# data[].attributes.body
DUNK, the Brazilian drum and bass producer João Neto, features heavily in the music I mix and is an inspiration for what I want to produce. He has a unique sound amongst the vast spectrum of DNB music, being a ‘Master of the Minimal Sound’ (DUNK, n.d.-c). His tracks are dark, minimal and menacing, often using repetitive alluring samples and noises which build across the song. I love the way he sits in a groove and builds a journey; a perfect balance of dark groovy bass music.

# data[].attributes.body
Electronic music producer ASC, James Clements, creates music that combines motifs that I feel deeply; atmospheric, emotional soundscapes accompanied by complex percussion. He fuses aspects of jungle rhythms with cinematic, cosmic backdrops and is inspiring in creating music that is both emotional and technically stirring; it can also be meditative and entrancing to mix. While sitting comfortably in the sounds of original fast breakbeats, he is an artist defying conventions and important in the emergence of ‘autonomic’ sub-genre (Absolute Loss, 2024). It is particularly inspiring to see an artist create music authentically, and the possibilities that may come from that.

# data[].attributes.body
DUNK’s memorable introduction into drum and bass as a genre was through DJ Hype. Always being a big fan, DJ Hype’s releases on TruePlayaz began DUNK’s journey into delving into the genre and he "never stopped" (Chilla, 2021). His first contact was in adolescence, listening to a neighbour’s music, and he “felt a bass that make [sic] me shiver” (Trower, 2020). These introductions to a music culture are life changing and this experience resonates strongly with my own introduction to DNB. Hype being one of the biggest names in jungle and drum and bass’ history, it makes sense for DUNK to have such an influential influence for the music he is famous for producing (Cook, 2014).

# data[].attributes.body
Late hip-hop artist J Dilla is a musical inspiration of DUNK (J. Neto, personal communication, June 06, 2024). For DUNK, hip-hop was his first contact with music and therefore his foundation “Hip-hop came first, so that explains my passion” (Inside, 2022). Interestingly in his personal life, DUNK doesn’t listen to the music he is famous for producing, referencing J Dilla amongst those who continue to influence him in daily life; he continues to be inspired by the same roots (J. Neto, personal communication, June 06, 2024; Trower, 2020).

# data[].attributes.body
Of Brazilian heritage, one of DUNK’s biggest influences is one of Brazil’s most famous musicians: Djavan (J. Neto, personal communication, June 06, 2024; Luanda Records, 2024a). Growing up surrounded by different music styles including soul and funk, DUNK believes this influenced his musical taste and desire to create (Chilla, 2021). His productions continue to be inspired by the culture around him and artists from his childhood, and today his music reflects the energic, diverse metropolis of the Brazilian city of São Paulo where he resides (DUNK,n.d.-a).

# data[].attributes.body
Stylistically, ASC was hugely inspired by Omni Trio - a founding member of the drum and bass movement (Clements, 2014b). Shaping drum and bass with early releases on Moving Shadow (established 1990), his drum and bass is uniquely musical and ambient of which ASC’s atmospheric, ambient and experimental sound can be related  (Bandcamp, n.d.-a; Moving Shadow, n.d.). Omni Trio as a producer was distinctly avant-garde, admired experimentalism in music making and even introduced the 2-step rhythmic pattern to the genre (Ableton, 2017; Reynolds, 2013, p. 417-418).

# data[].attributes.body
ASC’s atmospheric sound was drawn from his love of early drum and bass and the pads and atmospheres that featured in this style, especially in the music being played in the mid 90s by drum and bass innovator LTJ Bukem (Clements, 2014c). LTJ Bukem, a classical trained pianist, producer, DJ and founder of the record label (and subsequent labels) Good Looking Records, is a massive figure in the drum and bass scene, and his style and Labels are known for their melodic and atmospheric drum and bass (Creative Republic, 2021; Good Looking Organisation "Fansite", n.d.).

# data[].attributes.body
Blame was a constant source of inspiration for ASC; a role model and close friend who shaped his sound (Clements, 2014b). Being a significant figure in LTJ Bukem’s label Good Looking Records, his music had the features that are influential in ASC’s work; atmosphere and journey. Interestingly, like ASC today, he was an innovator in sound “I wanna break some boundaries (…) do something different”, being inspired by a concept, image and storyboard in the creation of his music (Creative Republic, 2021). It is easy to see how this has translated into music created by ASC, whose music creates an atmospheric journey and being an innovator in sound himself, playing a role in the development of the experimental style of autonomic drum and bass (Absolute Loss, 2024).