2024 was a busy year for Kidsonic.
Following the release of his debut album Finding Faith in late 2023, he’s since proceeded to slap us silly with a barrage of beats on an exciting range of imprints: Drumad, Beats In Mind, his own self-titled platform, Nymfo’s LFLF imprint and brand new label Mustard Music where he’s found a spiritual home and dropped some of his most impressive tracks to date. Most notably the big boom swagger and ludicrous bassline spite of Bristol…
With more Mustard missives lined up for 2025 – including a substantial body of work that will continue to celebrate his West Country roots – Kidsonic reflects over his best year to date and what he’s had to overcome. Autistic, born blind and now heavily visually impaired, Kidsonic‘s route up the ranks comes with its own unique challenges which he perpetually rises to with a calming and philosophical air and approach.
In his own words he celebrates his abilities rather than focus on disabilities. And he’s definitely achieved in tearing our HQ speakers into shreds with this cracking MIXMAS trip. A story told the classical 1210 way, this is a special vinyl only trip into a whole other side to the rising artist. By day, a mild mannered minimal crafstman. By night, a bad-ass wax wrangler who has the chops and confidence to try and blend Twist ‘Em Out and Mr Majestic. What’s more, he makes it work perfectly, too.
Dive into the mix, head into the conversation…
You’ve had a big year this year!
Yeah it’s been amazing to be fair. Finstar at Mustard Music has been so supportive. They’ve released some of my music and given me a few bookings which have been sick.
Amazing. The last time we spoke when I interviewed you for UKF, I remember you saying that the gigs were a big thing you wanted to achieve and make progress with. How did they go?
Smashed it! I was really nervous turning up but had a little Guiness to calm the nerves and the feedback was really positive and gratefully received. It really helps with my confidence.
It’s empowering!
Massively. Especially for someone like myself. I think people are more receptive to disabilities now than they have been, but I still feel we’ve got a long way to go. It vindicates you. I always say that having disabilities is to have abilities beyond the comprehension of others. It’s not what I can’t do. It’s what I can do. Even though I can’t see properly my ears make up for that lost sense. Same with people in wheelchairs. Look at Fats, Rest In Peace. One of the greatest voices in drum & bass.
Amen. Yeah, you’re right – it’s about having an understanding of what you are able to do and giving space for that. Communication is key isn’t it?
Yes. And actually, since we last spoke I’ve had long cane training and now use a cane which helps people understand my disability or at least see it. Now people think I’m worse off than I actually am. People think only truly blind people have a cane but there are many visual impairments that require one. I have no depth perception so stairs were a nightmare for me.
I can imagine. How has the long cane been? It must be like having a new limb!
It is! It’s weird. My mum said to me, ‘It’s like watching you learn to walk for the first time’. She nearly cried.
Oh wow. Obstacle free. A lot less stress to just walk around an area without fear of bumping into things?
Well yeah. I would always walk like I’m feeling with my feet. Like tentatively. Now I walk much more normally.
Game changer. Freedom
It is! There are still stigmas based around canes, though. But things are getting better.
So about your mix… Is vinyl better for visually impaired people because it’s more hands-on with the vinyl?
It’s a bit of a double edge sword. It is more hands-on and that is a benefit, but it’s a lot more fiddly with the needles and things like that. Things have got a little expensive for me on that side, but it’s a labour of love and it’s another string to the bow as a DJ. The tactile feeling is much more fun than digital, you’re right. And also the decks are a bit lower than CDJs in case the promoter can’t provide a stand. I’m not the tallest person. I had to really stretch when I was playing at Planet Wax!
Haha. I had to stretch too there! Have some short guy solidarity! Back to the mix, I’m just looking at the tracklist and there’s a track of yours… Have you had a vinyl release?
That’s Virulent. It’s actually from a uni project. Part of the project was product design so I got a one off vinyl press. I got it done at Dub Studio in Bristol. I’d love to have more vinyl releases in the future though.
Only a matter of time! Back to the mix, you’ve gone old school on us!
Well you know some of these tunes surprised me and I wouldn’t normally play them out in a digital, upfront Kidsonic set. Tracks like Dillinja Twist ‘Em Out. That’s not really what I’d play usually but when I saw it on vinyl I thought ‘I’ve got to have that!’ One of the levels on DJ Hero was Missy Elliot Get Your Freak On and Dillinja Twitst Em Out. So this does go back to my roots haha.
That finale mix of Twist ‘Em Out and Mr Majestic though.
Ah thanks man. That’s the DJ artform, right? Putting tunes together in ways people wouldn’t imagine. Listening to the music and thinking, ‘What would complement this?’ That’s what I did here. Have another listen to that mix. Listen to the melodies of the bassline on the Dillinja one and the horns on the Calibre and High Contrast one. They mirror each other.
[Stops to sing both] Yeah! I’d have thought to put them together but it does work so well. This is what MIXMAS is about – the real art of DJing. It needs to be celebrated doesn’t it?
Yeah absolutely. I think technology is having a very strong influence on a lot of DJ culture. On the whole scene in fact. TikTok has completely changed the energy and is in danger of devaluing everything by turning things into fads instead of celebrating the artform and living that life.
Yeah it’s a commodity of culture and removing any realness. Still good people exist, though, the underground will always come around again.
This is it. It’s cycles that go back decades. Drum & bass has stood the test of time and will continue to.
We’ll weather the storm! How will you weather 2025? What have you got?
I’ve got more Mustard Music releases coming out. I’ve got an album in the final stages. Maybe around 6-8 tracks.
Sick! The last album had a lot of vocals or will this release be more like the last Mustard one with Bristol?
It will be more along the lines of Bristol and it is definitely linked to my roots. Little nuggets of references that only people from round here will know.
Landmarks and people and things like that.
Yeah things like that. One of them, I’ll say now, is Gentrification.
Ah man. It’s rotting Bristol
It’s rotting culture and the UK full stop. Look at Motion. That’s a landmark venue under attack. That whole area is being gentrified. There’s some really dark stuff going on with the council changing the boundaries of areas.
To raise house prices
It’s insane bro. Impossible to even think about buying anything ever.
People are so greedy. But back to music – if you’re not driven by money, it’s a very different experience. And one that’s much more connective and unifying.
Yeah. That’s what I got into this for – linking up with good people, chatting for hours and being inspired and supportive. You talk to each other and support each other’s achievements. Sadly when money is involved you’re more likely to find people saying congratulations to your face but cussing you behind your back.
Yeah just very false and everyone for themselves. So what else is coming out?
Plenty more music. Hopefully got a really sick booking in Bristol but it’s not confirmed yet. But I’m always working on things. I’ll keep you posted.
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