It’s not always easy working together as a three-piece, especially when you’ve already established yourselves as individual artists. But Stray, Sabre and Halogenix are three drum and bass producers that came together in 2012 with an undeniable synergy. With each of them just as prolific as the next when it comes to producing and DJing, Ivy Lab’s combined skill set has seen them release on the likes of labels such as of Goldie’s Metalheadz, DJ Friction’s Shogun Audio and more commonly, Kasra’s Critcal Music imprint.
The trio’s love for music spans a lot further than deep and soulful drum and bass. Their love for hip hop, future beats, the Mo’Wax era, LA’s Low End Theory and its influence on them has brought the three together on a new project that sees them venture in the depths of their production pallet. 20/20 is an outlet for the trio to explore heavyweight beats that retain their trademark clean and precise production. Their new album Ivy Lab Presents 20/20 Volume One is dropping 6th November on their own new label 20/20 LDN Recordings and now we are treated to a taste of what’s in store for the project. Enter the sound of Ivy Lab’s 20/20.
What are the top three tracks getting heavy rotation in your sets?
1. Shield, My Flava
2. Decimal Bass, Work for Nothing
3. Alix Perez, Gully Halves V.I.P
What’s the most phenomenal clubbing venue in the world and why?
Le Bikini in Toulouse. The place has all the spectacle of a thousand-person arena with the acoustics and sound quality of a basement club… and a swimming pool… and a mini-house-party atmosphere backstage…
If you could go back to back with any DJ, at any venue, who would it be and why?
Mr. Carmack. Probably at the top of the stack when it comes to delivering hip hop with dancefloor weightiness. Going toe-to-toe at our new club Phonox would be the perfect forum, our crowd live for this kind of shit.
What’s the most debauched thing you’ve ever seen on the dance floor?
7 man sex-conga-line and cheering crowd in Germany circa 2010….
What would your dream rider consist of?
Sazerac de forge Cognac, a serviced penthouse apartment on the 20th floor, and Thai-food executive chef on 24 hour stand-by…
What does your actual rider consist of?
Rum, beer and meat.
What’s your favourite party anthem of all time?
Belle Biv Devoe, Poison
What producers are you predicting big things from this year?
Shield / Fre4qnc / Was A Be / Deft / Shades.
Where do you go when the record ends and the lights come on?
Stray’s flat usually, it’s a good party spot.
What track would you end the night on when everyone’s still awake and its time to go to sleep?
Cypress Hill, Ain’t goin’ out like that
Finish the sentence, the music sounds better with…
….Volume