In the world of drum & bass, APOM is steadily carving out his niche with a unique sound that fuses dark, underground vibes with wonky basslines.
His track Gangster, which he submitted to 1 More Thing’s Demo Drop, quickly caught the attention of Dave, who was so impressed he added it to his set at Sun And Bass. Now featured in 1 More Thing’s free download series, Gangster gives us a glimpse into what’s to come from this exciting emerging artist.
We caught up with APOM to discuss his creative journey, the unforgettable experience of hearing his track on a festival sound system for the first time, and what lies ahead for him.
Grab Gangster here, then get acquainted…
So let’s start from the beginning—what was it that got you into making music? Was there a moment, a song, or an artist that made you think, ‘Yeah, this is what I want to do’?
I’d always wanted to give music production a try, but what really pushed me to take the plunge was an inspiring weekend at Boomtown 2019. It was the year the weather got really windy, and the main stage had to stop on the Friday. But before that happened, I heard Shy FX playing Awake by AC13, an artist I’d known from Brighton. It was a moment that made everything seem more achievable—seeing someone I knew doing it made it feel possible for me. After hearing that and experiencing so much great music throughout the weekend, I went home, fired up Fruity Loops, and eventually I settled on Ableton as DAW of choice.
When you were putting together Gangster, what was going through your head? Was there a certain vibe or feeling you were aiming for, or did it all just come together in the moment?
I was definitely aiming for a wonky vibe, heavily inspired by The Sauce, who I’m really vibing with at the moment. Similar to my track Wish I Could, I wanted to create a bassline that focuses on a few harmonics, while giving the drums more of a swing. Once I had the right FX sounds in place, the old-school, spooky vibe started to come together organically.
How did it feel hearing Gangster fill the space at Sun And Bass on that massive rig for the first time?
Ah mate, it was incredible. I’d had a great chat with Dave at Ambra Night the night before, and when he mentioned he was going to play the track, I was elated. As a producer, hearing your own track played by someone else for the first time is always a special moment. To have that happen at a festival like Sun And Bass, surrounded by my best mates, was just the best feeling.
You submitted Gangster through the Demo Drop session. Was that your first time sharing your music like this, or have you been putting your work out there for a while?
It was actually pretty random. I had the track done and liked it, but I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Then I saw Dave’s post about the demo drop, not realizing it was 1 More Thing’s first one! It had been a while since I’d submitted music like that—during the lockdown, there were so many feedback streams and demo drops where I’d get input on tracks I was working on, but nothing ever got signed. So, this unexpected surprise was definitely a great moment!
What’s next for you? Do you have a specific direction you want to take with your music, or are you just following where the inspiration leads?
I tend to follow wherever inspiration takes me, which usually leans towards a dark, heavy, and underground vibe—so I probably won’t be gracing the radio anytime soon, haha! I’ve got a couple of exciting things lined up over the next few months, including an EP with Subdue Audio in the first half of next year. I’ve worked with them before, and they’re a great team. Interestingly, I find that my motivation flows more freely when I don’t have a specific deadline or target, so in the meantime, I’ll just keep building up new tunes until the next opportunity comes along.
Alright, if you could collaborate with any artist right now who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one, but I’d have to go with Mefjus. His tracks are next-level, and he’s a true master in the studio. I’d definitely learn a lot from working with him.
So Gangster obviously has a bit of an attitude to it. If you had to pick a character from pop culture or film to represent the track, who would it be and why?
Ooh great question, I’d have to go with Samuel L Jackson. He’s played so many iconic roles as the guy you don’t want to f*ck with.
