Triple award winning Drum & Bass DJ and producer. One third of Kings of the Rollers. Owner of Souped Up Records.

Optical is owner of Virus Recordings, Music Producer and DJ from England.
Bookings: UK/ROW: mark@esp-agency.com
USA: saleem@amodeagency.com

This page is dedicated to my sons: Aidan and Solomon, they are the inspiration for everything I do in life now.

"He is best known for his work with Ed Rush, fellow head of the Virus Recordings label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk sound. His first single for Metalheadz, 'To Shape the Future'/'Raging Calm' (1997) and his collaborative material with Ed Rush, such as the Wormhole, album (1998) were archetypal developments in the style. The duo followed this debut album with The Creeps (2000) and The Original Doctor Shade (2003), as well as countless singles and remixes. More recently, the duo have returned to form with their (2009) LP 'Travel The Galaxy' containing the modern classic 'Chubrub' and 'No Cure' LP in 2015."

"He also notably did all of the engineering and production work for Grooverider's album Mysteries of Funk, and work on Goldie's 'Saturns Return' LP. In addition, he has produced solo for many labels including Virus, Metalheadz, Prototype, 31 Records, Metro and released in collaboration with many artists, including Ed Rush, Trace, Dom and Roland, Fierce, and his brother Matrix. The first Optical release was in 1996."

"Matt Quinn's savage dance floor productions as Optical (for, among many others, Groove's own label Prototype) have earned him a place in drum'n'bass's premier division.”

"Optical's pure, unchallenged talent shines through on his solo tunes, showcasing an artist well ahead of his time. No doubt the modern sounds of the likes of D-Bridge, Instra:mental and the rest of the minimalist dark revival heads, draw heavy influence not only from Optical himself, but from his inspirations in Jazz, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. His ability to blend Jazz, Funk and futuristic, technical soundscapes is masterful. From his early work on Metalheadz and Prototype Recordings to his collaborative work on Virus Recordings and the classic Mysteries of Funk (Grooverider's landmark LP), Optical can perhaps qualify as one of the most underrated musicians of the modern era. His mind has crafted sounds which were never before heard, moods which were completely original, and his vision of the future, although ultimately dark and disjointed, is beautifully vivid and addictive. Its a world he pulls you into with each and every track and only a handful of artists can begin to dream of being this successful in their work."

Virus Recordings has become a DnB scene favourite and continues to release the ultimate in DnB vibes, with artists like C4C, Audio, Optiv & BTK, The Upbeats, Noisia, Gridlok, Ram Trilogy, Matrix, Rymetyme, Sonic & Silver, Pendulum, Mefjus,  InsideInfo

The Hot Mix 5 are an American DJ team originating from Chicago, Illinois, who were chosen by WBMX Program Director, Lee Michaels in 1981. The founding members were Farley "Funkin" Keith (later known as Farley "Jackmaster" Funk), Mickey "Mixin" Oliver, Scott "Smokin" Silz, Ralphi Rosario and Kenny "Jammin" Jason. In 1982, Scott Silz was asked to leave the group and was replaced by Julian "Jumpin" Perez in 1984, as the winner of a HMF sponsored DJ Battle. Another DJ, Jeff Davis, was supposed to be a sixth member, but Silz mentioned in an interview that he never showed up, leaving just the five members.[1]

Created to act as the resident DJs on Chicago FM radio station (now defunct) WBMX's Saturday Night Live Ain't No Jive mix show hosted by Armando Rivera, the members quickly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Soon Friday Night Jams, Mini Mixes and specially edited remixes were added. The Chicago house music scene exploded as the Hot Mix 5 show and WBMX became the #1 Radio show in Chicago, by airing a new sound called House Music that was presented by their unique style of turntablism. Mickey Oliver became known by his editing and Turntable skills, and Farley, Ralphi and Kenny each had their own incredible unique styles. Soon the Hot Mix 5 Radio show became known all over the world as their mixes were recorded on cassette tapes and sent across America and aboard. Their Turntable skills together with this new genre broke about every Chicago House Music Record and many Italo Disco track, as Million of listeners in Chicago waited for their weekly mixes. Together, the've became legends as their mixes are still being sold today on the likes of Ebay and other outlets. Many of the Top Djs in the world have recognized the Hot Mix 5 as their mentors, as to setting the bar of what a DJ can be.

