment would be mine and Deejay Atlas’ first vinyl release, we’d worked really hard on reaching that goal and being vinyl djs it was nice to have our tune on wax. Equally our first joint EP, “Talk To Frank” which is forthcoming on Erupt Records, the EP and concept of it is something we’ve been working on together since around 2019, so it’s nice to see that one in the pipeline.
As a label owner, what do you look for in tracks you sign to Certain Sounds?
I like a large spectrum of music from Darkside to Drumfunk so there’s no particular ‘sound’ I’m searching for. I try to think of it like, does this track sound like something I would have in my collection, or is this something I’d put in a mix, if it does, I want it on the label.
Find K Super on Instagram, SoundCloud
Asha Binx
You have fantastic selection as a DJ, who are you rinsin in your sets right now?
My gotos that make me feel comfortable in any set are Nymfo, Total Science, and Skeptical. Ones to watch out for are Kiril, kimbr, Resslek, Golgot, Cauzer, Obedeya, Optimystic and Benj
In what ways has DJ’ing shaped the tunes you produce?
Ahh well, I guess I keep them unrelated lol whilst producing my aim is not necessarily to make tunes to be mixed, but what I represent. When I’m mixing I want to play and promote styles that I resonate with!
We all have dreams, so, who would be a dream DJ to do a B2B set with and the dream venue to play the set in?
I definitely would love to go b2b with Dillinja, Mantra or Loxy and get Missy P involved. I wanna experience playing at Fold, Drumsheds or just a proper free party in Bristol!
Find Asha Binx on Instagram, Soundcloud
Nicky B
Please tell our All Crews readers about your internship with AKO Beatz.
Yes, it’s the EQ50 mentorship programme & I was successful in being picked/paired with the label AKO Beatz. Crazy! It lasts 12 months and I get to have 1 on 1s with the label’s producers, while the Big Boss Stretch & my EQ50 mentor, DJ Flight, keep me on track and provide me with the support that is needed to develop better production skills.
You’re a great DJ, what do you look for in tracks that you include in your sets?
Thank you! Straight up, I like my tracks pretty scatty….noisy! You know the ones, sound great, but are hell to mix? I love a challenge and a big part of being a DJ that’s a tad neurospicy, was learning to overcome f*** ups. So I turned it into a personal challenge. I will add, there is never a track in my sets that I don’t feel on a deeper level. If I don’t feel it, I don’t play it.
This is a pretty personal question for me, I know you have health struggles, I have been struggling with my health for over 2 years and music has been what pulls me through my rough times. What keeps you focused and pushing forward through your health struggles?
How to keep this short? Honestly, it’s really difficult on a daily, to battle and keep on chomping through life. Disease / illness of any kind is quite simply a “thief” of time, so I try my best to get the most out of every opportunity I am given. I just refuse to give up on anything and that is what fuels my fight! My kid once described me as “tenacious”… I make him right!
Find Nicky B on Instagram, Soundcloud
Silva Snipa
You’re well known for playing great techstep sets, what is it about this sub-genre that you love?
I got introduced to Drum and Bass when I was 16 through friends in college who took me to squat parties and raves, but it wasn’t until I discovered the older stuff that I proper fell in love with it. I started digging deep into rabbit holes online, and found sets from Ruud Awakening (Rude FM), and I fell in love with sets from Chillum; dark, raw, rolling sounds, with flows from MCs Eksman and Herbzie over them, it would put me in a trance. I also love when you find people into it too, you just bond instantly, I guess ‘cause it’s a really niche and small community, even though that’s changing now slowly.
The last question referenced your fantastic skills as a dj, you’re producing too, tell our All Crews readers about the music you’ve been making.
One thing I’ll say is that whilst I can produce, I ain’t a good producer yet. It’s taken me ages to build confidence, but I’ve finally got a few tracks in the works, some solo and some collabs. I’ve been focusing on creating tracks that emulate that ‘99 style, but it’s difficult not to copy a bassline you’ve already heard even subconsciously.
What are your top 3 techstep tunes of all-time?
Of ALL time, jesus there’s a few but darkside/ techstep tracks that are special to me off the top of my head would be firstly, Future Forces Inc – Strontium Jazz (Dillinja Remix), remember being in my old purple ’99 Fiesta, whizzing around Feltham in the rain with my mates blasting that one out of the tiny speakers. Another would be Interrogator and DJ Tek – The Year 2000. But, Optical – To Shape the Future (Remix), I ain’t got enough words, but that track was the whole reason I got into djing, met Singularity, and all the rest… interesting storyline behind that one.
Find Silva Snipa on Soundcloud
