Having broken into Beatport's Drum & Bass Top 50 with Move Forward, his first release, in March 2010, American DJ Aaron Bond has been very busy. With EPs forthcoming FORCE Recordings and 89 Nine, we thought it was time to learn a little bit more about him...

Tell us a little bit about yourself...
My name and DJ name are one in the same. My friends call me "Bondy" though. I'm a musician, DJ, producer, audio engineer and writer. Music is my life, and it's the only thing I have a bit of talent in. I constantly have music going through my brain, that's probably why music school was able to keep my attention. To sum up, I'm just a music nerd, trying to make a living in an industry with a very small success rate. But hey, it should be a lot of fun, huh?

You say you've been performing since the age of five...
Yes. According to my parents, I would play their vinyl collection and perform "air-guitar" shows in front of the fireplace. I was singing in choirs in my church and school during my pre-teens. During my high school years I played in punk rock bands and during my college years I played with a rock band before committing to DJing and producing tunes.

You're from Orlando, Florida, what's the drum & bass scene like there?
Florida has really lost a lot to the dubstep scene, but we still survive. In Orlando, we're lucky to have Torque, a DnB weekly that's been running for 12 years straight. We even have Bukem and S.P.Y. coming through in the next two months. We don't have the biggest crowds but we are dedicated to the music and scene no matter what.

Do you have any releases in the pipeline that we should look out for?
Fireworks on Urban Chemistry, Face The Truth on Kill Inc DnB and The Paradigm Shift EP on FORCE Recordings. I also have a four song digital remix EP coming out on 89nine Records soon.

 

Aaron Bond-Paradigm Shift EP (Coming Soon on FORCE Recordings) by Aaron Bond

 

What are your plans for the future?
I am currently working on a dubstep project called Synchronaria with my good friend MC Collaborator. Learning new things, sampling, making connections, etc. I hope to make the move to management within the next year, and start playing gigs out of Florida. It would be awesome to come to the UK someday, I hope that will be in my future soon.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you before?
Hmmm, energetic liquid I guess? I'm not sure, that's always a hard question to answer. I am influenced by a lot of pop music. I've always been a sucker for a good three or four chord progression. Keep it simple, you know?

Some of your tracks are heavily drum & bass and others are more dubstep, is this the "Aaron Bond" sound? Or are you still developing and finding your sound?
I think the "Aaron Bond" sound is whatever comes about. I would have no problems with writing other genres, as long as I feel good about the tune. I am actually writing more electro and drumstep as of late. Just trying to expand my abilities I guess. I am a huge believer that when you try things you're not comfortable with you become a better artist. So yes, I guess I'm still developing my sound.

You've done a lot of remixes...
I have always been a fan of remixes so I think it was a good place for me to start. I really am proud of my DnB remix of Incubus's Dig, I have received a lot of good feedback and plays on that one. I really don't have a certain way that I choose them, I usually pick something I like or that I think a crowd might recognise. It's all about getting the dancefloor moving right?

 

Aaron Bond - 4 White Label Releases (Coming Soon on 89 Nine) by Aaron Bond

 

What do you bring to the scene that's different?
I just try to be nice and stay positive, keep writing and meeting new people that have the same passion for music that I do. If I had to pick something though, it would be the way that I mix live. I like to keep the crowd interested, mix quickly and take them on a journey.

Who are you listening to right now in the drum & bass / dubstep world?
Oh man, where to start?! Lenzman, DJ Fresh, Random Movement, Stunna, Command Strange, Fred V & Grafix, Flux Pavilion and Netsky to name a few. However, Loadstar is what really gets me going as of late.

Tell us a bit more about the free track that you're giving away to us.
The tune is called Lazy Sunday. It's a bit of smooth liquid piece. It's a favourite among a lot of my friends. In fact, they recommended that Lazy Sunday be the one I gave away. Enjoy.

 

AaronBond - Lazy Sunday by Knowledge Mag

 

Anything else you would like to say?
My dubstep project Synchronaria is currently giving away a free three-song EP from their upcoming full length album, check it out below. Please connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

Words: Dan Owens

 

Synchronaria - 3 Song Album Sampler **Click "Buy" to DL the free EP!!!** by Aaron Bond

 

Related Links:

• Introducing: Aaron Bond
• Flaco Guest Mix
• Flaco Guest Mix
• Influence Announce Two New Albums
• Beautiful Losers Street Art Documentary

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