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Artist Perspective: the Evolution of Drum & Bass

Drum & Bass veteran producer and DJ Nookie has been part of the genre's evolution for over a decade. From humble roots in pirate radio to dream deals with labels like Sony Records, Nookie is undoubtedly one of the leading names in the D&B scene. In this MOTU.com exclusive, Nookie shares his take on the evolution of Drum & Bass music and its production and distribution.

My involvement in the Drum & Bass scene stretches back to the early rave scene. I've been producing music professionally for the last 15 years, and over these years I've witnessed many changes in the way we produce underground dance music. I started using a humble Casio RZ-1 Drum Machine, Akai S950, Atari ST and a DX7 keyboard. These days we're fortunate enough to be able to produce music with so much more power at our fingertips.

 

Strictly Digital: Drum & Bass and MP3

 

The rise of the MP3 revolution has also played its part in Drum & Bass. Many of us are now able to send our tunes straight out of Digital Performer to DJs all over the world to play in their sets via various instant messenger services like AIM or MSN. The main reason I got into making music was to get my music heard to a worldwide audience and MP3 has now made this easier to achieve through the correct channels.

Last year, with my partner Gary, I started an MP3 download website to help new up-and-coming producers, as well as established producers, get their music heard on a global platform and to be rewarded commercially and financially.

Check it out at http://strictly-digital.com/