A podcast on my label Phase Records DNB aiming to bring real, thought provoking conversations to the forefront of the scene

Between The Beats Podcast

The revamp of the Phase Records DNB podcast is finally here.
Gifta presents: Between The Beats. Episode 1.

In this pilot episode, I sit down and waffle on about who I am, some stuff about me you may not know, my upbringing and the good, bad and ugly times the last 9 years of me trying to break into the drum and bass scene. 

This episode acts as a taster of what I am trying to make of this thing... real conversations, real understanding, real talk. I want to bring to the forefront, the backstories of our favourite dj's, producers, label owners and some unsung heroes. Between The Beats.. we're still human.

I hope you enjoy this first episode, I'm looking forward to bringing my first guest on soon!

All my love,

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP.1 - Gifta's Introduction

In the second instalment of Between The Beats I welcome my first guest: Kendot.

Kendot is a multi-talented, very busy young man who is one half of the power duo heading up In The Lab Recordings. A unique, forward thinking label who have taken the scene by storm the past few years. Capturing the hearts and attention of many ravers and greats, the label, and Kendot are everywhere right now!

We chat the ins and outs of his dynamic with Andy (Spectra T), the origins of ITL, it's famous group chat and what it's really like to be Kenny. 

The conversation is interesting, clever, funny and a great time all round, hope you enjoy!

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP 2. Kendot

In the third episode of Between The Beats, I invite one of the people who inspired me to delve into the world of podcasting and interviews: Dave Columbo Jenkins.

A true gem in our underground scene, a dance music expert and an exceptionally passionate soul. Is there anybody more hardworking than Dave?
Whether you know him through DJ mag, Dnb arena, UKF, Vision radio or his 1 More Thing platform .. it is difficult to turn anywhere in drum and bass and not find some of Dave's legacy. But underneath all of the amazing opportunities, the charisma, the good energy and the love of our rave community, he is a just a pretty normal bloke who has been through some dark times like the rest of us.

This interview with Dave is insightful, thought-provoking, full of nuggets of wisdom, great stories and some cold truths about what it takes to exist and thrive in such a cutthroat and busy industry. 

I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP 3. Dave Columbo Jenkins

In episode 4 I sit down with someone hugely inspiring in so many ways: Sweetpea!

A DJ, producer, radio presenter, interviewer, and an EQ50 sister.. Sweetpea experiences the drum and bass scene from many different sides. 

This conversation is full of things, that primarily, I think we all know, but we need to be reminded of - myself included. It's refreshing to hear some of the advice she has for up and comers and the way she's seen dnb evolve, the hope she has in the new generation and some of the things she misses from what she calls her 'golden era'.
 
We touch on important topics such as inclusivity and diversity, social media, mindset, battling quiet periods in your music career and the importance of being fulfilled in your life as a whole.

In the interview, I describe this as 'The chat I wanted to have, but didn't realise how much I needed'. I stand by this statement. 

Hope you enjoy and take away some really good things from this!

Gabs

Between The Beats EP 4. Sweetpea

It's the fifth episode of Between the Beats and I am honoured to have had this conversation with Screamarts.

Producer, DJ, teacher, label founder... but above all else... a human being! In his own words: "I'm more than just a play on Spotify".

My chat with Marv is incredibly raw and super inspiring. We go really in depth on great topics like creative blocks and how to overcome them, exploring his sonic character and bridging the gap between drum and bass sub genres. There is so much to this conversation and so much more to this exceptionally talented young man. I truly believe in all of things I discuss with Marv in this podcast as well as hugely relate to many aspects of his outlook on life, social media usage and his Philosophical approach to things.

Refreshing, intelligent, passionate, positive.. I'm so gassed to share this with you all!

Hope you love this,

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP 5. Screamarts

After a little break, Between The Beats is back for its sixth instalment. I'm honoured to have sat down and had this chat with Nurve and to share it with you.

Raff is the mastering engineer of our label and we discuss the technical side of mix and masters as well as business and what it's like to take the risk to run on your own. We then go on to talk about the imperative importance of looking after your physical and mental well being, keeping disciplined and the many ways which we should strive to exercise this in our every day lives.

