Danny Darksol grew up in Essex and  ‘got into’ electronic dance music when he was just a kid. He had family members who gravitiated to the illegal rave scene of the nineties (including Lid Airport and field raves. We guess he was just ‘born to rave’…

We asked him what were his first influences ?

From early on I was influenced by bands like The Prodigy, The Shaman, Bizarre inc. The energy and innovation of the scene really resonated to me! All my life I have played drums so hearing jungle and DnB for the first time completely opened my eyes to the possibilities musically. The earliest memories I have of dnb would have been dj hype on kiss FM. I think really that’s what drew me in!

What ‘s your process in the studio?

Through the years I’ve always experimented with drums and recording. In 2016 I went back to college at Westminster to do a production course in sound. After learning about Logic and Ableton I began my journey with sound experiment. It was the first lockdown during COVID that pushed me to start producing properly. It gave me the time and focus to work on my sound and once my first track was finished I was truly blessed to meet Climpo and the Full Send family.

Full Send gave me the platform to release and gain traction with my sound. My studio approach has always been the same! I think it comes from playing drums in bands. I never really sit down with a structured idea for a track, normally the best sound comes from jamming and just being in the studio with all my equipment and seeing what I can generate. My go to equipment would be my keys, my mac, Logic (Pro X) and my drum kit of course! Prolific!! Well, if I was to try and find what’s prolific about my production I would say my non conforming style!

So after your early dabbling with the Prodigy and The Shaman, who else do you look to for inspiration?

One of my biggest influences has always been metalheadz! The artists and DJs on the label are mind blowing! Even Goldie himself! Absolute groundbreaking contribution to the genre. Also I have always loved people like ray Keith, jumping Jack Frost, vicious circle! I’m also heavily influenced by other genres like metal and rock.

I think that you can take inspiration from any genre, for me if there’s guts and soul to the sound, it can be of influence.

Who would be your go to collab partner if you could choose anyone?

I think I would love to work with anyone of the metalheadz family! Or maybe ray Keith! The most interesting collab for me was with RN Vooght He’s a writer and prolific Reuther of knowledge lost. We worked together on an EP and put the tracks and artwork together over a period of a few months! The guy is unbelievably talented and knowledgable! It was such a sick project as it was so different to stuff I’ve worked on before!

What do you think of the dnb scene now? 

I think that drum and bass in the UK, specifically, is again going through a resurgence in popularity! Last summer I was fortunate enough to be at some of the biggest dnb sets and events!

The younger generations are really supporting it and on a commercial level people like Chase and Status and Kings of the Rollers are really flying the flag for us globally too!

What’s next for Danny?

So I’ve got a new track coming out on Full Send, titled Brixton Duppy! Potentially an EP, but at the moment it’s a single release. There’s a few other projects I’m working on which I will be excited to announce to Full Send Zine through the year!

I’m also working closely with a DJ called Anakinra this year. Rough tempo shows and hopefully some collabs with my bro Anakinra. Wouldn’t mind a collab with Circle Red or Hertenfels either!! Both legends in their craft!! Lots more live appearances on the horizon this year so look out for me at a festival or gig near you!!