The AC13 Blueprint of the Emphatic Drum & Bass Sound

As AC13 gears up for his next major move with Alpha Circuit, we sat down with him to discuss his creative influences, the birth of his label, and his vision for its future.

AC13’s music has always been synonymous with raw power, exhilarating emotion, and an unshakable groove that’s built for the dancefloor. From his early days in 2019, the young producer quickly made waves with a high-octane, genre-bending style that’s equally capable of setting off a mosh pit as it is of pulling on your heartstrings. His music, unmistakably bold and brimming with character, found a home on some of the most respected labels in the game, including Critical Music, Born On Road, Soulvent Records, and DnB Allstars, which has solidified his reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the global drum & bass movement.

But AC13’s story isn’t just about personal success. It’s also about building something bigger. That raw, experimental, and forward-thinking energy that defines his own music has now been channeled into his very own imprint, Alpha Circuit. A label born out of a desire to push boundaries and spotlight cutting-edge sounds, Alpha Circuit debuted with a bang through AC13’s own track, ‘FAFO’ (short for “F*** Around and Find Out”), a heavy, unrelenting banger that set the tone for what was to come.

Since then, Alpha Circuit has welcomed a growing roster of talent, including the likes of DJ Limited, Bennie, and Chennerz, each bringing their own unique edge while staying true to the label’s ethos of innovation, grit, and dancefloor dynamism. The releases have showcased just how wide the label’s sonic reach can be, from techy rollers to deep, atmospheric cuts and everything in between.

Now, with Alpha Circuit off to a powerful start, AC13 stands on the brink of its next evolution. As the label grows and its identity takes shape, he caught up with us to reflect on the journey so far, how the idea for the label came together, the creative direction it’s heading in, and what listeners can expect as the story of Alpha Circuit continues to unfold.

TFword: Thanks for taking the time out to chat with us. We’re nearly halfway through 2025, how has the year been for you so far with your music and Alpha circuit?
AC13: It’s been the best yet for releasing music, in my opinion! 5 releases through the AC13 project and moving onto our 10th release for Alpha Circuit. It’s been non stop so far!

We also did an awesome UK/EU tour with my new project with Reaper ‘Alpha:Omega’ including 2 massive stadium shows that were absolutely wicked. Strong start to the year and we’ve got so much more to come!

TF: Your sound has always been high-energy, but it’s also evolved a lot. How would you describe your musical journey over the last couple of years?
AC13: I tried quite a few new things last year, however I found myself come back full circle to that heavier, more melodic style of jump up that I really enjoy. That kind of sound seems to really have stuck and I really identify with it!

TF: Where do you usually draw inspiration from? Clubs, other genres, film, everyday life?
AC13: I find that performing regularly puts me in a creative mindset. It pushes me to make music that I would want to hear in a rave, therefore I make music with a purpose. I also really enjoy going to live shows, specifically metal gigs. That also really inspires my creativity!

TF: Coming to the label side of things, what inspired you to launch your own label, Alpha Circuit? Was there a turning point that made you feel it was time?
AC13: I think mostly it came around as a passion project. With the label, our goal is to really connect with the artists on a personal level and create a family environment for those involved!

We had wanted to do it years ago but it wasn’t the right time, didn’t want to rush into it for the sake of it and fail. My business partner, George, really taught me that patience is key with these things and I couldn’t have done it without him!

TF: Was this a long-term goal or something that came from wanting more creative control over your music?
AC13: I wouldn’t say that was the main provocative. It’s more to be able to give others more control with their music, to give others a place that feels like home where they can release their music how they want!

TF: How has having your own label changed how you think about or create music?
AC13: It’s opened my eyes to how nowadays it’s quite hard to sign music that isn’t seen as a quote unquote “hit”. We believe in the artists and their project. We don’t just want to put out those hits as every artist has a goldmine of music that gets overlooked due to it not being part of that category. We want to push artists projects for what they truly are as a whole, releasing more of their underground and less known tracks!

TF: Is there a particular sound you’re pursuing for Alpha Circuit, or are you intentionally keeping it open and experimental?
AC13: We have tried a bunch of stuff so far, and the stuff that has the best reception is that UK DJ tool sound. That seems to be what the people love! However, with that said, we are extremely open with what we release. This year we have some pretty cool and out there stuff coming so keep your eyes peeled.

TF: Do you see the label as a reflection of your own sound, or more of a space for a wider sonic palette in drum & bass?
AC13: For me the label isn’t about sonic specifics. It’s about the vibe we provide, whether through the art style, parties that we throw or general approach to the process of releasing the music. I love that we have created our own bubble of artists that we can push and help grow as a whole, everyone involved are people that we have been friends with for years or new pals we have accrued along the way. A solid unit of absolute legends!

TF: ‘FAFO’ set the tone for the label in a big way. What was the vision behind that track?
AC13: To be honest, this was kind of a tester to get the label on its feet! A throwaway track of mine as we were testing the waters. Weirdly enough, I’m not actually a massive fan of that track but we have to start somewhere! And it was a safer option than releasing another artist for the first one whilst we tested things out at the label!

TF: Since then, Alpha Circuit has already supported artists like DJ Limited, Bennie, and Chennerz. Talk us through the experience of working with such a wide range of artists?
AC13: We are super grateful that people have put their faith in us as a young label to adopt their music. It’s this kind of faith and trust in the process that has really brought us all together as a family. We want to be a label that you can call up any time and be like: ‘look, I have these tracks, I want them out by the end of the year and this is how I want to do it’. That’s the kind of attitude we want! and that’s what we aim to provide.

TF: What’s next for Alpha Circuit in 2025? Any upcoming releases or artists we should watch out for?
AC13: We have an EP confirmed from one of the coolest artists in the scene, in my opinion. Can’t confirm who yet but it’s gonna be huge.

I’ve also just done a remix of Toxinates latest release too, which we aim to release before the year is out. Watch this space!

TF: Are there any dream collaborations or artists you’d love to have on the label?
AC13: Speaking of collabs, for our 13th release on the label we’re doing an AC13 and friends collab ep. We already have a few of the tracks down and ready, still a bunch more to come. I’m super excited for this mini project!

TF: Do you plan to take Alpha Circuit on the road with curated label nights or festival stages?
AC13: Yep! We have done 2 label nights already and a boat party in Brighton. Due to the success of the last one, we also have another boat party in the works before summer ends!

We also have pitched a stage takeover at a certain festival next year however I can’t reveal that just yet. Exciting stuff!

TF: Where do you see Alpha Circuit in the next few years?
AC13: We plan on going big, better and harder with every release. We want to stay true to the UK underground and continue to push this sound!

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