The influential Dutch DJ and producer has called time on his career playing shows and writing music as Icicle, to take place at the end of 2023.
The conversations around drum & bass have recently seen heights like never before. Tiësto and David Guetta playing tunes from Metrik and Gray at Ultra Music Festival’s mainstage has got everyone thinking, “Is it time we explode?” While the only way drum & bass sees is up, 2023 will see an extremely influential name making an exit from the scene.
After a pioneering 15-year career as Icicle, the Dutch DJ and producer has announced the departure of his drum & bass alias at the end of this year. Known for being one of the most technically advanced and highly-respected producers within drum & bass and in electronic music as a whole, Icicle put in a creative shift for the genre, making it more expansive and accessible to listeners from other forms of bass music.
Taking inspiration from the intricate drum patterns of Photek & Source Direct, Icicle made his debut in 2007 with Avalanche Recordings, followed by releases on Fokuz Recordings, Critical Music, Med School, and many others, marking a sensational debut year.
As Icicle’s seminal catalog kept growing, so did his tech funk style of music, which was heavily championed by Goldie, LTJ Bukem, Fabio, London Elektricity, D-Bridge, DJ Flight, and Commix, to name a few. Icicle then went on to cement his reputation as one of the scene’s finest exports after the release of ‘Under The Ice’ and ‘Entropy’ LP in 2011 and 2014, respectively.
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Eight years after his second album, Icicle released his third studio album, ‘Post,’ in 2022. However, with the album came a cryptic message of the release being the Dutchman’s final one. After months of his fans wondering what it meant, Icicle has finally put a lid on the rumors by calling time on his drum & bass alias by the end of 2023.
Speaking about his departure, Icicle said, “It’s time for me to hang up my hat and retire from playing shows and writing music as Icicle at the end of 2023. I’ve had an incredible journey and feel very grateful for the places I got to travel, the people I got to meet, and the music I got to write. I’m sure I’ll miss it, but my career as Icicle is coming to a natural close. I did what I wanted to do, and it’s time for new avenues.”
However, Icicle has ensured that the farewell, despite being sad, won’t be a painful one. The final goodbye from the inventive producer will include a run of shows along with a remix package of his latest album, which will help us endure his exit.
After fifteen of creating, and inspiring numerous producers along the way, Icicle leaves the scene with an unparalleled legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
Explore Icicle’s full catalog here:
