For our latest MIXED BY feature, we’re excited to welcome Phasmid, a producer and DJ who has been steadily making his mark on the UK electronic scene. Rooted in Leeds, his sound is a sharp, bass-driven fusion of breakbeat, electro, and trance, meticulously crafted with a keen ear for dark, percussive textures and leftfield sound design.
His recent Hadal Zone EP on Gimme A Break Records is a testament to his dedication, a project that took two years to perfect. Featuring a remix from long-time inspiration Kessler, the release encapsulates the depth of his sonic explorations, seamlessly weaving together UK club influences with his signature crisp production style. Beyond his solo work, Phasmid also runs Taipan Trax, a label that has become an extension of his own musical identity, bridging the gap between his personal projects and the artists shaping the underground scene around him.
This past year has seen him step further into the spotlight, taking his sound on tour across Asia, where he’s connected with audiences from Singapore to Japan. The mix he’s crafted for us was recorded at Wild Pearl Radio in Singapore, capturing the energy of his travels in a carefully built progression of tempo and intensity.
We caught up with Phasmid to talk about his creative process, the challenges of running a label in today’s ever-changing digital landscape, and how the Leeds scene shaped his path. He also shares some under-the-radar artists worth keeping an eye on and hints at what’s next—including a collaborative project that reflects the connections he’s made on the road.
Hit play and dive in.
INTERVIEW
You recently released the ‘Hadal Zone’ EP on Gimme A Break Records. Can you tell us about the creative process behind this project and the influences that shaped your sound on this EP?
This project has actually been a long time in the making. I first started on the title track about two years ago! I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to last minute tweaks (as Gimme A Break know all too well…), but I’m super happy with how it’s turned out. I’ve tried to incorporate my more electro-influenced sounds with more percussive, left field sound design across this EP, so I think taking my time on this has helped the release reflect the full spectrum of sounds I’ve been exploring since I first started on it.
As the founder of Taipan Trax, how do you balance your role as a producer and a label manager? What challenges do you face running an independent label in today’s electronic music scene?
I think they tie quite nicely in with each other, so a lot of the time it doesn’t feel like two projects I have to split my time between. A lot of the time I spend on discovering new music on Soundcloud often ends up doubling up as A&R, finding new producers that fit both my sound as a DJ and the sound of the label. My next project as Phasmid is a collaborative VA on Taipan, so the two have been very much entwined over the last few weeks! I’d say the overarching challenge faced by most online music projects is just keeping up to date with how to promote what you’re doing on socials, as the goalposts seem to be shifting all the time with content types, platforms, and algorithms – the necessary evils that we all have to subscribe to these days!
Your musical journey has led you to explore various genres, including breakbeat, electro, and trance. How do you fuse these styles to create your signature sound?
I’ve always been careful to not limit myself too much in terms of genre – I’ve previously produced Breakbeat, Garage, Electro, Jungle, Drum & Bass, House and Trance and a few bits in between. But I think the way in which you can stay versatile without losing your sound/identity is keeping a consistent atmosphere, regardless of the genre. I try to take elements from different genres, and then tie them together under a consistently menacing, dark and leftfield atmosphere that I think helps to form my sound.
Kessler recently remixed your track ‘Hadal Zone,’ adding his own touch with flanged breaks and his signature groove. What were your thoughts on his interpretation of your track, and how did this collaboration come about?
Kessler has been a long time influence on my productions, so having him on this release was a bit of a full circle moment for me. Really love what he’s done with the track. As it happens, he is a big fan of the original tracks I sample in Hadal Zone, and I especially like the chopped up pattern he has made from the synth melody. The basslines are ridiculous, as expected!
You recently toured Asia, which must have been an incredible experience. What were some of the standout moments from the tour, and how did the audience react to your music?
It’s all a bit surreal to be honest! I’m still making my way across Asia now with a few shows to go, and every single country I’ve played in so far has been incredible. All the promoters have been so welcoming and I’m very lucky to be able to experience these different places through music, which isn’t something I ever expected to happen! I think Japan might be a slight standout in terms of the crowd – they really know how to bring the energy…
As a DJ, how do you approach creating a mix for a platform like Bolting Bits? What key elements do you aim to incorporate to offer listeners a unique experience?
Having put out several premieres from both myself and the label on Bolting Bits, I feel like our sounds align nicely in that respect. I recorded this mix whilst in Singapore, where Wild Pearl radio kindly let me borrow their studio. This mix ended up being a bit of a reflection of the sounds I’ve been playing throughout this tour, and I wanted this mix to be a bit of a slow build in terms of tempo and energy, which is always a nice challenge within an hour long recording. I hope I’ve succeeded!
Leeds has played an important role in your development as an artist. How has the local scene influenced your music, and what opportunities has it provided you?
I owe a lot of where my music is today to living in Leeds. Moving there exposed me to so many different nights, genres and inspirations as I was first starting out with Phasmid as a project. I’ve made a lot of friends through music in Leeds and been able to work with some great people over my time there.
With electronic music constantly evolving, how do you see your sound developing in the coming years? Are there any new genres or techniques you’re eager to explore?
I’m always looking to sharpen my productions. I’m self taught so I still have vast gaps in my production knowledge I’m looking to plug, so I hope to keep improving my sound design. In terms of genres, I always reference Trance when people ask me what genres I focus on, but whilst I play a lot of trance in my sets, I haven’t actually released loads of it, despite having a tonne of unreleased trance tracks in the locker. However, I may have something a bit trancey on the way in the second half of the year…
What’s next for you in 2025? Any upcoming releases, collaborations, or projects that you’re excited about and can share with us?
I’m currently working on an EP on Taipan – it’s a VA, where every track is a collaboration with an artist I have worked with whilst on my travels. Very excited to share more details on this in a couple of weeks! I have a couple more bits in the pipeline later in the year, but you’ll have to wait and see…
