When it comes to life changing years, it doesn’t get much bigger than Winslow’s 2024… He’s moved over 4000 miles in pursuit of his art!
Previously situated in Kansas City, juggling life as a full time teacher and a rising artist with a growing global profile, this summer saw him taking the plunge, packing his bag and making a new home in the UK – the OG home of the music he’s dedicated to making… Drum & bass.
Immersing himself fully into the art and culture of his new home – even jamming with a local band in a pub and getting involved in Scotland’s famously hectic and physical ceilidh dances – the move has been a successful one as Winslow explains how he wants to integrate into Glaswegian life as a citizen and not just a guest passing through.
If you’ve followed any of Duncan Winslow’s output – be it his music and its tongue in cheek titles, or any of his humorous or insightful posts and videos – this type of approach and attitude to his new move will come as no surprise.
A curious soul with a wry sense of humour and a seemingly unflappable pace and sense of patience, if anyone can make sense of the UK’s weird mannerisms and help to highlight the strong culture of art that some of us in the UK might overlook or take for granted, it’s Winslow.
Fresh from joining the Kool FM family, releasing Unswung Hero on Hospital and a Bandcamp EP of awesome edits, Winslow signs out 2024 with this stunning full spectrum D&B mix. Tune in, turn on and take in his life-changing year right here…
Congratulations on such a massive life move! Love Glasgow but it’s very far out from the typical D&B cities. Why did you pick there?
It’s funny because I’ve been asked so many times, ‘Don’t you already live in London?’ But I’d looked at so many different cities – Bristol, Manchester and all those type of places – and I hadn’t really come to a decision. Then my girlfriend said, ‘Why don’t you come and live in Glasgow and we’ll figure it out from there?’
Ahhhh. There’s love in the mix too!! Classic.
You might know her? She makes music, too. Imo Lu
Oh yes I do! Brought together through D&B. Lush!
Yeah really we were. We were both on a new talent kinda EP for Hospital in 2020 and we kept in touch. A few years ago we met when I was over in London, then reconnected at Hospitality On The Beach and a few other times. I guess you might say the rest is history.
Lovely history! Wow so besides the music literally everything in your life is different right now!
That’s right. I mean the move was going to happen anyway but with the added factor of our relationship, it’s made it all the more special.
Are you teaching in Scotland yet, too?
Not yet. I think a change like that on top of everything would be a little too intense. I’ve given myself a bit of a cushion. Some time next year I’ll take a look into things. I really enjoy teaching. It was hard to leave but I couldn’t do both so I’m here to try full time music as much as I can.
Has it changed your relationship with music? When it’s your primary income, it can change the focus a little…
It hasn’t yet but I could see how it could. I’m still in the honeymoon period of all the freedom and stuff of doing what I want but I feel I have a pretty good grasp of having real life stuff to take care of. Maybe I’m being a bit more business minded about it. Making music and releasing it is a business. It’s just a business that I can take a lot of enjoyment from. I guess time will tell how much that changes, though.
Totally. So what have been your biggest ‘Woah I’m in a different country!?’ moments so far? Maybe the temperature or the accents?
Day to day things are the ones that get me. Like things you have a grasp of but you start to question everything you’re doing. Regular stuff like going to the grocery, it’s pretty much the same but it’s not. I would think people are like, ‘Look at that American fumbling his way through life, he doesn’t know what things to buy, he’s so silly.’
Haha
I know it’s in my head. Funnily enough the accents weren’t too bad. I watch a lot of UK TV and film so I’m used to it. The rural, old Glaswegian accents come up sometimes. Like cab drivers. I’ve had a few moments!
What do you miss the most from home?
It’s kind of small things like certain snacks, the food being slightly different. I’m not driving as much. Things like that. But I drove for the first time over here the other weekend. I was terrified. I’ve been driving a long time but it all felt slightly off.
Have you been up in the highlands? Have you had time to explore?
Have you been up in the highlands? Have you had time to explore? Yeah a little. I love how Glasgow quickly turns into the countryside here. It’s not long out of the city to find nature. That reminds me of Kansas City. The town is nice and compact but you can be in a field in no time. We took a train to Loch Lomond which is really nice. Last week we drove to the Isle Of Mull and took a ferry. That was interesting. I’d never been seasick in my life until then! So it’s been great so far. I’ve said to you before when I was in London, I’ve grown up watching all these places on films and TV so there’s a very strong familiarity. I’m really enjoying it.
