Today we are reconnecting with a rising Budapest producer Misland who first came on to our radar way back in December 2022 when we first started releasing music. His track Minimal Sky landed on 1 More Tune Volume 1, an epic free download VA as a Christmas treat to all our supporters.
18 months, hundreds of plays, many many downloads and a few releases on the like of Dialect and Drumad later, Misland returns to our platform with word on his debut album Shifting Sands. An eclectic sonic journey that documents his own development as an artist, and indeed his own mental health and mindset as an artist during these turbulent times, Shifting Sands is a statement, showcase and shout out in equal measure.
Ranging from deep and contemplative to tense and techy, Shifting Sands is a heartfelt and honest body of work. What’s more, it’s free download!
While debut albums aren’t usually released in this style, Misland’s approach is progressive and pragmatic. Released for free to build an audience and give something to the D&B community, it’s a reflection of where he’s at creatively and how he feels about the wider scenario.
It’s a bold move and one we respect hugely. The album drops May 16 and right now we’re dropping this premiere. Who We Are. Read to the end and find out just how personal and meaningful this track is to him….
I was listening to Minimal Sky earlier. Sick tune. This is where we connected. When you think about that track what comes to mind?
That was the second tune that ever got picked up by someone. By 1 More Thing of course! A couple of months ago I played it for some of my friends. They didn’t know it was my tune but they were all like, ‘What is this? I need this!’ I was very happy because no one had reacted to my tunes like that before. I’m super happy with it. Of course it has technical things I’d like to correct now but it makes me happy and very proud.
Lush! Let’s go back further than that and get your origin story…
I grew up in the Hungarian countryside. My dad and brother got me into music. Especially rock and metal. I was also heavily inspired by great films of that era like The Matrix and the whole cyberpunk vibe that was happening in the 2000s and the electronic side really grew on me. For years and years I was into this but had still never really discovered drum & bass. Then in 2010 my brother lent me his hard drive and on it I found two albums that changed my life… Skrillex The Mothership and Black Sun Empire Light & Wires. I didn’t know what it was but it was something I needed to be part of. From there I found UKF and Hospital Records and fast forward a few years I started to produce.
Always D&B?
First it was actually hip-hop with a friend but then I thought, ‘Why don’t I produce D&B as well? I love it so I should make it.’ I started in 2017 and I’ve been making drum & bass every day since then.
Still making hip-hop?
I stopped that project now. I had fun, I love the music, but I was only really enjoying it because of the friend I was making it with. I do want to go back to it eventually but that project came to a natural end. I have another project actually with one of my old school teachers.
What?
Yeah I’ve known him for 15 years and suddenly I found out he’s making rap albums on his own and he asked me to produce it along with his cousin. It’s cool and now I am able to put in all the knowledge I’ve learnt making drum & bass.
I wanna hear this! But first this album of yours. You’ve been producing for longer than I thought which is cool as you’ve not rushed things out, you’ve spent time on your chops!
Well a lot of that is because I’m not a fan of social media. Putting myself out there in that type of way is not for me. I tried to go without it and do things my way. But that didn’t work out. I’ve worked my way through my negative feelings towards it. I’m still not comfortable on it but I appreciate the connections it can create and the ways it can help.
Such a thorny one isn’t it. Most people aren’t totally comfortably with social media. Were there any turning points for you where your relationship changed?
Two actually. One was Graham Farmer from Data Transmission. His videos and the way he’s able to sell the idea of social media made me realise it was more important than I thought. I still wasn’t comfortable with it but it helped. The second thing was a local hook up with a Budapest crew called Next Level. They’re a set of cool guys doing a music school out there. They’re one of the most important platforms for bass music here. I attended a course there and met three people there who I’m now working with and trying to develop a collective with. So those people opened things up for me. We have to let people know who we are and why we’re doing what we’re doing or no one will know.
Community perspective! It’s not just about you then is it?
Exactly! That’s totally it. It’s about other people now and I’m not feeling like I’m shitposting about myself like me, me, me. You totally get it.
A lot of people feel the same and when it’s about a bigger picture and more than you it’s so much easier to navigate. Now the album – you’re doing this in an interesting way and giving the album away entirely. I guess this is part of the whole promo plan too?
Exactly. I don’t see the point in putting this out as a paid album. I don’t have enough people listening to it. So why not use the album as a way of creating connections with people whether it’s through finding places for premieres or developing my audience through free downloads. Hopefully it sticks with people and leaves a positive impression with people who stay around and listen more in the future.
Wise man! Any type of concept to the name Shifting Sands? I wondered if it related to the sense of time that has passed as you’ve developed as a producer?
I was struggling with the name. I always do. With my own name and track titles and everything. But for this was it easy. Some of these tracks date back to 2021-22, others are no older than four months so it’s kind of like as you said. But also as a saying, shifting sands is used in reference to something that’s constantly changing unpredicta
I can relate to that so much. I think it’s so important to address that and normalize the conversation around that. Creative people feel on top of the world about a project and wretched that you can’t pay the bills. Totally at the same time. It’s like a toxic duality.
Yes totally this. I am happy I can say that money isn’t my first worry because I do have a decent job in software but that also comes with the duality. Balancing a job and creative life is such a tricky balance. Making sure I have enough time to sleep, spend time with my better half, work, eat, rest. The balance is never ending.
It really is. Are you already working on another project?
I have a lot of things in the works. The album drops on May 16 then I already have an EP worth of stuff which I’m hoping to get signed. That’s at the finishing stage. I’m also trying to get a few bootlegs of my favourite tracks done ready for summer and then I have an EP getting ready for fall, too.
All mapped out. Did you plan this before the album or has it all fallen into place?
It’s fallen into place and it’s the first time in my life I feel really organized. Getting all the assets done, organizing interviews and premieres and getting things in place. I’ve never done that before. I think I started to work on all this around six months ago. I was a lot more chaotic before but it’s shifted into where I am now.
Love that! Tell us about Who We Are as we’re doing the premiere on that tune!
It’s one of the tracks closest to me. I was coming out of a very harsh seven years. It was December, a turning point for me and I felt good about things. I got really locked in on a project in the studio and I turned this around in about seven hours. I knew what I wanted to do and sat down and achieved that. it has a lot of meaning for me. it was a real turning point for me – things got a lot better. I was communicating about my emotions, my feelings, my work, my creative challenges. And when I opened up things really changed for me. I hope I never forget that feeling in my life…
Free Download: Misland – Who We Are
Support Misland
