Sub Focus is the production and DJ alias of Nick Douwma. His recording career began on Frequency, the sister label of RAM Records, in 2003. He moved to RAM itself with X-Ray in 2005.
Douwma's interest in production grew out of playing bass in a band and experimenting with music software as a teenager. Hearing jungle prompted him to record radio shows and start DJing. When he began finishing his own tracks, a friend's demo CD eventually reached the label, opening the route from bedroom production to his first releases.
His self-titled debut album, Sub Focus, arrived in 2009, followed by Torus in 2013. He later made Portals with Wilkinson, released in 2020. Subsequent solo albums include Evolve in 2023 and Contact in 2025.
His musical interests have consistently extended beyond drum and bass. Speaking around the release of his debut, he described drawing on techno, electro, and older synthesiser music, while trying to give the album variety rather than making every track serve the same dancefloor purpose. Science fiction and geometric imagery later became recurring influences on the visual presentation of his records and live work.
Alongside his DJ work, Douwma developed the Circular Sound live show, built around a circular lighting rig and accompanying visuals. In 2025 he brought the show to Alexandra Palace, while his festival appearances included Glastonbury's IICON stage and Tomorrowland's main stage.
