In Conversation with Subcat | Disciples of Distortion Vol:2 | #112

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Meet the Artist: Subcat

In the next installment of our “Meet the Artists” series, we’re excited to introduce you to Subcat. With a recent debut on Stonx Music and more thrilling tracks on the horizon, Subcat is making waves in our musical universe. Join us as we take a stroll through Subcat’s musical journey and get a sneak peek at what’s to come.

Where to find Subcat


Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the world of music production?

My journey with drum and bass started in a small town with local dj’s playing in the leisure centre. From there my passion for this music grew. I then moved to Bristol in my 20’s and spent a long time there studying music production and held a couple of residencies at nights like Infidelity and Out the Box. I owe a lot to the guys that run these nights because I got to support and play with some of my idols and that itself gave me the confidence to know my worth.

Let’s dive right into your contribution to Disciples of Distortion Volume 2. Can you give us some insight into the creative process behind your track?

This project started about 2 yrs ago as a switch up tune (so 8 bars of one drum pattern and 8 of another) and I picked it up every now and again to tweak it. At some point this year I decided to completely redo the drums and the switch up went, but the vibe remained. I’m pretty notorious for doing stuff like this because of my family life and the affect this has on the time I have to write music, but it fits my style and at least things eventually get done…

Don’t be scared to share your work and take feedback. Oh and reference reference reference!

Subcat

What inspired you while working on this specific piece of music?

I had a reece that had a real old school vibe (the one in the build up) and did a sound design session which led to this. I’d love it if this was a more inspiring story, but sometimes these things just organically start.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound?

More than I can mention in this, but one person that really springs to mind is Prolix. His style has been something that’s fascinated me since I first had his tunes on Ganja-tek. Tracks like Freefall and Crater have just got such an incredible vibe and stand the test of time.

Are there any artists or genres that you draw inspiration from but might not be immediately apparent in your music?

I’ve always had a love of rock/metal and specifically the groove that bands like AC/DC create (I’m a dad now so have an excuse to like these kinds of bands). There’s a vibe that’s created by the way the drums work around a guitar riff and I find it mesmerising.

Can you share a particularly challenging moment you’ve encountered in your music production journey and how you overcame it?

Mixdowns. Still learning so much about this sort of thing but I think the biggest epiphany moment came from chatting to Ollie Sonx about referencing. I’d always been a bit confused about the best way to do this and the advice I got was to literally flip back and forward for a bar and work from there. This has changed everything.

How do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist since your earlier work, and what lessons have you learned along the way?

More recent tracks have grown tighter and clearer with a more modern sound. This has come from sharing with a truly supportive community and getting feedback from people who have organically become my peers, which is awesome. We’ve all grown together and I’ve learnt that we all have things we can share and that getting something in front of people fast is the best way of improving. Re-mixing a finished track is so much harder than tweaking a loop you started.

The music community is often a source of inspiration and support. How has being a part of the Stonx Music community and collaborating with other artists influenced your work?

I’ve already alluded to this in my previous answers but the guys involved in the label are some of the most supportive artists I’ve ever met. It feels like a proper community and the support that provides is priceless.

Are there any fellow artists you’d like to give a shoutout to for their contributions or influence on your music?

Sindicate and Ollie have been amazing for this project but every single artist on this is a diamond. We’ve all supported one another to this point and I can’t wait to see what comes out of this.

Neurofunk is known for its distinctive sound. How do you approach experimenting with and pushing the boundaries of the genre in your music?

My usual source of inspiration is having sound design sessions and then creating something out of that. The smallest slice of audio can end up being a whole track if it causes that spark.

Are there any other musical genres or styles you’re interested in exploring in the future?

I’ve dabbled in 140bpm stuff but nothing tickles my plums like some ripping 174 Neuro. So probably not.

What would you consider to be a significant highlight in your music career so far?

Getting my first single out. Since my first time touching some turntables I’d dreamt of this moment and seeing it realised was awesome. The artwork was also great which was the icing on the cake and made me really proud of the end product.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations as an artist? Are there any dream collaborations or projects you’re working on?

I’ve got some bits incoming that I’m pretty excited about and trying to finish at the moment but would also like to get myself back into some gigs. The passion started here and at one point I was playing out regularly so to get back to this point would be great. I’d also love to collaborate with some the name’s I’ve mentioned in this interview.

What advice would you offer to up-and-coming producers who aspire to make their mark in the music industry?

Don’t be scared to share your work and take feedback. Oh and reference reference reference!

Are there any production tips or resources you wish you had known about when you were starting out?

I wish YouTube and Patreon had existed when I started out. There are so many amazing people out there sharing a wealth of knowledge. One really notable one are the Teddy Killers. The streams they do on a Tues are great and the knowledge Anton has is terrifying.

When you’re not making music, how do you like to spend your free time?

I have 2 kids so a lot of time is spent with them and dadding. They’re a bit young at the moment but at some point I’m going to fold this all together and they’ll become the next wave of Neurofunk artists.

Can you share a fun or quirky fact about yourself that your fans might not know?

I’m a proud MAMIL. Deal with it. 😉

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your fans and listeners about your music, upcoming projects, or your journey as an artist?

I’ve got a 2 month trip with my family planned and desperately trying to finish everything I’ve got going on at the moment before we leave, so these will hopefully be coming out in the near future.

As we conclude our journey through Subcat’s music, we’re eager to see what the future holds for this promising artist. With a strong debut and more exciting tracks on the way, Subcat is a rising star in the Stonx Music family. Stay tuned for more of Subcat’s fantastic tunes right here.

Meet the other Artists

We are incredibly excited for this release and sincerely hope you’ll join us in supporting our vibrant community. Stonx Music’s Disciples Of Distortion Volume 2 is set to unleash its auditory devotion worldwide on September 22nd, 2023

Pre- Order: https://releases.stonx.co.uk/Disciples-vol2


Words by STONX and Stonx Music Co – Founder Ollie Barron

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