CM Producer Masterclass SUB FOCUS

Sub Focus – aka Nick Douwma – shows us the tech that’s helped make him one of the UK’s most respected drum ‘n’ bass producers

We met up with London-based drum ‘n’ bass producer, Sub Focus – aka Nick Douwma – just before it all kicked off. The virus stories were already making headlines at this point, so we jokingly shook hands with our elbows and tried not to cough over each other during the interview.

None of us knew how strange things were going to get, but it was obvious which way this ill wind was blowing. Just before we sat down for the interview, Douwma received a call from his live tech. A well-known DJ equipment manufacturer was due to demo some new equipment and wanted to know if Douwma had recently been to Asia. If he had, the demo was cancelled.

We had a brief discussion about live work. Would it be affected? Neither of us could imagine that almost a whole summer’s live shows and festivals would disappear.

It all seems so long ago, now.

Douwma has featured in a couple of times over the years, but a catch-up is well overdue. It’s safe to say that Sub Focus is currently one of the UK’s leading dance brands, boasting a string of top notch singles – like 2019’s silver selling single, Desire – and a remix CV that includes The Prodigy, Bring Me The Horizon and Major Lazer/ Nick Minaj.

Understandably, that success has seen a major change in his studio setup. Douwma is based in a large north London office complex that’s also home to fellow producers, Culture Shock and Dimension.