The City of Chicago, Illinois recognized the Hot Mix 5 members contribution to the creation of the house music genre and honored them by presenting each member with an individual street named after them and in addition a street named after them as a whole called "Hot Mix 5 Way", which is located in downtown Chicago on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Balbo Drive. 

Today, The Hot Mix 5 members continue to perform globally individually and sometimes as a team. 
Mickey has had a TV show called Intensi-T, a live stage show at the Planet Hollywood complex on the Las Vegas Strip, and mentioned as a Grammy semi finalist in 2012. Ralphi was a Grammy finalist in 2013 and has produced recordings for many Major recording artists with countless charting hits. Farley has continued his legendary DJ career by performing all over the world to huge crowds. Kenny's Addicted to Radio station has been nominated as one of America's top Radio stations.

I-Witness breathes drum & bass since the start of the millennium and has been playing DJ sets since 2003. He played at numerous parties and festivals around the country (Tomorrowland, Star Warz, etc.) and abroad (UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, etc). Known for his versatile selection, he always combines different flavours, ranging from oldschool classics to the newest releases.

https://www.instagram.com/iwitness_dnb
https://www.facebook.com/iwitnessdrumnbass
https://www.facebook.com/iwitnessdnb
http://www.youtube.com/iwitnessdnb
http://www.mixcloud.com/iwitness

DSCI4 is a pioneering Techstep label, known for its dark, futuristic soundscapes.

Home of DJ Thumpa 
I AM NOW PRETTY MUCH RETIRED FROM DJ'ING AS AT DEC 2025…I’LL DO THE ODD SET IF ASKED.
IF YOU ARE DESPERATE TO GET IN TOUCH PLEASE EMAIL DJTHUMPA@HOTMAIL.COM

2026 dates

25/04 Tomorrow's World, Doncaster
11/07 Fuse Festival, Lichfield
25/07 Back To The 90s Festival, Birmingham



2025 sets (taking limited dates)

01/02/25 Drum & Bass Classics, London
28/02/25 Drum Fusion, Coventry
01/03/25 Birmingham Children's Hospital Fundraiser. Birmingham
15/03/25 Pump, Burton On Trent
22/03/25 Tomorrow’s World, Doncaster
29/03/25 DNB Shellaz, Birmingham
12/04/25 Bassman & Friends, Birmingham 
20/04/25 Crooked House, Shrewsbury
25/04/25 Sumo Beatz, Colchester 
03/05/25 Drum & Bass Classics, London 
07/06/25 Unity (vinyl set), Coventry 
28/06/25 Industrial Drumz, Birmingham 
05/07/25 Formation Records Rooftop party, Leicester 
12/07/25 Bassman Birthday Bash, Birmingham  
12/07/25 Fuse Festival, Lichfield
09/08/25 Bassface, Birmingham 
05/10/25 Riverdance, London 
02/11/25 Bellyman Show, London 
15/11/25 Hardcore Technology, Newport
22/11/25 Tomorrow’s World, Doncaster 
06/12/25 Standard Procedure, Coventry 
12/12/25 Splitting Frequencies, Bristol
26/12/25 Drum Fusion, Coventry 
27/12/25 Splitting Frequencies, Malvern
31/12/25 Midnight Frequencies, Birmingham  

2024 sets:

26/01 Be Happy, Leicester 
27/01 Drum & Bass Classics, London 
27/01 Future Drum & Bass, Milton Keynes
27/01 Raveology Children’s Hospital Fundraiser, Birmingham 
10/02 Paragon, Leicester 
10/02 Darkside, Glasgow
17/02 Happedaze, Sunderland 
24/02 Bassface, Birmingham
02/03 OnlyBass, Birmingham
16/03 Reprobeats, Manchester
29/03 Random Concept, Birmingham
30/03 Bassface, Birmingham 
27/04 Drum & Bass Classics, London 
05/05 Onset Of Bass, Bristol
25/05 Random Concept, Northampton
28/06 Duck D&B, Birmingham
30/06 Basstrap live stream, Birmingham 
13/07 Fuse Festival, Lichfield 
27/07 Basstrap, Oswestry
03/08 Rave Hart, Cannock
23/08 NoughtyCulture, Leicester
24/08 Drum & Bass Classics, London
24/08 Drop The Knife Charity Event, Birmingham
25/08 Crooked House Festival, Lichfield 
31/08 Bassman & Friends, Birmingham
27/09 Dark In The Jungle, Birmingham
28/09 Drum & Bass Classics. Birmingham
18/10 Stimulation, Ripley
20/12 Complex, Burton On Trent


