Meet the Artists: Stonx
For this special edition of Disciples of Distortion Vol. 3, we’re turning the spotlight on Ollie, the driving force behind Stonx Music. As both an artist and the label manager, Ollie plays a crucial role in shaping the label’s sound and vision. His track on the compilation is a homage to the dark side, pounding anvil snares, and a barrage of heavy unadulterated filthy bass.
Disciples of Distortion Vol 3 | Out Now: https://cygnusmusic.link/bn4lgyq
Meet Stonx
Can you share a brief background about yourself as an artist? How did you get started in music, and what are some of your influences?
I’ve been deeply immersed in the music scene for years, starting off as a bassist, then moving onto production, and eventually transitioning to DJing. I’m a huge fan of high-energy, hard-hitting tracks that get people moving, which is what led me to focus on drum and bass and specifically, with my metal and rock background, the darker side of neurofunk. My influences are wide-ranging—everything from punk and rock to neurofunk legends like Noisia and Black Sun Empire. Stonx Music was born out of a desire to create a home for this intense, cutting-edge sound and to help emerging artists find their voice in the scene.
What was the inspiration behind your track on this compilation? Can you walk us through your creative process for this particular track?
The inspiration for my track came from wanting to rework my offering from the first Disciples of Distortion. The original track was already a big, dark, sinister one, but even back then I always felt it should have been a darkstyle skullstep nightmare. For DOD3, it was finally time to realize its full potential. I reworked the snares until they felt like they pierced your skull harder than a full frontal lobotomy and then pushed and pulled the arrangement until I had something close to the 6-minute mark. This felt strange for me since I like the punchy arrangements of modern neurofunk, often taking cues from artists like The Prodigy for tight, compact arrangements. Eventually, the beast was done—Necropolis VIP, a snare-hell barrage for dark sound horror junkies!
As the head of Stonx Music, how do you balance your artistic endeavours with managing the label?
It’s definitely a balancing act! Running the label means I’m constantly working on helping other artists get their music out there while still finding time for my own creative projects. The key for me has been staying organized and making sure I carve out time to focus on production. At the end of the day, both roles feed into each other—being an artist helps me understand what our label’s artists need, and running the label helps me grow as a producer. I love making music, and I love listening to music, so it’s easy to find time for the things you like doing!
The Track
Stonx – Necropolis VIP
“Necropolis VIP” by Stonx plunges listeners into the darkest snare hell imaginable. This track is an intense rework of a song from the first volume of “Disciples of Distortion,” reimagined with a relentless focus on the snare—the driving force behind this darkstep masterpiece. “Necropolis VIP” delivers a barrage of pounding snares, creating a relentless, oppressive atmosphere that’s not for the faint-hearted. Drop this track if you dare; it’s reserved for the true darksound warriors who can handle its unyielding intensity. Beware, therapy sessions may be advised after unleashing this beast on the dancefloor.
How do you view the evolution of the Stonx Music community, and what are your hopes for its future?
I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. What started as a small group of like-minded producers has grown into a global community of artists, all pushing the boundaries of their own production and achieving releases on some of the biggest labels in our scene. What makes it even more special is that we’ve maintained a culture of helping each other out, It’s more like a production nerd coffee hub where everyone’s welcome. Come for the music, stay for the banter!. My hope for the future is to keep expanding that community and continue supporting the next wave of innovative, boundary-breaking music. I want Stonx to be known not just as a label or an artist, but as a movement within the scene—one that nurtures future talent and grows together. It’s about lifting each other up, not stepping on each other to reach the top. We rise as a community, and that’s what I want to see become the norm.
It’s more like a production nerd coffee hub where everyone’s welcome. Come for the music, stay for the banter!
Stonx
What can your fans and the Stonx Music community expect from you in the future, both as an artist and as the head of the label?
More music, more releases, and more ways for the community to get involved! I’ve got an EP out on Neuropunk Records, followed by a very special 2-track release here on Stonx Music. I’ve also finished and submitted a bunch of remixes, which should be dropping soon—make sure to tune into my streams for sneak peeks and WIPs. There’s a really tasty two-track collab with Sindicate finished and currently in discussions, plus a few more collaborations in the works. So there’s plenty already lined up, and there’s always more in the works.
As for the label, it’s full steam ahead! Sindicate, FauxRealz, Rohl, and Triddy are all settling into their roles within the label, and the new team is really starting to get its legs. The schedule is fully booked for releases right now, so expect no signs of slowing down!
What advice would you give to other artists who are looking to balance their creative passions with industry responsibilities?
Stay focused on what drives you creatively, but don’t forget the importance of networking and business savvy. You can have the best track in the world, but if no one hears it, it won’t go anywhere. Make connections, be open to feedback, and always be professional. And most importantly, don’t forget why you started making music in the first place.
The internet can make everything feel unreachable, like you’re in an endless ocean, but honestly, hitting “like” or commenting on a song does get noticed. Networking doesn’t have to be at some exclusive, behind-closed-doors event. It can be as simple as showing your support for other artists, hanging out in livestreams, and saying hello to other fans and supporters. You never know who you might be chatting with—it could be the editor of Beatport or a booking agent for a festival, because guess what? Those people are out there supporting artists and consuming music too.
It’s too easy to become a production hermit, so remember why you love this music in the first place. Don’t turn networking and “the industry” into some boring chore where you’re hunting down the best contacts. Just be in the scene, support the events and artists you believe in, and do it openly and loudly!
What do you hope listeners take away from your music and this release?
I also hope you walk away with a sense of community, knowing that this release is the result of so many artists coming together and pushing the boundaries of what they can do. At the end of the day, I want the music to resonate with listeners, whether they’re losing themselves on the dancefloor or just blasting it through their headphones. So enjoy some neurofunk mayhem from distortion’s dedicated disciples!
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Disciples of Distortion Vol 3 | Out Now: https://cygnusmusic.link/bn4lgyq
Words by STONX and Stonx Music Co – Founder Ollie Barron
