British-American electronic producer Skybreak, known for his futuristic style of dubstep and house music, recently dropped his third album, ‘HALF BLOOD.’ In this exclusive commentary, he discusses the making of key tracks. Skybreak took his first shot at drum & bass on the track “ANTIMATTER,” which was recorded in a studio in Croydon, about a mile from the former home of the legendary dubstep record store, Big Apple; a “celestial energy seeped into the session,” he says. His latest single, a remix of Atura’s “LIKE THIS,” came about after they met on a SoundCloud-based community. The collaboration felt right, says Skybreak: “The two of us had this glow-up moment about the same time.” Listen now.

Voice Notes: Skybreak

STREAM/BUY: https://hypeddit.com/skybreak/anti-clg

I’ve been meaning to give the Drum & Bass genre a PROPER shot for a while now. I feel like there’s a stigma about Dubstep Artists making DnB since it’s such a vastly different workflow, and I was never confident enough in my technical chops to try to say something meaningful with the genre. But when I started HALF BLOOD, it felt like a good time to strike! I started ANTIMATTER at a time where I was RELIGIOUSLY bumping Noisia, The Caracal Project and Mefjus and this was my attempt at emulating the pocket that they all manage to obtain in every single tune. I bingewatched their tutorials/interviews trying to wrap my head around their music making philosophy.
 
Once the instrumental was done, I knew I wanted the lyrics to say something deeper than the average hype DnB song. It took a few tries to find a lyricist who was down for the extra challenge, but I came across a Brighton-based MC named Purple Velvet Curtains who agreed to work on the record and absolutely nailed it. The two of us resonated on this theme of how the feeling of glory and fame is cyclical - if you're tempted too much by ulterior motives and others perceptions, you lose the plot on why you really do this.

We wrote and recorded the whole topline in an intense six hour studio session in Croydon, London. I’ve been writing poems and song lyrics for my entire life, but had never attempted to write a Rap until this track. It was an extremely refreshing experience getting to collaborate on a new medium and PVC was patient with me throughout the entire process.

Lyrics:
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter

Looking for sanctuary
Somewhere I can't escape from
We've survived for centuries, built off this miscreation
You idolize me, hoping one day I can save 'em
But everything you see is the result of my mistakes, yuh

No exception, I'm reckless in my coping
Pretending I'm invincible, my eyes still hard to open
Taken by the tide, now I'm drowning in the ocean
Thought I'd part the waves like Moses but can't seem to stay afloat
I hope you notice

It doesn't really matter
I find it hard to breathe but still make my city chatter
It doesn't really matter
Carrying this weight to make the world shatter

It doesn't really matter
I find it hard to breathe but still make my city chatter
It doesn't really matter
Carrying this weight to make the world shatter

Don't lose the plot on why you started
Get your mind in order 'cause your dreams are empty-hearted
Passion's turning jaded, thought my outer skin was hardened
But inside I'm feeling faded, we still searching for the answers
Let go of all these motives
Remember your goals
The lonely times on the train when you stared at your phone
Writing poems in your notes, take your eyes off the road
'Cause when nothing really matters, let the bassline roll

We let go
We let go
We let go
We let go

It doesn't really matter
I find it hard to breathe but still make my city chatter
It doesn't really matter
Carrying this weight to make the world shatter

We let go
We let go
We let go
We let go

—------------------------------

🦌 Follow Skybreak:
Facebook: : https://facebook.com/skybreakmusic
Twitter: : https://twitter.com/skybreakedm
Instagram: : https://instagram.com/skybreakedm
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/skybreakofficial
YouTube: : https://youtube.com/channel/UCVkwPo62gvyjGC0145Jllmg
Spotify: : https://open.spotify.com/artist/2858y2JiMYIst8dY4WXGi3
Patreon: : https://www.patreon.com/skybreakedm
See Skybreak On Tour: : https://www.songkick.com/artists/10162579-skybreak

▼ Follow PVC
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5UNXmWQKKqqBCxmcotxXmO
Apple Music: music.apple.com/artist/purple-vel…rtains/1220849026
Instagram: instagram.com/pvcukmusic
Facebook: facebook.com/pvcukmusic
TikTok: tiktok.com/@pvcukmusic

STREAM/BUY

Skybreak - ANTIMATTER (feat. PVC)

Watch the music video: https://youtu.be/Q9o4VF9POmE
STREAM/BUY: https://hypeddit.com/skybreak/streetgarden

This garden can’t bloom when I’m with you.

STREET GARDEN is about the sea sick feeling after you break up with someone. When a relationship becomes so wilted that you just have to put it down, but you spend weeks if not months second guessing your decision, fantasizing about if you could have salvaged the good times if you ‘tried harder’. 

