As the DnB scene diversifies itself in terms of both style and inclusivity, we felt that it was only right to shine a light on one of the scenes brightest sparks. EJ Kitto is a rising DJ, musician, producer and vocalist in the epicentre of the burgeoning scene. A strong advocate of the queer community, the quickly rising creative has performed to thousands at cherished venues like The Warehouse Project, Hospitality and Printworks, and recently created a Drum & Bass Mix for BBC Radio 1.
EJ is a part of the DnB Allstars family, which since it began in 2017 has become the largest online drum & bass community around. On 17th September, the talent will play at the DnB Allstars Festival at Gunnersbury Park to thousands of excited fans, a sign of the fruitful growth of the scene and of Kitto individually. Tickets for the highly anticipated event can be found here.
We caught up with the rising polymath to discuss the forthcoming festival, finding her sound, and what the future holds.
Listen to EJ Kitto’s latest release, “Play Around”…
Read the exclusive interview below…
Hey EJ Kitto! How are you? What does a day in your life look like for you currently?
Hey, I’m really good, thank you! Hope you guys are doing well. Ahh a day in my life… Well most of my work week is made up of Managing DnB Allstars’ label, it keeps me busy and I love learning about the different stages that go into releasing music. I take Wednesday’s off to work on my own production/writing and recording vocals. And the weekends are mostly DJing! It’s fun that I create music and also get to see the behind the scenes cogs that go into releasing music.
How would you describe your sound? And how did you first fall in love with drum and bass?
My sound I feel is quite playful, my lyrics are mostly about cheeky women I have been involved with lol. Sound wise as a whole I try to make a variety of different sub genres of Drum and Bass. Some of my favourite tracks I’ve ever made have been on the dance floor side but I’ve also made rollers, liquid, minimal and jump up that I’ve loved. In my mixes I love to play almost every sub-genre of Drum and Bass, to create a sort of a journey.
I started listening to Drum and Bass when I was 15 after my friends started to listen to it. I couldn’t get enough of it and started to research tracks myself to add to my playlists. I heard Chase & Status – “Time” (feat. Delilah) and fell in love with Delilah’s voice. I then saw her perform live with Chase & Status at Love Box when I was 18, and decided there and then I wanted to sing on Drum and Bass and do that as my profession. I’m 26 now and it’s crazy thinking back to then and how far I’ve come, little 18 year old me would be proud.
Who have been major inspirations to you musically and personally throughout your career so far?
Oh there’s quite a few, my friends are honestly so supportive, it blows my mind I have such caring and knowledgeable people around me. We all help each other with everything and I’m so grateful for that. Industry-wise there’s some phenomenal vocalists in the DnB Industry, Charlie Brix and Emily Makis inspire me so much with their melodies, harmonies and lyrical stories. Producer-wise I’ve always been a massive fan of Camo & Krooked, their production just blows my mind with how clean and thought out every tune is. They are wizards. Out of the DnB scene I’m incredibly inspired by Banks and Kehlani, the way they both are authentically themselves no matter what is stunning.
We’re super excited for your upcoming gig at the DnB Allstars festival at Gunnersbury Park! What does this opportunity mean to you?
To be a part of the first DnB Allstars Festival is amazing, I’m really excited to see how the festival will look. The DnB Allstars events team create an audio and visual experience at every show and I think, for ravers, that’s a really important part to why they love them. So much has gone into putting this festival together and I personally love a London crowd. It’s my favourite crowd to perform in front of because for me the energy is unmatched. I’m playing B2B with Ben Snow at the festival which will be wicked as the last time we played together was at the DnB Allstars Tobacco Docks after party at E1.
As an LGBTQ+ champion, how do you use your platform to empower and raise awareness?
Sharing accurate information on my story about LGBTQ+ issues, history, rights, and challenges, I hope helps to dispels myths and fosters understanding. Rave culture was built by queer communities and I think more people should know about the roots of this scene. A beautiful movement called Unorthodox is the first LGBTQ+ Drum and Bass movement who have created a community for people to feel safe to express themselves and bring queer people together. Being a Bi woman I try to share as much on Bi erasure as possible. So many of us feel the need to validate our sexuality, not knowing if we’re just bad lesbian who aren’t ‘queer enough’. But realistically just being fluid with your sexuality and spreading awareness is the best thing to do. I’m very open about my sexuality and address it where appropriate on socials and in person to empower others and raise awareness. I’ve always pushed the message that my inbox is always open for others and I speak to a fair few LGBTQ+ people on the regular who ask for advice or most of all want to talk about fashion and make up (I love it), it’s all about creating a safer space for everyone to feel inclusive.
What is one bit of advice you would share with someone who is entering the LGBTQ+ UK scene as a female DJ?
Most importantly, be you. It’s so important to stay true to yourself in an industry that thrives on individuality. Social media can get overwhelming and make you feel like you have to stay in a box with ‘what you’re meant to do’. But people love personality and connection and I think it’s important to be you on social media and on stage – if you’re comfortable with it.
What do you want your audience to feel when they stream your music?
I hope they connect to what I write about. Everything I write is about what I was going through at that time, heartbreak and a lot of mental health traits as I have ADHD.
What is your opinion of the current drum and bass UK scene?
I think it is thriving in every aspect! Seeing names like Goddard, Vibe Chemistry and Turno in the charts is incredible. This is such an awesome time for the scene, it is full of ravers all listening/dancing to a type of music that brings people together. I get various messages from fans who have met at shows or festivals I’ve played at and now they have a new group of friends. There’s actually one group of friends that met during one of my sets and now they’ve said they’re friends for life… and that stuff gives me happy tears. Also, there are SO many incredible underground producers thriving at the moment. I’ve had various ‘face melter’ tracks sent to me by smaller producers recently, and I’m so gassed to see where things go for them.
Do you have a standout track you have created that signifies a career highlight for you?
Yeah this would be “LMK”! It’s about having ADHD and mainly hyper fixating on a lover when they show you less attention. I released it earlier this year and it was the first track I released on my own label which was such an achievement for me… because that stuff is terrifying haha.
Who would be a dream collaboration of yours to work with?
Ahh there’s so many, but I think I would disintegrate if I got to sing on a tune with Camo & Krooked, as I said before their production is insane and it would be a dream come true to create with them.
What does the rest of 2023 look like for you? Anything exciting in the pipeline?
I’m cracking down on my production at the moment and have been working on a few new tracks that I can’t wait to start testing out. I’ve also been working on a bootleg of “Mis-Teeq – Scandalous” with Klimate, that I tested out at Boomtown… The reaction was insane, so I’m excited to get that finished and sing on some new bits I have in the pipeline. I have two more festivals lined up before the season ends, ‘Om & Bass Festival which is a spiritual & dance music festival and DnB Allstars Festival at Gunnersbury Park. But club season is about to start so I’m really excited for the gigs I have lined up to play.