Wallsend, United Kingdom

Early on, Rantoul spent much of his time as a graffiti artist. It was this experience which led to the discovery of what he really wanted to do. He became interested in the rave scene through a friend, who at the time was receiving a constant stream of flyers through the post. “I used to promise myself my name would be on them,” he recalls.

Rantoul’s determination to make his new-found ambition a reality led to him putting together a studio from scratch, with the help of his family. His musical policy was clear from the outset: “I’ve always been into drum and bass, especially the more atmospheric and musical stuff. I’ve always stood up for it, and that’s lost me a few friends, but at the end of the day I know what I like and I’ll stick to it.”

Those all-important influences originated in the drum & bass scene of the mid-90s, with material from artists such as Photek, Source Direct, Peshay, Alex Reece, and a certain LTJ Bukem.