The Sands Of Time Are Full Of New Beginnings...

Fifteen years on from the launch of Don’t Be Afraid, Semtek returns with four stripped-back, propulsive house dubs, continuing the label’s rich history of instinctive and forward-thinking dance music.

Opening track “Elements VIP” combines bumping 909s, swirling Detroit-inspired pads and deep bass into a hefty house roller. “Bubble Science” is a headier trip, weaving organ chords through a mesh of percussion and laser pulses, before “Northern Lights” slows the tempo and deepens the mood, with synths and vocals layered over a slinky after-hours chug. “Focus Pull” closes the EP with sinuous rhythms, offbeat snares and cowbells pulling irresistibly against a winding bass line.

It’s a fluid and varied selection of styles, reflecting the fact that Don’t Be Afraid has always been built around intuition and chance.

When he founded the label in 2010, Semtek only intended to put out a handful of records: instead, a set of early demos from Mr Beatnick (and the public reaction to them when they were released) convinced him that it was something worth persevering with.

From those first releases, Don’t Be Afraid grew to become one of the best loved underground club imprints in the UK, putting out music from Ikonika, rRoxymore, Karen Gwyer, MGUN, DJ Bone (under his Differ-ent alias), Neville Watson and many others, pushing musical boundaries and earning widespread acclaim throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.

Based in the UK, Semtek has worked as a DJ and producer since the late 90s, putting out mixes and releases for Don’t Be Afraid, World Unknown, Rubadub, FACT Magazine and L.I.E.S. as well as for Liftin’ Spirit, Ulterior Motives, The Trilogy Tapes, Blackest Ever Black and Berceuse Heroique under his DJ Persuasion alias.

A loose sequel to his Four Dubs EP from 2017, Four More Dubs is entirely in keeping with the improvisational, unpredictable and deeply human approach which has defined Semtek’s career: connecting to the past, pointing to the future, returning Don’t Be Afraid to the fray, and reminding us that when we’re at our best, we’re still dancers at heart. 


DBA046: SEMTEK - FOUR MORE DUBS

Left, Right & Centre with Nusheen - 28 July 2025

A vital cog in London’s modern underground, @dj_tasha is celebrating 15 years of her @neighbourhood-music club night with a string of parties this summer. Having come up through the thrilling crossover era of the 2010s, she's folded her d&b roots and deep affinity for techno into an urgent, in-demand sound that keeps her on the road. 

Alongside a stellar sample of her craft recorded at a recent residency night at Open Ground in Wuppertal, she speaks to Oli Warwick about the peaks and troughs of promoting, her friendship with the late Marcus Intalex, and why socks are at the heart of Neighbourhood's family atmosphere. 

Interview:  https://djmag.com/features/recognise-089-tasha

Interview

Recognise 089: Tasha

Same Thing (Ghost Phone & DJ Persuasion Remix)

Tom Ravenscroft - 31 July 2025

Live recording front closing set - Ubfold Steam Room 10th August 2025

Wes Baggaley Live at Unfold 10th Aug 25

DJ PERSUASION - MOON BLUES (GET ILL) (DEV/NULL & TIM REAPER REMIX)

MUSIC: DJ PERSUASION
MASTERING: BOB MACC
ART DIRECTION: JON K

Ulterior Motives are proud to present a fresh set of versions derived from DJ Persuasion’s Moon Blues (Get Ill).

Dev/Null and Tim Reaper bring a dark, grime-inspired drum & bass workout to the track, featuring razor-sharp breaks and a late-night urban atmosphere.
Liftin’ Spirits (aka Ant Miles of Origin Unknown), donning his Ironic pseudonym for the first time in many years, provides a rolling VIP that stays close to the original but elevates it.
Friske, one of the most enigmatic artists in drum & bass today, who has remained firmly under the radar despite collaborations with artists like Goldie, offers a reflective, refined rendition reminiscent of Subject 13 and Arctix.
In addition to the three remixes, Persuasion adds a new track, Marked, which rounds off the EP with fierce drums and the “Demon Poetry” sample that inspired the NTS Radio show of the same name.

DJ PERSUASION - MOON BLUES (GET ILL) (DEV/NULL & TIM REAPER REMIX) [UMOT001RR]

TRACKLIST 

Billy Daniel Bunter, Vinyl Junkie &amp; Sanxion - Memories
Pete Cannon - Dancin (N4 Dub)
Tim Clay - Dark Clouds (N4 Dub)
Vinyl Junkie &amp; Tim Reaper - Hear Me
Fluid Haunts - Palm Tree Hill (N4 Dub)
Tim Clay - Acid Doubt (N4 Dub)
&gt;&gt; Slipmatt - Breaking Free
DJ Magic Touch - Jungle Track (Hifi Jungle Dub) x2
Optimystic - Come To See (Gunns Road Dub)
SL8R - Say The Word (Repertoire Dub)
Tim Clay - Look Inside (Function Dub)
&gt;&gt; Spirit - International (London Mix) (Function Dub)
Digital &amp; John B - You &amp; Me (Gremlinz Remix) (Function Dub)
Tim Clay - Directions (Function Dub)
&gt;&gt; Rufige Kru - Special Request
IP - Combination Style (Function Dub)
&gt;&gt; Spinback &amp; Gwange - The Execution
Tim Clay - Want You Now (Reinforced Dub)
Section &amp; Tim Clay - Feel For Me (Function Dub)
&gt;&gt;Malign - Outcast
DJ Persuasion - Dub
Section - Set My Heart (Dub)
HLZ - Roadblock (Metalheadz Dub)
&gt;&gt; Fierce &amp; Optiv - Surface Noise
Tim Clay - Seasonal Affected (Repertoire Dub)
Tim Clay - Sunshine Groove

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Pure Vibes w/ Tim Clay & Ethics - 20/08/2025

In 2005 I got my first regular gig which was in the bar of Sketch, the restaurant in Soho with the iconic egg-shaped toilets. This was the mix that got me the slot, it reflects that era really well. There’s some DFA, some EBM courtesy NIN, some electronica and early minimal cuts and some nu disco sounding euphoric bits to finish. Recorded on vinyl and a pair of CDJ 100s which were the cheapest CD decks going, they weren’t much fun to use but they did the job. Hope you enjoy the mix.


Ceremony #4 Semtek - Sketch Mix 2005

He sat upon a little hill beside the bridge and looked out upon the river which passed down beneath. It was hard to see the ripples of the water but for the occasional flicker of the headlights which whizzed by up there on the overpass. Some people came out here from time to time to spot the northern lights but there wasn't much moving in the wayward sky this evening. 

There was a near silence in the air, the occasional scream of something wild in the woods in the distance would echo across the snow capped fields. 

He took a deep breath and watched as it filled the air with fog.

Don't Be Afraid has always represented the very best of the underground, a prominent label with a commitment to the out there. Label boss makes a triumphant return with a new EP.

BUBBLE SCIENCE

dontbeafraid

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