Clipz

Clipz is a UK drum and bass producer and DJ from Bristol, associated with drum and bass, jungle, clownstep and dnb. He starts out as a teenager buying his first set of decks at thirteen and spending the next few years practising mixing, driven by an interest in the early 1990s London rave scene and by pirate radio recordings from stations including Don FM and Weekend Rush.

Early development

At 16, he attends music college in Weston-super-Mare despite not having formal qualifications, and stays there because of his enthusiasm. After two years of developing his production skills, he moves to London to begin working on solo production, while also returning to Bristol to play clubs such as Powerhouse and Blue Mountain. He then returns to Bristol, describing the city as central to his development.

Production work and collaborations

Back in Bristol, Clipz forms a production partnership with South London artist Mechanizm. The duo is signed by MC Recordings, the label run by GQ, and Clipz soon becomes known in the drum and bass scene through tracks such as “Mystic Amen” and “J-Spot”, which circulate widely on dubplate. He later attracts interest from Full Cycle and signs to the label after his contract with Emcee Recordings ends. Roni Size takes him into the studio in 2002, and they compare production styles.

Releases

Clipz builds a large discography and is known for tracks including “Cocoa” and “Funk Physics”. His debut album, Livin Drumz, appears in 2005. He also works on an album with Die, producing tracks including “Black Doves” and “Number 1”. In addition, he begins a project with singer Siobhan Watson and continues DJing internationally.

Style and scene

His career is rooted in Bristol’s drum and bass scene, but his influences include the wider early 1990s London rave culture and pirate radio. He remains active as a producer and DJ within the genre.