Gray

Gray is a drum and bass producer and DJ whose music takes different routes from the same soundsystem roots. Reggae and dancehall were already part of his listening before his Rubadub EP appeared on Born On Road in 2019, with life in Bristol bringing him into contact with a much wider mix of music.

The EP and One Spliff made his name familiar, but he has been careful about letting one successful track dictate everything afterwards. In his UKF interview, Gray described the creative pressure that followed and the importance of writing music he actually wanted to make.

His own descriptions show how varied that music can be. Memories, made with A Little Sound, passed through several versions before settling on a dancefloor drop. The Preacher took a darker roller approach, while No Face No Case, with Diagnostix and Ozone, was written for the rave and drew on jump-up.

His debut album, Digital Nomad, followed in 2024, including Lickshot with Donae’O. He has since established his own label, Shaded, with an emphasis on underground music and the connection between artists and ravers. That connection matters to a producer whose tracks have grown up on the soundsystem: new ideas still have to come alive in front of a crowd.