In Conversation with Ekwols: Sleeves Up and the Future of Neurogoth Drum & Bass

Ekwols has been carving out a unique space in drum and bass, merging raw energy with deeply personal, politically charged themes. Since signing exclusively to Evolution Chamber in 2023, he’s delivered a series of powerful releases, blending his signature vocals with razor-sharp production. His latest single Sleeves Up, dropped on 28th February 2025, marks another bold statement—an aggressive, uncompromising track that channels pure defiance. We caught up with him to discuss the inspiration behind Sleeves Up, his creative approach, and what’s next. 

Sleeves Up feels like a rallying cry—there’s a real sense of urgency and raw emotion in this track. What was the mindset going into it, and what inspired its creation? 

Thanks for having me guys! Yeah absolutely it is intended as a Rallying Cry for anyone that needs it, whenever they need it.. It's actually based on a mantra i use when it feels like the world is spiralling with negativity and the negativity is winning.. we all face obstacles, challenges, moments where we’re crushed to the floor and this one is about taking a moment, gathering your resilience, rolling up your sleeves, getting back up to fight another day and giving the world 2 fingers. 

Your music consistently carries strong messages against the establishment, and you weave your own vocals into every track. How important is it for you to use drum and bass as a vehicle for social and political expression? 

Yeah for me personally its’ of the utmost importance. Music has shaped every aspect of my life since I was a kid and through social, political and deeply personal messages in the music I love, I’ve explored many ideas and approaches to life that I never would have without those songs. I am in many ways a product of the music I’ve loved. So I hold music and it’s messages in the highest regards and know the power it can have to impact peoples lives and communities for the better. For that reason I always want to say something useful or positive with what I create or it kind of feels like an opportunity lost you know… So absolutely! I want to write about finding your worth in a system that views you as faceless labor, i want to write about the mindlessness of racism, or the pains and grip of addiction and I hope it resonates or at least provokes some personal investigation on these topics. However, I also put these messages out there as part of my own catharsis helping me to understand my own emotions, opinions and morals, it just feels the right thing to do for me. 

Since signing with Evolution Chamber in early 2023, you’ve been making serious waves. How has being part of the label shaped your artistic evolution? 

Oh Massively! I 100% wouldn’t have written the music I’ve written, performed at the events I have, or had the immense fun I’ve had doing so without the support of the EC team and friendship with each of the guys individually. I cannot stress enough how much they have helped nurture me as an artist and a person, they’ve changed my life and I love them all to bits. I think though the most special thing about Evolution Chamber is the fact we put the music first, it’s all about the artistic vision of a track and serving that… for a weird gothic punk neuro crustie like me, they have given me the safe space and support to be myself and that has changed my own personal evolution massively.

Alongside your solo releases, you’ve worked on remixes for iconic names like Keaton & Hive and collaborated with Zardonic. How do you approach reinterpreting other artists' work while maintaining your own sonic identity? 

It’s always fun to do so.. Coming from the punk scene back in the day, doing a remix feels a little bit like doing a cover of a song.. I want to almost replicate the original but do it with my own style and usually try to add some extra aggression and energy if it’s possible. At some point during the process, something triggers some other inspiration or new ideas that are not taken from the original.. I love this because I know these exact ideas never would have arrived unless I was working with those stems and the love for the original track and now the process has given birth to something else fresh. I think it’s the melting of these ideas with the original that can give it my own personal identity. 

You’ve performed at some of the biggest events in the scene, from Darkshire in the Czech Republic to Blackout in the Netherlands. How do you adapt your music for a live setting, and what’s been your most unforgettable set so far? 

Well I often make edits or use just specific parts of my own material for DJ sets, and for my set last year I had 3 breakdowns which took the crowd on a dialogue journey throughout the set with a beginning, middle and end. I wrote some musical parts specifically for this as well. 

I’m still coming down from these shows last year, and I think these two were both career highlights for different reasons.. Just attending Darkshire is something every raver has to experience at least once in their life, the attention to detail is out of this world and the environment is like being transported into a glorious horror movie and as a massive horror fan, to play there and have such a sick crowd for a solo set was just an incredible night for me, i finally felt at home haha! Blackout XL was incredible as it was a B2B with Magnetude, something that I never dreamed I’d ever get to do, let alone at a Blackout event.. The venue and raver vibe there is very special as the main room is huge but long and flat so it still feels very in your face and the energy is insane. I’m still getting the hairs on my neck standing up on end thinking about these! 

Neurogoth is a term that’s often associated with your sound and aesthetic. How would you define this movement, and where do you see it heading within drum and bass? 

Absolutely, I think it’s a term that started aesthetically but now it feels like it is taking a deeper meaning for me anyway.. Stylistically it’s a high energy mix of the raw emotion, melancholy and aggression of gothic aesthetics with Neuro dnb. But on top of that it’s a community of ravers, misfits and creatives that embrace the darker, more cinematic and cathartic side of making this energetic and dark type of art. It’s all about personal and raw dark expression. For a long time I’ve told people I love music and art that is right on the edge of life and death and thats what it sounds, feels and looks like to me. I hope to see the community grow and see more artists come through with a love for the macabre, sharing their own unique experiences through aggressive, fast and dark music. 

Sleeves Up has a relentless, almost primal energy to it. Was there a specific moment during production where you felt everything click into place? 

Yeah I wanted to do something with a different feel to the past few singles I’d put out which were straight up in your face aggression. I was thinking “what still has that energy but feels different”.. and the triplet style war drum of Sleeves Up still has an upfront and in your face energy but allows for such a different groove and ultimately different type of track. I had the drop looping for a while and although it was cool, it wasn’t until I had the vocals in there that it felt the track had a heart and the rest of the thing wrote itself pretty quickly after that. 

The artwork and visual aesthetic surrounding your releases are just as striking as the music itself. How important is the visual side of your artistry in conveying your message? 

100%, the artwork for me is as important as the music because message and authenticity is everything as an artist. Coming from a long time in the DIY punk scene where you do everything yourselves as a band or through the community, I feel like I’m missing out on really being able to convey the message of the track and tell a story if I dont have at least some hand in the artwork and visual representation for it. Secondly, it also makes me as an artist feel more comfortable putting out artwork that represents and aligns with me personally. I am wearing my heart on my sleeve and the artwork is all an extension of that. 

Drum and bass continues to evolve at a rapid pace. How do you see your music fitting into the wider landscape of the genre, and what do you hope to contribute to its future? 

I agree, the production level is insane at the moment and the young generation are pushing new boundaries and producing at a level Ill never reach.. And I love it! If there is one thing about DNB it’s that it continually evolves and new branches sprout with each generation and advances in technology. To me that’s why it’s the most exciting genre in the world. I hope that my contribution over time will be one that encourages others to bring their own personal experiences, pains, sadness and frustrations into their own music, helping people through hard times and bringing misfits together. After all thats what music is about! 

What’s next for Ekwols in 2025? Can we expect more singles, collaborations, or even a larger project on the horizon? 

2025 is shaping up to be extremely busy, I have a few more singles in the pipeline, a healthy dose of remixes scheduled to come out this year and a few collaborations including one mega-collaboration which I cant talk too much about yet… but rest assured there will be plenty of new music from me in 2025… Sleeves Up, Im ready let’s go! 

Thanks to Ekwols for giving us a glimpse into the energy and vision behind Sleeves Up. With its raw intensity and unfiltered emotion, this track is set to make a serious impact when it drops via Evolution Chamber. Stay locked for more from Ekwols as he continues to push boundaries and carve his own path in the drum and bass scene.