A classically trained musician, Dr. Apollo counts Quincy Jones and Drumma Boy as mentors and his new single "Remedy" features legendary UK ragga star General Levy. Here he talks about working with his idols, finding new sounds and how Renaissance art can inspire dance music.
Musical style
Kate: Tell us about your musical style?
Dr. Apollo: My production style is about creating dance Music that feels like a brand new experience – inspired by all my favourite artists, from Renaissance art to modern EDM, from heavy metal to hip hop. I love pushing DnB into new directions while remaining true to its authentic UK sound.
Creating a cinematic soundscape is also a very important aspect of my music. The more it feels like you are entering a different world, the better.
What are your latest releases?
"Elevate" recently came out on Ram Records, and my EP, "Genesis of the Singularity," dropped on Drama Club Records, Boogie T's label. My latest release is "Remedy," featuring the legendary MC General Levy. He did the song "Incredible" with M-Beat that rocked the jungle world back in the 1990s and became an anthem for today’s DnB fans, young and old. It truly is an honour to have a song with him and he’s been an inspiration since the beginning of my drum’n’bass journey.
London music scene
What’s your connection with the London music scene?
My debut album, "The Simulation," is the first full-length LP from an American on ProgRam (Ram Records/BMG), which is based in London. All my music is heavily influenced by the originators of DnB, as well as the London tech house and garage sound. Right now in Los Angeles it feels like DnB is bigger than ever and I feel lucky to be a part of a scene that understands the importance of UK culture.
Brands like Insomniac, Respect, Play Me and Timeless have been pushing the movement out here for over 20 years now. I try to take a trip to London whenever I can. It's one of my favourite places. The mixture of history and culture with modernity and technology is unlike anywhere else on earth.
Inspiration
What inspired you to become a musician and producer?
When I got my first drum set, I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was in bands for many years, releasing songs and playing all over the Sunset Strip and LA. It always felt like we were waiting for producers to finish our music, so I took it into my own hands and started to teach myself how to produce. I fell in love with dance music and started making house/electro/dubstep every day, and after only a year I won the Insomniac Discovery Project and played at EDC in Las Vegas. It then took a few years to truly understand drum’n’bass and all its sub-genres before I could even try to make something worthy of the DnB scene. I feel very blessed to live in the heart of the entertainment world, which has taught me so much about what it takes to become a successful musician.
What have been your best music projects?
The best is always yet to come. Great projects come out authentically and have to be true to my sound. Drum’n’bass is such a forward-thinking genre that I’m always trying to level my sound design and create something that has never been heard before.
