JDNB Interview: Trauma DBC

JDNB Interview: Trauma DBC
Over the last few years, Trauma has been rising the ranks with a string of releases, and we have been watching and listening to how his sound has been growing and progressing, naturally, authentically and it's certainly one of the artists we can say are 100% real from grass roots up. Trauma has been working hard on his sound and now made some big moves.

Fast forward to 2024, and a lot has happened. He's not just making big moves, he's making big steps in production, Djing and more and here's why...........

So, thanks for taking time out to talk to us again! How have you been recently and can you give
us an update about what’s going on in your world?
A pleasure... Thank you for having me here back on JDNB! Been really good thank you.
Just been working, hitting the gym, working in the studio & bringing up my children. The
usual stuff to be fair!

Tell us about your latest release's you have coming up? What’s inspired you and how
have they come about?
Well the "Nostalgia EP" coming out on 30th September on Tempa's Label "Up4It?
Recordings" features works with Harry Shotta, Fearless, Boogieman & Natty D.

Then following the "Nostalgia EP" will be the "Mafia EP" which drops end of October on
Classifyeds label "Twist Recordings" which features six of my tracks with Boogieman
featuring his vocal talents on three of them.

"The Tuff Guys EP" will be dropping on my label Mutant Species Recordings soon which
features tracks by Juiceman, Boogieman, Kush Goldie Locks & myself of course with an
additional VIP Remix of Greazy which has been done by Filthy Habits.

Plus soon there will be a three track installment called the "Propane EP" dropping on
Andle's label: Sicario Sounds towards the end of the year.

Additionally: Got some co-labs with Lundy & Guzi too which have been signed to some
big labels but: I have to wait until I am given the green light to share information on these
releases.

Oh and there will be a few tunes coming out soon on Big & Heavy Recordings too. So
Shouts to Leks, Darren & Faysha for taking on my music.

Across all these releases there is a mixture of Sub-Genres including: Jungle / Jump Up /
Neurofunk / Techstep & Minimal Tech Rollers.

The inspiration comes from the people around me. I like working in a team as well as
being a solo artist. When I see my friends do well in the music business it gives me the
incentive to get more involved & make more music.

Hows the gigs been recently?
Gigs have been pretty awesome to be fair. Did "Flashback" in Birmingham in June: Big
ups Mistress Mo! Played at "Bass Hertz" in London last month: Shouts going out to TC &
The Underground Bass Family! Also: performed at Royal Rinseout in Great Yarmouth a
few weeks back: Big respects always to Mel SD, Awakening, Rinze & The NR1 Radio
Crew! Plus played at my friends events called "Johnny Kash & Friends" in Cambridge
the other day which was really good & great to see some old faces so got mad love for
my long time friend: Mr Johnny Kash!
Got some events lined up in Ipswich & Norwich next month too so looking forward to
performing at those too!

What do you think about the change from jungle to drum and bass and the commercial
aspect now?
To be honest... The commercial DnB music is well produced technically. But it's not my vibe.
I prefer "Underground Jungle / Drum & Bass"... I started mixing vinyl on decks back in 1996
and it's the underground elements of the music & culture that captivated me... I never
listened to Pop / Chart Music & I still don't... So underground energy for me all day long... I
like all Sub-Genres of DnB but living through the evolution has been interesting as there is
always something new to grip onto, play & be inspired by.

A lot’s changed since your 2020 interview with us here :
https://www.jungledrumandbass.co.uk/interview/interview-trauma-dbc - What has happened
in that time?
Well I have my new label Mutant Species Records up & running now... Plus quite a few
releases have come out in that time on multiple labels so I'm just enjoying the process and
evolution as an artist. I think its key to develop & keep learning as you can not know
everything... I think if you did know everything then music would be boring... Its all about the
aspiration to do better, sound better (quality wise) & create more music. So really enjoying
the movement right now!

If I gave you £10k now, what would you spend it on today?
My Children haha... Maybe buy some hardware synths... Go travelling: which is my new
hobby! I'm all about getting out there and experiencing the world now! It's so important to
learn about new cultures & see new places.

Tell us about your current residency on Underground Bass Radio.
It is such a fantastic station to work on! The management are really professional & all the
other team members / DJ's / Artists / Producers are so nice. I'm really happy playing on
there. Its "Audio Only" which I much prefer... I don't feel the need to put my face out on the
internet doing video streams like most stations do... For me its about the music... Not what I
look like... I'm not into the image side of the business... I'm into the actual music itself.

What do you love about the music scene right now and what’s irritating you?
What I love is to see that Drum & Bass is running healthily across the globe in venues &
stadiums... The festival Culture has exploded too so all in all it's amazing to see DnB as a
whole do so well. What do I dislike? This whole image vibe... It is not about how good looking
you are or how you look on camera... It's not a fashion show or a beauty contest. It is about
the actual music... Not how you look.

Hazard recently spoke up about the state of kids with samples and ghost production. Run
us through what synths if any you use, VST’s and your music making process.
Ah yes I saw his interview. Pretty interesting. I use Serum & Massive mainly. I do a lot of
sound design & spend hours creating pads, effects, basses & drums but recently I bought an
Electric Drum Kit & a Bass Guitar as I feel like I want to get back onto the instrumentation.
But have also got my eye on a few hardware analogue synths that I would like to buy.
I have a template set up and saved with individual channels already labelled & generic plug
ins loaded in on the inserts and the sends; already assigned to the effects channels
(depending on which instruments will be on that channel) to save time. Then how I make my
tunes is just by experimenting. I never have a plan. Just go with flow and see what works. I
stand up & work too. Sitting makes me lazy. Best advice I can give is: Make sure every
single sound you use in a track is top quality (be extremely fussy) and then that way when
you come to arranging your track it will sound decent (quality wise) immediately. Never
overthink... Experiment with sounds / rhythms / arrangements continueously until something
happens organically & then: Go with that idea. Keep it simple and danceable. Don't over
complicate things!

Who do you aspire to and who do you look up to?
I look up to Juiceman a lot because he has helped me out so much. He is a genius when it
comes to music production and MC'ing. Also big shouts to Vapour, Filthy Habits, Coda, Heist
& Sublow because they have helped me out hugely too.
I think my favourite producers are probably: Break / Prolix / Dillinja / Gydra.

How’s being a parent and juggling music still, is it getting any easier?
Well I work full time as a Security Officer and I see my Children quite a bit. But it's more like
Co-Parenting which works well. So; I just try to get on the music when I can in my free time.
It's literally like a part time thing.

What are your plans and goals for 2025?
Well. I hate to think that 2025 is so close. Where has this year actually gone? Haha. To be
honest just keep it moving. Go with the flow & be consistent. Hopefully get onto some nice
big events & big labels. Keep doing my show on Underground Bass Radio. But I think my
new hobby is definitely travelling. I want to see the world and have new experiences. I feel
life is limited in the UK. Not much goes on here. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt kinda
thing. I now crave for adventure & new scenarios.

Would you like to give any shouts?
Big shouts and love to all those close to me! All the labels who push my music! All the
promoters who book me! Plus all of my friends in the DnB scene who I work with!

Do you have a message for the world?
Lets see more love widespread. We got to all look after one another. Power to the people! If
you see some one less fortunate than yourself & you can help them out then why not. You
are not going to lose anything. We all have ups & downs so if you're on the up then bring
others up with you.

Thank you, and all the best for 2025 and beyond!
Interview By Missrepresent

Socal links:
Instagram: trauma_dbc_dnb
Facebook: Trauma Dbc Traumadbc
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/traumadbc