My name is Thumpa and I've been DJ'ing since 1996. I've played at Westfest (the biggest indoor rave in the UK), Pandemonium (Holland), Slammin Vinyl, Breakin Science's 'Drum & Bass Classics', Random Concept, DNB Collective, HTID & HTID In The Sun, Shadow Demon, Hardcore Heaven, Uproar, Hardcore Heaven Weekender, Raver Baby, Ravers Reunited, FINRG (Finland), Codex (Japan), Fantazia, Madness Industry (Holland), Mokum (Holland), Cenobite (Holland), Dimensions Of Darkness (Holland), Hardcore Underground, Freeformation, Vibealite, Uprising, Distruxshon and hundreds more including gigs in Japan, USA, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, Germany and for every major rave promoter in every corner of the UK. I now play D&B, classic D&B / jungle and old skool with the occasional hardcore set.

Any mixes you can't find might be at https://hearthis.at/rebuildmusic/ or http://www.mixcloud.com/OllyThumpa

🎛️ DNB Producer / DJ duo
💽 Releases on RAM, Liftin Spirit, Weapon Audio
🎵 DO U DARE - OUT NOW
✉️ Bookings: syrandnb@outlook.com

The name SyRan came after the Ransome brothers (Josh and James) toyed with the idea of forming a drum & bass project, having spent years consuming a diet of Andy C and Calibre. After modestly working under individual pseudonyms, a chance meeting with Ray Keith at Clashmouth’s vinyl market meant that the name ‘SyRan’ finally stuck, solidifying their commitment to melding their two considerable talents. 

Following this encounter, alongside several releases under their belt, they found a home within the roster of RAM Records. Over thirty years in the making, RAM are an imprint who have cultivated the careers of some of the genre’s shining lights. And after the success of SyRan’s RAM debut alongside a host of singles and Eps with the imprint, the two are following a similar path. Evidence of this is through SyRan’s tastemaker support, from the likes of UKF, DJ Mag, Kiss FM, Kool FM, Danny Howard on BBC Radio 1 to Drum & Bass Arena, as well as being heralded as one of BBC Radio 1’s ‘Ones to Watch’ in 2023 with a slot at Printworks for RAM Records 30th Birthday months prior to the announcement. This would soon lead into the duo being a defining part in RAM Records orchestral takeover at London Guildhall and the Barbican, as well as the release of Project Cars III where their talent had also been noticed by the video games industry.

Already a staple on Charlie Tee’s BBC Radio 1 show, especially via the pair’s collaboration with MEL ‘Reprisal’, 2023 is looking just as explosive for SyRan. Having played at seminal club nights such as Hit & Run, the RAM residency at XOYO and for Brighton’s Serotone Recordings, this year they include Illusive Festival on their run of tour dates too. Meanwhile, their brand-new remix of Bobby Harvey, Abi Flynn and One Bit's single 'Last Summer' received weeks of consecutive features on Danny Howard’s BBC Radio 1 Dance Anthems show, alongside plays at Las Vegas event EDC through RAM label boss Andy C. 

With the guidance of RAM, the brothers have come from their modest foundations and have grown to be part of the imprint’s new generation. This is a feat which not many newcomer producers have been able to accomplish.

Belfast-born Dominick Martin has spent the last 30 years simply creating. He’s done so with a sort of restrained melancholy that’s broad enough to encompass a myriad of tempos and genres. Over 22 albums, this includes his more song-based experimental LPs, from drum & bass into dub, techno, house, ambient, jazz, soul, blues and folk.

The same can be said of his award winning DJ sets: Fluent within his own vast range, favouring the bookings where space and time allow him to draw out a narrative and provoke emotions, predominantly based on his own material. Calibre sets draw from his own personal spectrum, never resort to hype tactics and are perennially sprung with never-before-heard surprises. Whether you experience him taking over a room for the full 6+ hour trip, or he plays a shorter higher impact role on a bigger bill, his singular signature persists: a soulfully honest sense of the transcendental and a unique perspective and approach.

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