Check out track reviews on Lee UHF/Dirtbox Recordings Soundcloud
1. What inspired the creation of DNB Essentials, and what gap in drum and bass culture are you aiming to address with this new series?
With our annual Tape Pack project now wrapped up, (The final release from Noise Souls dropped on December 1st) I wanted to bring a fresh concept to Dirtbox Recordings and avoid things feeling stale. I’ve always loved creating concept releases rather than just putting music out; it gets the artists really invested, allows us to interact more, and keeps my own excitement high for running the label.
The idea behind DNB Essentials is loosely inspired by Andy C’s Nightlife albums. They’re no longer around, but for me, they represented the pinnacle of drum & bass in the 2010s. The aim was to create something that helps listeners discover new music, gives DJs fresh tracks to play, and, most importantly, brings that sense of legendary curation.
Though, of course, I’m not trying to replicate Andy C. He and Nightlife are untouchable. My goal is just to bring a bit of that magic to Dirtbox followers, the artists, and DNB fans.
Each album in the series will be curated by a specific person, starting with myself, so the perspective will change from release to release. We’re also blending new artists with familiar Dirtbox faces, and we’ll be releasing on CD and vinyl. This keeps the spirit of the original Nightlife albums alive while giving newer artists a chance to experience it firsthand. Ultimately, I hope this series resonates across all generations of the DNB community we love.
2. You mentioned that curated discovery played a big part in the scene during the era of Andy C’s Nightlife. How does DNB Essentials continue that spirit while bringing something new?
For me, what made those albums special was knowing who had curated them and why, each release had a clear purpose. You really looked forward to them every year, and the tracks often propelled artists into the mainstream and into DJs’ sets. You also knew you were getting serious dubs, which made it exciting to dig in once the album dropped.
It’s very much a record-shop mentality, the thrill of hunting down new releases was one of the best parts of being a DJ before the digital era. And then hearing those dubs come alive in Andy C’s mixes? That feeling was unbeatable.
3. Supporting newer artists seems central to the project. How are you building real opportunities for them through this series?
Absolutely! Supporting newer artists is at the heart of the project. I didn’t want this to be a compilation of names you’ve already heard everywhere; those artists already get plenty of opportunities.
This series is about introducing fresh talent to the label and to our audience. Of course, there’s a rigorous level of quality control, and we’ve included a few familiar Dirtbox names to help give the album credibility. But overall, the focus is on discovering the next stars of the label and drum & bass as a whole.
It’s also a truly global project, the release features artists from the UK, USA, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sweden, and more. And the CD and vinyl editions are a special touch; so few producers ever get to experience that. I’m really proud to offer that opportunity to these emerging artists.
I'm hoping this gives them the stepping stone they need from being seen on our label and getting my help behind the scenes to truly get their music heard.
4. Each volume is curated by a different artist. How did you decide on the structure, and what made Lee UHF the right person to lead the first instalment?
I spent a lot of time debating this at the start and second-guessing myself. I didn’t want it to come across as me comparing myself to Andy C, and even more importantly, I didn’t want it to feel like a vanity project. We are just inspired by what Andy created.
The focus is always on the artists. But one of the key things about Nightlife for me was having a clear focal point, a curator or “face” of the project, so people knew who had selected the music. It gives the release a human touch and a sense of vision.
I led the first instalment because I wanted to set that initial vision and tone for the series. Once that’s established, other curators can step in and add their own perspective and style. We already have two new curators lined up for upcoming volumes.
5. The release includes digital, vinyl and CD formats. Why was it important for you to include physical formats, and how do you see collectors responding to this approach?
Recently I was able to secure a deal to make this happen, and honestly, I think opportunities like this might be even more rare in the future- Not even many big names in drum and bass right now can say they've had a physical release, especially artists post covid. Physical formats could become completely obsolete in the next ten years.
But more importantly, most of the artists on this release are fairly new to putting out music on professional labels. Giving them a physical copy is a way to really “set their music in stone,” so to speak. Coming from the vinyl and CD era myself, I know how special it is to hold your own release in your hands, as I had quite a few vinyls and Cds out back in the day so something tangible you can even show your kids one day is truly a great reward I feel for their hard work.
Lee UHF & Noise Souls- Introspective Thoughts- The album sampler lands December 19th
DNB Essentials Vol.1 Lands January 30th.
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