AJ Mutated is one part of Mutated Forms, which became a respected name in the drum & bass scene. The quality and diversity of Mutated Forms’ collective work was what set them apart from the rest. Their willingness to stretch through different genres kept their music fresh. AJ Mutated is carrying on as a solo producer keeping up the same quality and diversity.
ARTISTI ANKEET: AJ Mutated
How did you get into drum'n'bass?
A classmate and some randomer I went on a camping trip with gave me some dodgy re-re-recorded cassettes in terrible quality in 2001. Someone told me it was drum & bass. I had no idea. In 2016 I found out those were DJ Dara mixtapes and I told him and he found it really cool as he’s been supporting both Mutated Forms and AJ Mutated music a lot!
What year did you start producing music?
2001
Your first drum'n'bass release:
As Mutated Forms: ‘My Feeling’ on vinyl on World Of Dnb rec was probably the first “serious” release, excluding a random album and digital release we did in 2004. As AJ Mutated, EP on Serial Killaz in 2018.
Record labels from which your music has been released:
ProgRam, Serial Killaz, Biological Beats, Spearhead, Hospital, Low Down Deep, CIA… there’s dozens if you count our Mutated Forms work.
How do you describe your music?
Diverse!
What or who inspires you to create music?
Random life situations I get myself into. I like to wake up and capture a certain feeling/emotion in a tune while it’s still there.
Which do you think you are more, a DJ or a producer?
I definitely prefer creating music to playing, but my God do I miss playing out at proper raves!
What would you do differently as an aspiring young producer? Advice for newcomers:
Have some patience and think through how your spontaneous decisions will affect you long-term. Be super careful when being offered exclusive deals.
Who would you like to collaborate with and / or play b2b in the future?
Getting a track with MC DRS would be a dream!
What should a promoter consider when inviting you to play?
A good reliable set up would be a good start. Decent supply of beers also helps.
What should definitely be in your artist's rider?
Jaffa Cakes
The best / most memorable parties you've played at:
Soundtropolis 2007 in Saint Petersburg and some paint party festival in New Zealand in 2011. The former had to be the biggest crowd I’ve ever played at and the latter was on the other side of the world and I’ve never done a paint party – it was impressive.
The weirdest song request you've been asked during a DJ set:
In the UK you often have very lost looking people who for some reason paid for a ticket to a dnb rave and come up to the DJ and ask to play some garage or Britney Spears or God knows what else… can’t think of one particular song.
Do you prefer to make plans or to be spontaneous?
Definitely spontaneous!
Who's your best friend?
See question 11 (Jaffa Cakes)
What question nobody should ever ask you?
How to pronounce “Artjom” (this only applies to English people – lived here for 13 years and so far the total number of people to get it right is 0) – hence why everyone calls me AJ.