Subcortex Feature

 Flashing strobe lights, the mild scent of sweat, the echoing sound of fog horns and heavy bass thumping the club floor- this is where Subcortex (Mitchell Crown, 20 from Kings Lynn) up-and-coming drum and bass artist can normally be found.

Subcortex up-and-coming drum and bass artist. 

Subcortex has only recently started getting traction in the industry but he is working with DnB label ‘1luv’ and has recently been signed to Ironside Records. His friend involved Subcortex in the genre as he had decks. Subcortex spent hours watching, learning and absorbing and by doing this he gained knowledge before he had even got his own decks.

Subcortex is a quiet character. He became chattier the more he discussed his passion. “The music I listen to influences me. I make music I like and that if I heard it, I would want to listen to it or use it in sets.” From this, he gains ideas on concepts and structures.

All Subcortex’s music has a theme. Despite DnB to the wider public often sounding like screeching and pounding fog horns and drums, his music is far more harmonious. He uses changes in drum patterns, jungle breaks and vocals to create music that is engaging.

He also makes bootlegs of well-known songs to give the audience a fresh sound on classics such as Dancing in the Moonlight by Top Loader and One Love by Bob Marley.

When Subcortex makes his music, he openly admits the process is messy. He chucks all the stems and musical elements on the page with different features scattered all over and then he eventually puts it into order. 

“I normally just whack it on in the right place and sort it all out at the end, which is a pain but when I have an idea, I have to get it down as quickly as possible or I’ll end up forgetting what I’m doing.”

Recently his music is doing well and he mentions the interaction his newest tracks have had like Lunar, Star Forger and a fan favourite Lullaby which has a haunting sound. All his tracks are free downloads on Soundcloud.

Lullaby, an eerie track has good reviews. Harvey Rae, 20, who is a big fan of Subcortex’s music, said: “It’s my favourite, it has a good flow and could easily be put into a mix.”

Thor from Ironside agreed with this statement and said: “We love his music.  Lullaby is everything we wanted from him. It’s dark, interesting and usable in a set.”

Humble with his success when talking about the future, Subcortex’s mindlessly twirling a ring on his finger. His green eyes light up as he dreams of having releases with big labels like DnB Allstars or Dread Recordings and being able to have sets in venues like The Swan in Bristol, playing his tracks with people enjoying it. 

In his producing, Subcortex has made his own sound to stand out by focusing on fog horns and these are layered with snares in the foreground, resulting in the kicks appearing more subtle. He wants to create a sort of melody within his music.

 Rae commented: “He puts his mark on the genre and that’s common with a lot of other artists that make DnB.”

This was confirmed by Thor, he said: “His tunes are a great vibe, the drums have an impact and his basses are really unique.”

With him constantly producing, thought is etched onto his face as he ponders what he is most proud of as he flicks his mousy blonde hair to one side. He said: “My Freed from Desire bootleg because it’s got attention from some big names and it’s a crowd-pleaser”.

This track has been used by some prominent artists including on Miss Bliss DJ’s promo video for the ‘Let Us Dance Campaign’ which is trying to secure funding for nightclubs, music events and festivals affected by Covid-19.

Subcortex following is growing and he is grabbing the attention of influential people. Thor wants to get his music heard: “We think he has a chance in the music industry. We want to continue to work with him as long as we can.”

Keep an eye out for Subcortex. He said: “I have some new ideas and some huge things coming out soon- lookout for some collabs with big names.”