Of all the tracks from HALF BLOOD, this one means the most to me because it literally helped me grieve one of the most tumultuous times of my life. Finally releasing this one to the world feels surreal; I can only hope it means as much to someone else as it did to me at my darkest points last year.

—————-

Paper cut on a train ticket to nowhere
In the end, you still found a way to bleed me dry
Sea sick on the waves of my decisions last night
The cities pass by
Could I be your light if I tried?

Could we be more than our mistakes?
What did you see through the decay?
We tend to the seed
But the soil's concrete

And maybe we're stained by our mistakes
Pesticidal love can't be maintained
We try to make do
But this garden can't bloom when I'm with you

Love sick on a subway ride to somewhere
Full carriage but I never felt so damn alone
Your stop's next
Remember when we used to ride?
I hate myself 'cause sometimes I still fantasize
The day you step onboard and I apologize
"Could I be your light if I tried?"

Could we be more than our mistakes?
What did you see through the decay?
We tend to the seed
But the soil's concrete

And maybe we're stained by our mistakes
Pesticidal love can't be maintained
We try to make do
But this garden can't bloom when I'm with you

-------

Facebook: https://facebook.com/skybreakmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skybreakedm
Instagram: https://instagram.com/skybreakedm
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/skybreakofficial
YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCVkwPo62gvyjGC0145Jllmg
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2858y2JiMYIst8dY4WXGi3

Skybreak - STREET GARDEN

STREAM/BUY: https://hypeddit.com/halfblood

HALF BLOOD was never the album I expected to write. I was in the process of writing the album I thought others wanted from me, but nothing felt genuine. So this kinda started out as a sidequest - my attempt at taking established tropes of UK Bass music and spray painting them with my signature colorful sound design. But it became so much more. This record became a catalyst for rediscovering the roots of the genre. An ode to my heritage, both as a dual citizen of the US and UK and an electronic music fan at large. My bridge between the sounds and aesthetics of New York and London. Most importantly, a diary documenting the mistakes and growing pains of learning to become my most authentic self. I believe this to be my maturest body of work yet and I’m ecstatic to share this with the world.

Stream/Buy

Skybreak - STAR CANNON

FREE DOWNLOAD: https://hypeddit.com/skybreak/likethis-sc

Artwork by DEVONDIGITAL and Certly <3

When Eric first sent me his Bloomheart EP back in February, one track instantly stood out—“LIKE THIS.” I knew right away he was onto something golden. It immediately became my favorite Atura song, and sure enough, it started getting played out by artists like Porter Robinson, Salute, and so many others Eric looks up to.

Eric and I have been friends since 2019—and good friends since 2021. Every summer since we were kids, we’ve traveled to the same kitschy beach town… just never at the same time. But 2025 finally changed that. Our travel plans finally aligned, and it just so happens to be in the middle of a huge moment for both of our projects. So we planned to do a crusty hotel room b2b... and this remix came out of the inspiration I got from that!

There’s something really euphoric about watching a close friend finally get their flowers after years of making incredible music—especially while also getting some love on my own album, and seeing some exciting new opportunities come together (more on that soon). When I found out Eric and I get to celebrate it all by downing lethal amounts of alcohol together on the beach? This tune just flew out of me.

It shares a lot of the same sonic palette as HALF BLOOD, but with a bit less darkness. Instead of holding onto it for some future rollout, I wanted to release it now—while the moment still feels fresh and real.
So here it is. The first of the HALF BLOOD remixes. Hope you love it.

—--------------

▼ Follow Atura
Instagram: instagram.com/aturamusic
Facebook: facebook.com/aturamusique
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/5nn0cIrXfm1pZ7jKFFexei
Twitter: twitter.com/aturamusic
Apple Music: music.apple.com/artist/atura/592931070
TikTok: tiktok.com/@aturamusic
YouTube: youtube.com/@aturamusic_

▼ Follow Skybreak
Twitter: twitter.com/skybreakedm
Apple Music: music.apple.com/artist/skybreak/1125610197
Reddit: reddit.com/user/skybreakedm
Instagram: instagram.com/skybreakedm
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/2858y2JiMYIst8dY4WXGi3
Facebook: facebook.com/skybreakmusic
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCVkwPo62gvyjGC0145Jllmg

FREE DOWNLOAD

Atura - LIKE THIS (Skybreak HALF BLOOD Remix)

Voice Notes: Skybreak on "STAR CANNON"

Voice Notes: Skybreak on "LIKE THIS"

Voice Notes: Skybreak on "STREET GARDEN"

Voice Notes: Skybreak on "ANTIMATTER"

SoundCloud Stories elevates artists’ creative journeys, spotlights vibrant music communities and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the defining sounds of today and tomorrow. Original content includes the Sound Advice interview series, exclusive track-by-track artist commentary on Voice Notes, and the Weekly Download playlist, which highlights essential scenes and groundbreaking artists.