What’s 2 m tall, lives Behind the Iron Curtain, has 1605 reasons to run an awesome label, and flies? Meet UMEK, a techno legend from Slovenia.

UMEK is personally responsible for kickstarting the electronic music scene in his home country by first organizing illegal raves and then becoming one of Slovenia’s most wanted export products and the number one music ambassador to the whole world.

And he does fly! Around 100 times per year, visiting almost every continent each year. His gig diary ranges from dark underground clubs in Berlin to massive techno stages at the world’s most renowned festivals. 

Apart from making his name in the DJ booth, he’s also a tireless producer. He mostly releases on his own imprint 1605, and most of his tracks end up on the very top of Beatport’s charts. After more than 25 years as a professional musician, he decided to use his experience and skills in the entrepreneurial world. Together with his managers, he founded a music-tech startup Viberate (www.viberate.com), where they are building the world’s greatest music platform.

OPTIV is a name firmly embedded in both the forefront and deep memory of any true fan of drum & bass. He emerged into the scene with the seminal Cause4Concern sound, which made an enduring mark that influenced many of today’s great artists, including Noisia, and helped to mould the tech aesthetic that we –know today. The Optiv moniker erupted into existence a few years after the establishment of Cause4Concern, with the founding of his own label Red Light Records in 2002, an imprint that continues to be influential in both launching the careers of promising artists such as Inward, Hanzo & Randie, Impak as well as putting out high quality audio from established artists such as Tobax, Telekinesis, The Upbeats and Black Sun Empire. This is in addition to running the pioneering C4C Recordings imprint, that’s been committed to pushing forward-thinking tech for close to two decades now.
Over the course of Optiv’s prolific and long-running solo career, he’s released on a significant range of labels, including leading taste-makers such as Virus, Playaz, Blackout, Subtitles, Eatbrain, Hospital, Shogun Audio, Invisible and Dispatch to name just a few. His commitment to a pure analogue sound, inspired by his techno and electro roots, in combination with a stripped aesthetic that requires audio purity, has ensured that his sound remains both timeless and ahead of the pack. With years of experience behind him to apply to the dance, as well as his immaculate sense for freshness, Optiv is a tried and tested artist who continues to make a significant impact on the drum & bass sphere.

Optical is owner of Virus Recordings, Music Producer and DJ from England.
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"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

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Since joining forces in 2007, Peter Rogers and Andy Powell AKA Technimatic have become key players in the world of musical, emotive drum & bass. Their rich back catalogue covers the cream of d&b labels - Hospital, Ram, Shogun Audio and Spearhead to name a few - and in 2021 they established their own pioneering ‘Technimatic Music’ imprint. With 4 albums, countless EPs and remixes of the likes of Moby and LTJ Bukem, their music has taken them around the world, their in-demand DJ sets renowned for covering the whole spectrum and history of d&b.

A true pioneer of the Drum and Bass sound, Gridlok remains one of the most highly regarded artists in the industry. With a discography spanning over a two decades and featuring classics such as ‘Moodswings’, ‘Bottomfeeder’, and ‘Standing Room Only’, it’s little wonder that the Gridlok name has become synonymous with timeless Drum and Bass.

Involved with music from an early age, Ryan Powell aka Gridlok picked up a variety of instruments, but it was after experimenting with a cheap radio shack microphone paired with a 4-track tape recorder that he soon found himself in the murky world of production. Now with the use of a computer and an E-mu sampler along with an ever-changing combination of analogue gear and production techniques, this West Coast producer has led by example, constantly exploring new ways of injecting emotion and attitude into his art. 

The grimy uncompromising style that Gridlok has developed forms the foundation for his glittering career, gaining him the attention of his peers with household names such as Shy FX, Pendulum, and Dom and Roland lining up to work with the American producer. Acknowledged by artists in and out of Drum and Bass, Gridlok has put his spin on other genres, remixing for the likes of electronica giant Josh Wink and house legend Sasha. Gridlok’s original music and remixes have also branched into other media, with his work appearing in titles such as Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution and MTV’s Challenge series. Covering a wide spectrum within Drum and Bass, Gridlok’s versatile production has allowed him to release on a diverse range of labels, spanning from Ram Records and Playaz to Commercial Suicide and Moving Shadow, whilst maintaining his signature sound....

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Merikan x Maztek - Square (OUT NOW) https://cygnusmusic.link/y2o3amk

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