The hectic high tech intensity, overt neon blaze and turbo hustle-bustle of Tokyo has long since been cited as a source of inspiration for many individuals in drum & bass.
Over the years interviews and conversations I’ve had with the likes of Photek, dBridge, Trace, Sub Focus, Strategy, Nookie and many others have all touched upon the Japanese capital as a unique place of influence and a real bucket-list destination on road. From the synth stores to the skyline, there’s a unique allure to Tokyo that can’t be compared to any other city and seems to have a special pull on the nerdier, futurist side of electronic music that’s rife in drum & bass and techno.
But talking to Azumai, a drum & bass producer of Japanese and Russian descent who’s been a Tokyo resident for a great deal of his life, and there’s an interesting flip to the city’s influence and impact on the creative process. While others cite a longing to visit the far flung metropolis, or happily share a love for its synth stores, skyline and endless shelves of futuristic gadgetry, for Azumai (real name Yuki), Tokyo’s non-stop grind creates an unsolicited, and indeed unrelenting, brain noise which he’s channelled into his music.
It’s a sound you can hear throughout his latest EP on Vision Recordings. Entitled Rude Boi, it’s another bucket-list situation. Following dispatches on the likes of In The Lab, Program and Critical, it’s is his most accomplished body of work so far and was two years in the making. Most pertinently, much of the creation was motivated by how he could articulate the neurologic experience of living in such an information-dense environment. The clue is in the opening track Brainer Grainer; a ballistic salvo that sets the scene for the whole EP.
Throw consistent A&R feedback at Vision’s famously high standards into this mix, plus several years living in London (during which Yuki was a sound engineer at the iconic XOYO venue and immersed himself in the city’s D&B scene) and it’s clear that Rude Boi is the EP that’s been building up in Azumai for his whole career.
Having previously appeared in one of our earliest ever podcasts – way back in 2021 he explained in our Why Do We Tell The DJ To Fuck Off podcast that Japan doesn’t really have any swearwords – Azumai returns to 1 More Thing to tell us more about Rude Boi and give us this powerful mix. Turn on, tune in, get to know…
Yuki! How are you?
Thanks mate I’m doing well. Hope you are, too!
How is the underground music culture in Tokyo and Japan in general? And what is inspiring you there right now?
So generally now underground music culture in Tokyo is very interesting. Pretty much I can say there is a wide range of genres. And its cross-over with each genres, like techno and hardcore music, UK garage and Japanese rap, drum and bass and EDM and etc… But my inspiration is from my mind. The amount of visual and auditory information in the city of Tokyo makes me so exhausted. What I do to stop thinking about these things is imagine weird / crazy noises and bass fills.
I wanted to express that the amount of visual and auditory information in Tokyo city by sounds in this EP. The rhythm and the music speed of drum & bass, BPM like 160 ~ 180 is very comfortable for me, and feels soaring. And all music producer who makes these thing inspires me so much.
What a great way of channelling the intensity! So last time we met in real life was in Planet Wax in London on 1 More Thing’s first birthday! What do you miss most about the UK?
Congratulations! It was very nice moment. I miss all about UK to be honest. Music for sure, the culture, connections with people, and cutting-edge sounds.
I worked as a sound engineer in XOYO and met big producers, promoters, co-workers, and people who enjoying the moment in the club. I could be there for almost every day and listen all kind of music there. Of course, I was there every Friday too which meant drum & bass day where I met so many legends who have inspired my DJ style and production.
That’s cool because your recent EP on Vision is inspiring me! I know this has been a release you’ve been working towards for a long time. Please tell us how it came about…
Thank you so much! It took almost two years to complete, having many demos going back and forth. I needed time to examine it. As I mentioned, the main theme of the EP is about the chaotic information in Tokyo, but also the production is influenced by the UK Drum & Bass scene. I was expressing the noise in my mind to the real sound. And finally it is done.
Finally! How did you find that balance?
Expressing the noise in my mind to the real sound was very challenging thing. And also if I just make a random sound, it won’t fit to drum & bass music. I needed to think a lot about the quality and balance of it all.
What have you learnt about yourself during the process of this EP?
So making something, especially when you start making it, is hard. There may be emotional ebbs and flows. But it certainly has a positive impact on myself because I have learnt how to organise what I want to do and express by continuing to do it. Once organised, you can direct a positive influence on your own production. This is very important.
I know it’s impossible to choose favourites but which track on the EP is the most personal to you and why?
Thank you but my most favourite track is Rude Boi for sure. I think I’ve successfully embodied the tension and darkness that I constantly feel on a daily basis.
Who would you say is the biggest Rude Boi in drum & bass?
Of course my man Greg Teddy Killerz! Their new album COOKED is so RUDE!
Agreed. I would personally say YOU are a rude boi for such a SICK mix! Thank you! You’re really into the twisted sound design that’s happening in drum & bass right now aren’t you?
Haha thank you and yes, now making weird sound, crazy sound is getting easier because of the evolution of synths. But I wanna express some of my own sound making more!
Is the mix a fair representation of an Azumai club set?
Yes, I like both style, minimal and hard. So I think I can show what I want to.
You definitely did that. What is the essence of DJ creativity for you?
For me I’m coming from the perspective of a DJ first and foremost and that is that I like to entertain people as a DJ but also show my feelings. That is the essence and that is why I decided to learn how to make the music, too.
Classic. I know so many people will relate! So what comes next from you?
So many things are coming! I just released a remix for Japanese producer Yellock and an original tune called Brutal on Weapon Audio and I still have a lot of releases coming this year!
Amazing. What are you most excited about the summer 2025?
This summer will be a quiet season for me, I’m based in Japan and Japan doesn’t have much festivals for Drum & Bass. So I’m gonna prepare tunes again!
Nice! Last but not least, your bootleg of Earth Wind & Fire is one of my all time favourite bootlegs and was in every set I played last year… Do you have any plans to do more sick bootlegs of disco classics?
Haha thank you! Honestly there is no plan and I would like to ask you and everyone your recommendations! Looking forward to hearing and trying something! Thanks!
