Exclusive Interview: it is Jev Delves into "Dark Matter / Off The Rails" on Dirtbox Recordings

Artist: it is Jev

Release: Dark Matter / Off The Rails

Label: Dirtbox Recordings

Cat No.: DRTBX095

Exclusivity: Beatport & Spotify Exclusive — October 9th, 2026

Worldwide Release: October 23rd, 2026

Buy Link: http://bit.ly/DRTBX095

Following heavy-hitting releases on powerhouses like Eatbrain and Blackout, it is Jev (formerly of PRFCT Mandem) makes a brutally beautiful debut on Dirtbox Recordings with a dual-sided neurofunk single. Balancing cosmic, atmospheric control with unhinged dancefloor energy, Dark Matter and Off The Rails showcase the sheer breadth of Jev's creative vision.

We caught up with Jev to discuss transitioning to his solo moniker, his minimalist studio setup, and how prioritizing emotion over raw loudness has redefined his production workflow.

1. "Dark Matter" and "Off The Rails" balance cosmic control with full-throttle chaos. How do these two distinct vibes represent where you're heading creatively with the 'it is Jev' solo project?

it is Jev: "After years of trying on different sound signatures, I'm only recently starting to get a sense of what naturally sticks to my workflow. Even though my conscious understanding of it is still limited, what I can say for sure is that creating immersive experiences and creating outlets for energy to express itself feel very natural and enjoyable for me to combine.

It's my fancy way of saying that I like making epic and dancy music. You'll be hearing a lot more of that in my upcoming releases."

2. Having previously released on heavy-hitting labels like Eatbrain and Blackout, what made Dirtbox Recordings the right home for this specific two-track release?

it is Jev: "Submitting music to record labels isn't my favourite practice, so when Lee hit me up with a request to release on his label, I was happy to have a few chats and get to know what he does. It was clear to me that he's a grafter and genuinely passionate about what he does, which I resonated with.

He also helped me out with promoting one of my self-releases, and in return I offered him a release on his label. When the majority of what I do is internet-based, this kind of natural 'exchange of services' makes the whole music thing feel a bit more real."

3. "Off The Rails" relies on aggressive neurofunk bass design paired with rapid switches and relentless dancefloor energy. What was your studio workflow like when building those unpredictable transitions?

it is Jev: "That's mainly the result of those days when I wasn't feeling particularly inspired to make music, but still showed up to mess around with sound design patches and save them to my collection. When the time came to actually deliver a tune, I was more than ready.

Nothing particularly romantic about it — I just gave myself time to feel comfortable messing around, saved the results, and kept the newfound knowledge for later. A lot of the unpredictability in the track came from simply having a bunch of ideas and sounds ready to play with when the time came."

4. You've earned a reputation for technical precision, from detailed sound design to remixing names like Neonlight, Malux, Erb N Dub, and Crissy Criss. How has your approach to production evolved since transitioning from PRFCT Mandem to going solo?

it is Jev: "For the past three years, my working setup has been a 2013 MacBook with only the right speaker working, and a pair of Huawei FreeBuds 4i as my listening device. That's taught me that mastery of the instrument matters more than the instrument itself.

The limitations of my setup have forced me to find creative ways to approach sound design, mixing and mastering. More importantly, I've learned to deeply feel music rather than just hear it. I find that feeling the texture of a sound can instruct your music-making decisions in a completely different way.

I used to go for maximum loudness because my brain equated that with the perceived quality of a tune. Now, I prioritise the emotion of the sound. It's quite abstract, because the nature of 'feeling' is abstract itself, but that's probably the biggest shift in my subjective approach to production."

5. With early Beatport and Spotify exclusivity set for October 9th, which moment or drop in these tracks are you most excited to see ravers react to in a club?

it is Jev: "There are two kinds of excitement around it.

First, seeing the facial and body expressions of the listener when the initial drop of Off The Rails hits them like a train.

Second, I'm excited for those listeners who, like myself, enjoy listening to music as a form of meditative or exploratory practice in the comfort of their favourite environment. That's where Dark Matter will take them on a journey."