Lush. Have you been writing throughout the whole of this transition or have you put music aside for a while?
I guess a bit of both. Before I left there was a lot of packing and organizing my stuff and some readjustment stuff here. Music was still happening but almost as way to recover from the culture shock. My laptop and music is one thing that hasn’t changed. But now I’m back on it and I’ve got more time now. I’ve started to open up old projects and ideas that I’d forgotten about or just hadn’t had time to return to when I’m teaching.
That’s great. I was wondering if your change in environment might affect the sound or style or your process. Even moving rooms can do that.
Yeah I think it will have an effect. Music is very mood dependent. If I’m frustrated it’s going to be really heavy or a good mood and it could be happy, kinda thing. But I have been exposed to a lot of local music which is inspiring. I have a background in playing string instruments growing up so this crosses over with folk and bluegrass in the US.
Of course! So have you been to ceilidh yet?
Yes I have!
They get brutal don’t they?
Yes they do! Lu asked if I was up for a dance. I thought, ‘Sure it’ll be fine’ thinking how hard can this dance be? All of a sudden I’m being thrown around here and there. It was a lot of fun!
It’s stuff like that. Getting into the environment and becoming more of a citizen than a guest for a few weeks. Wanting to be part of what’s going on. It’s not always D&B, too. There’s so much happening but I come from an environment where none of this stuff was happening very much. Maybe once a month but it wasn’t the same. The grassroots arts scene here is so much better. Not just electronic music but all music and art in general is across the street here. Like ‘oh what’s happening today? Let me go over there’. I love immersing myself in this. I can never be bored.
Have you joined any bands? Sounds like you’ve had a little jam or two?
Funny you should say – literally last night I got involved in a little local jam session. I play an instrument so I got signed up and we’re playing a couple of songs I didn’t think I knew , I was playing the bass which isn’t my best instrument but it was fun. It was something to do. I thought I should do this mor e often. I love how many DIY things are happening here. All over the UK. It encouraged me to come here. No matter what is happening sat the highest level there are people doing their own thing and that’s encouraged. Like people say there are too many labels or too many collectives but there’s space for it. Being a part of the niches have been my thing. It’s what led me to drum & bass in he first place. So I’m where I need to be and if it doesn’t work then I know I gave it my best.
I LOVE that. I’m goosebumping! Let’s chat music now. Some edits have dropped. What’s next?
This last month I started a Kool residency so that’s been cool. I started that last month. It’s cool, I do mixes most month like ‘this is some cool stuff I’ve been listening to’ so to now do that on a real legendary platform is a dream come true. But as far as releases, there’s some projects I’m working on and collaborations. Me and T.R.A.C have been working on something forever.
You mentioned this before!
Yeah that’s right. We’ve been working away on it. There’s some remix stuff coming with Submorphics’ label. I love what he’s doing with Rosebay Music. So yeah look out for that.
I’m looking forward to Christmas. Are there any Christmas traditions you’ll miss from the US or things you’re looking forward to over here?
Hmmm, I guess it’s all food related. You guys cook a lot of what US people do on Thanksgiving on Christmas Day so I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes down. Even something small like we had no chocolates in advent calenders growing up. Like, ‘What? I get a chocolate every day? Come on!’ I didn’t know about that. But I don’t need an excuse for some type of treat every day.
Innit! Tell us about this mix.
There’s a lot new stuff, things I’m working on, things from friends. Just showing more of what I like I this spectrum of D&B. There’s so much to say in a short time, right? The grooves, the happy stuff, the more serious stuff. Everything. Maybe not a heartwarming thing, but it makes you want to move. You know? I think it’s like this…. You know those times when you want to be mad at someone but they also said something funny, so have to let off a little smirk. That’s what I want to create with any DJ set or mix. I want the smirks.
Ha! Brilliant. Anything else to add?
Just that I’m here! I’m in the UK and I can drive. I’m excited to really get immersed in things here. Not just musically but teaching. Hopefully there are things I can get involved in on a community level and just exploring the options. There are so many different ways to create and connect and contribute. Podcasts, videos, newsletters, talks. All these different things and different conversations to have and connections to be made. There’s a lot of things to be excited about and a lot of things I’d like to do and I hope I can.
