This summer we got involved in a cheeky competition with Mixcloud: The RadiOlympics. A true test of intestinal fortitude, it really pushed DJs to find their inner strengths, feel the burn and deliver their very personal best.
Our particular event was called Racing For Bass. Many DJs took part…. But there could only be one winner. Our crack team of judges picked DJ Double Drop. Their reason: it was loaded with energy and a rawness that can only be found from an emerging DJ who’s got everything to prove and nothing to lose. Turns out we couldn’t get much fresher…
“I only did my first live set three months ago!” laughs Doubles, known in more formal circles as Nick Norris. Having honed his skills at home for years on his hardcore collection, Nick actually stumbled on drum & bass by chance last year…
“I can pinpoint the moment I fell in love with drum & bass, mate,” he admits. “Organic Sounds Festival last year. Everywhere was super chilled. Then I walked into a random tent and they were bashing out drum & bass. This guy was playing in there for seven hours and danced to every minute of it. I left the festival the next day and bought Vital Elements Dizzle. That was the first drum & bass tune I bought.”
He never looked back. After more months of dedicated home-mixing practice, Nick started to hunt down opportunities in his Peterborough hood. It wasn’t long before he struck gold: the Modified Nationals this June.
“It was a pretty big gig, so I thought ‘right, lets get out in the local clubs’,” he explains. “There was an open decks night going on and I ended up playing to 600-700 people. What a way to kick start! It was brilliant. All the lights and the smoke were on, I could hardly see in front of me! I went around the front of the decks to have a look and I was like ‘what?’ I just back behind the decks and got back on it. When you’re in the mix you don’t let these things phase you. You got to do what you got to do.”
Pretty impressive for a first gig. With his edgy energy and raw full-pelt style, Nick puts his delivery down to his musical influences.
“I’m a hardcore raver at the end of the day,” he states with passion. “So my D&B style follows suit. Really pumped up, energetic, in your face stuff. That’s my preference. Not everyone likes that so I do branch out into other sounds if the dancefloor needs me to.”
For a full DJ Double Drop flavour check him out TONIGHT at D&BTV Live at Concrete, London alongside Bladerunner, Bailey, Serum and Xtrah. There are a handful of free tickets available here or you can stream it live and direct right here.