This chat has a little something for everyone. Whether you're a producer looking to understand more about mix downs and masters, an aspiring artist trying to understand how to navigate the industry, or just someone looking to strive to be the best version of themselves. This has so much wisdom, passion, knowledge and love all wrapped into it and I personally learned a lot from conducting this interview. 

Over the past 6/7 years, Raff has been my teacher, my mentor and my friend. This conversation demonstrates perfectly the many reasons why he is somebody I hold in such high regard and really value!

Enjoy,

Gabs xx

Between the Beats EP 6. Nurve

In the seventh instalment of the 'Between the Beats' podcast series, I got the honour of chatting with the 1985 label manager, Amy Jayne.

Amy knows the drum and bass business world like the back of her hand. A graduate in photography who had a love for dubstep and drum and bass - she never imagined the career she would go on to have within the scene.

It's as if she has done it all, working for Hospital Records, Shogun Audio, now the label manager for 1985 and helping many artists set up their own labels and handle self-releases. She is the definition of a "Drum and Bass consultant" - her knowledge and experience of how the industry works is something that really shines bright.

This conversation between us is a story of hard work and teaches us that knowledge is power (as is the will to obtain it!) I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to interview Amy and hope you all enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed speaking with her!

Enjoy,

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP 7. Amy Jayne (1985 Music)

In my 8th interview this year (mad)... I got to speak with the amazing Whisky Kicks. A wonderful full-circle moment for me, having been interviewed myself by Nicola earlier in the year for UKF's Label Spotlight series. Nicola is the editor of UKF, a freelance journalist, bass music enthusiast, a mother and still very much a raver at heart. 

Not only is she inspiring, but she is also fun, supportive of the scene, approachable, relatable and fiercely clever. A woman who stopped at nothing to be a trailblazer for others in the journalist sphere. 

We discuss the importance of building healthy relationships between artists and the press,  what makes someone worth shouting about and her journey from Croydon dubstep raver to editor at UKF. We dissect the feeling of imposter syndrome and why it can be a superpower when you're coming up in a highly competitive industry. And we talk very passionately about a mutual love of underground music (her kids lullaby music was Burial!)

Speaking to Whisky felt incredibly easy and comfortable, for me, this one feels really wholesome!

Enjoy!

Gabs 

Between the Beats EP 8. Whisky Kicks (UKF)

It’s our final podcast of 2024, and I’m incredibly honored to share my conversation with Pythius – one of the most influential figures in the Neurofunk scene. Hylke has witnessed firsthand the rise of drum and bass in the Netherlands, and his journey mirrors the growth of the genre itself.

What I especially love about this chat is how it almost transcends the format of a typical interview. At one point, I threw out my planned questions, and the conversation naturally evolved into a deep dive into his music, creative process, and personal story within drum and bass. From discovering the genre while just hanging out with friends in the park, discovering really intimate underground raves, to his time as a Blackout intern, and eventually scoring the Let It Roll festival – Pythius’s journey is truly captivating.

One of the highlights for me was learning about the Dutch drum and bass scene. As a UK native, it’s not often that we get to hear about how the scene developed in other countries. It was like a mini history lesson, covering the early days of iconic brands like Cheeky Monday and Liquicity.

I’m beyond grateful to Hylke for taking the time to speak with me and for being so open about his journey and his music. I really hope you all enjoy this one – it’s a special one to close out the year.

Gabs x

Between the Beats EP 9. Pythius

Gifta is a Drum and Bass DJ and producer based in London. 

Inspired by the energetic side of the genre; she strives to bring dynamic energy to the forefront of her sound. Her production is defined by rolling drums, loud bass design and girthy subs. Honing in on her love of the drum and bass live experience – she always has the ravers in mind when making music. Her sets and mixes replicate the same energy – impactful, heavy and rolling. Championing the vibes she believes in. 
She founded her record label 'Phase Records DNB'  and has seen it quickly establish itself as a highly respected label on the underground circuit and was nominated for 'Best Newcomer Label' at the DNB Arena Awards. Furthermore, she now hosts the ‘Between the Beats’ podcast series, where she interviews people within the scene, bringing real and raw conversations to the table. Now also a Kool FM resident DJ hosting her monthly show, Gifta is completeley immersed in the goings on within the drum and bass scene.

Bookings: chrism@clinictalent.com