We'll be right back...
Screen fades to balck
If you follow our Freshest Drum & Bass playlist you may have received a bit of a shock on Monday as we wiped the list and graphics leaving a simple message…
“We’ll be right back”
For a playlist with over 14k saves, it’s a bold move. But it’s a move I feel we need to do in order to really understand what the playlist needs to be moving forward. It needs a complete reboot - visually and conceptually.
The dnb landscape was very different at the time Simulate started it five or six years ago…
There’s A LOT more cheese in the genre (which is saying something considering how much cheese there was in dnb back then too!)
There are A LOT more producers using sample packs and splice elements in lazy ways. Let’s be real.
And there are now AI productions which we DO NOT want to support as they totally dissolve any credibility of the list and are an insult to human artists who really do pursue the craft.
There’s also the whole Spotify ethics issue. Which is massive. That’s another discussion for a separate Substack though. It’s something that weighs on my mind in all capacities: as a music lover, as a label owner, as a music journalist and as someone who is firmly in the belief that ART SHOULD NOT BE USED TO INVEST IN WAR / MILITARY.
Sorry about the block caps. Feels good to rant though, I must say.
Anyway, for now we’re taking off the pressure and letting the list sit for a spell as we develop a fresh take. Even if we lose serious followers. I’d rather an engaged following who respect what we do, understand the time and love that goes into curating a list and wants to be part of it.
If you’re a label or an artist who wants to be in on the action from the off then please hit up yo@1-more-thing.co.uk with the email title ‘Freshest Updates’ and we’ll make sure we keep you posted.
One thing is certain. It’s not going to as fully inclusive as it was. We are inclusive in many other ways but our original open-armed policy is no longer in place. Apologies in advance to any big poppy cheesemongers, lazy uncreative sample pack users and souless bots!
Reliving Fireworks Factory’s Big Love set
Oh gosh, we’ve got a mix for you this week. It’s Fireworks Factory’s closing set at our takeover on the fire truck at Big Love this summer. And it’s every bit as vibrant, exciting, fun and fiery as I remember it from the night.
What’s so cool about this mix is that it was his competition prize from our Mixmas DJ contest last year but he smashed it like he closed down stages and turned ravers inside out every weekend. So considered, energetic and different. This is the sound of an artist who has a vision and a sound and knows their vibe.
The fact we’ve since gone on to sign his music and help him get his art out into the world and build a profile on a firm foundation since then is an added layer of awesome. We’re really proud of what we’ve acheived together so far. And there’s plenty more en route…
PS - in the slim chance you’ve not heard his debut EP Breaking Gemstones / Can’t Stand The Rain please check it here.
Billain is as Billain Does
Have you caught my podcast with Billain yet? A very dry and somewhat intense conversationalist, this Bosnian maverick and I have a litany of deep and humorous interviews to our name dating back to 2012.
This recent one is definitely a new high as we address the ravages of capitalism and standardization and look for ways out of that and how to embrace creativity in its most spontaneously combustive form.
It’s been getting a nice bit of love! You can check it on all the usual podcast spots via this here link or here on YT:
Big support for Bairn!
We’re still buzzing about Bairn’s debut that we released at the start of the month!
In case you haven’t checked it yet, the EP is called It’s You and it ranges from dreamy ambient to urgent-but-deep progressive breaks and you can find it on all platforms here. Or Soundcloud, where we’ve just uploaded it. Here’s the epic eight minute grand finale which is actually the title track…
Hope you like it. And if you do, you’re in good company as we’ve had some lovely feedback from a whole range of DJs on the disco, techno, progressive and experimental sides of dance music. Most notably Kruder & Dorfmeister (who have been a HUGE influence to me personally since I first heard K&D Sessions in my early 20s and a big fave for Bairn) and Jody Wisternoff who has been part of the fabric of UK dance music since day one and an integral Bristol character whose influence isn’t credited enough. As one half of Way Out West with Nick Warren he was another big influence on me personally and The Gift was a game-changing tune in my musical journey.
For Bairn to be making that type of impression on DJs with their debut is AMAZING and so impressive. It’s a really exciting moment, galvanising and validating a lot for Bairn and us as a label.
I’ve also found some awesome new DJs through the feedback including Lukr Range and Robbie Akbal. The musical discoveries never end. You can check a load of cool feedback on this IG post. Big shouts to Hype Filter. Can’t recomend them enough as a DJ promo company.
Unleashing my inner sports pundit on this new video…
Last but not least for this update, if you’re into nerdy mix analyses, please check the above video.
Since launching the Come B2B With Me series I’ve played Sonnet tunes eight times and on this video I analyse each mix. Not just how I mix it in but how my B2B guest mixes out of it, too.
Having seen enough of my son’s favourite YouTube rugby dudes do the same about their matches, I’ve been into the idea of doing something similar with DJing. This is my first attempt and a very clear promo shout for Sonnet whose Melon EP is still doing bits and even causing Rob Swire to get in touch with him!
How sick is that?!
I’d love to do more of these videos. There’s well over 30 hours of CB2BWM footage to analyse (and more episodes to run) and I faced some feirce DJs during the series. We can all learn from these mixes and techniques.
So yeah, if you’re feeling the format - or just feeling anything 1 More Thing is doing right now - then drop a comment or hit me up or ring me or write a letter to my mum and she’ll forward it over. Probably.
Big love
NoDave Columbo
PS: Just over a week until we drop an album that will BLOW YOUR MIND!