Features

As we roll into the new decade, a whole new breed of d&b producers are taking up the baton and pushing the scene in new fresh and exciting directions. This lot are here to shake things up and challenge the old guard, which can only be a good thing for d&b as a whole. Here we pick out our top 10 tips for the top for 2010...

10. Cubist

After his successful debut release on Blueprint back in 2007 (Live & Let Die / Quiet Star), Australian producer Cubist stepped things up in 2009 with 12"s for Zombie (Memory Lapse / Nautilus) and a split release with Sappo on his Advisory label (Tomorrow). Cubist currently runs Melbourne's top d&b monthly club night Wobble and presents a weekly show on the Aussie Kiss FM. His latest offering for Allsorts: Walked Out / Every Day has seen much praise from all corners of the scene and all bodes well for 2010.

9. Furlonge

Having collaborated with The Brookes Brothers on their track Drifter which appeared on the B-side of the massive Tear You Down, Furlonge was soon snapped up by Futurebound for his Viper label last year and his debut 12" High Commission / It's Cruel was unleashed to great acclaim. Following this was the track Taskmaster which appeared on Part 3 of the Acts Of Mad Men series with Ed Rush & Optical's remix of Hi Top by Sigma on the flip which only served to raise his profile further. 2010 looks all set to be his year.

8. Rockwell

North London based Rockwell has made serious progress in a relatively short space of time having turned his hand to production after a number of years on the DJ circuit as resident at Cardiff's Aperture night. He kicks off 2010 with releases planned on scene heavyweights such as Digital Soundboy, Shogun and Critical. With remixes for the likes of C4C and Sabre on the cards as well as collaborations with Icicle and Zero T, Rockwell will be one of the names to look out for in 2010.

7. Data

After cutting his teeth as a presenter on Life FM, West London's Data turned his hand to production and saw the fruits of his labour come to fruition with 12"s on Sound Artillery, Critical and Lucky Devil amongst others. His real breakthrough came in 2009 with the release of Splice / Muted on the legendary Metalheadz label. Having followed this with offerings for the likes of Horizons, Influence and Revolution, Data is all set to be making waves over the course of the coming year.

Data - The Visitor - Deep Soul Music by Data

6. Mr Joseph

Having run the successful Fizzy clubnight in London for the last four years, Mr Joseph has recently turned his hand to production and is already achieving results. Having signed tracks to Bukem's Good Looking label, Influence Records, Addition and Ennex, Mr Joseph looks certain to blow up this year. He has also just launched his own Fizzy Beats label with the debut release, a split 12" with Andy Skopes: Break It Down You Fool / Sexy Lady making big waves on the scene.

Sexy Lady - Mr Joseph by fizzyBeats

5. Donnie Dubson

Since his debut release on Germany's Have A Break label back in 2006, Donnie Dubson has been making steady progress up the d&b ladder. Follow up 12"s on Fokuz and Influenza Media (with the stunning Grapefruit) have been followed by another three releases on Have A Break and an MP3 release on Digital Colours with Mr Dubson's profile rising all the time. With productions centered around a soulful vibe, 2010 could well be turn out to be his year.

Donnie Dubson - Stepson (dnb remix) by Donnie Dubson

4. June Miller

A name that's been brewing on the scene recently is much touted production duo Bart van Dijk and Mark McCann aka June Miller. Currently based in the Netherlands, these boys have just seen the release of their debut 12" on the Horizons label (Converge / Neurosis). Two wonderful slices of deep d&b, this release looks to be the start of something big with follow ups slated for a number of labels through 2010. Among those to have snapped the duo up are Inneractive run by Spirit, Loxy's Cylon label and Horizons offshoot Inside. Looks like it's going to be a busy year!

June Miller - Nine [Horizons] by June Miller

3. Mikal

Originally hailing from Sweden, Mikal is now based in Bath via South West London and is looking all set to blow up. Having released a smattering of tunes over the last couple of years for the likes of Nu Urban and Pristine Recordings, Mikal is now stepping up his game for 2010 with 12"s mooted for Westbay, Soundtrax and the brand new Apex Recordings. Citing influences such as Commix, Icicle, Spectrasoul and early Good Looking, Mikal endeavours to cover the deeper side of the d&b spectrum. Undoubtedly one to watch.

Mikal - Nervous by mikal

2. Netsky

Another producer who moonlights as a graphic designer is Belgian native Netsky. He landed early in 2009 with the well received Everyday / Come Back Home on Hype's Liqweed Ganja label, quickly followed by another two releases for the label: King Of The Stars / Dolamite' and Prisma / Tomorrow's Another Day. With further 12"s on Spearhead, Future Retro and Talkin Beatz, followed by the amazing Starlight / Young & Foolish on Grid's Allsorts offshoot label, Netsky rounded off the year in fine style. Having just signed to Hospital, expect big things from him in the coming year.

1. Eveson

Having designed the artwork for a number of the scene's top labels including Metalheadz and Quarantine, Bristolian Eveson broke through as a producer in 2008 with releases on Creative Source, Shogun Limited and Total Science's Deep Kut imprint. The launch of his own Channel 82 label in 2009 saw him release of a brace of 12"s: Bluebird / Lucid and State Of Mind / Hotwax which garnered much attention and landed him releases on Good Looking and Future Thinkin as well as his own Knowledge Mag cover CD. Never one to rest on his laurels, Eveson is making serious moves for 2010.