The Visionaries Mix Series is more than just a nod to the past. Conceived by Cyphersound Cartel, it's a living archive designed to document and celebrate the pioneers who shaped Northern Ireland's drum and bass scene across the 1990s and 2000s. These were the DJs, MCs, and promoters who carried the movement through pirate radio airwaves, club nights, and record bags, laying the groundwork for the next generation of producers and selectors.

A Scene Built from Scratch

While London and Bristol dominated the early jungle conversation, Belfast was building its own world of basslines and breakbeats. In a city defined by division, music became common ground. Through small clubs, basement sessions, and hand-to-hand mixtapes, the scene grew. It was a labour of love - no sponsorships, no big promoters, just dedication and the desire to play the freshest sounds possible. Cyphersound Cartel's new project aims to capture that energy and preserve it for the digital age.

At the heart of the series is its mission: to give voice to the innovators who kept the Northern Irish sound alive during an era when access to new music was limited and community meant everything. Each mix acts as a time capsule, connecting past and present through pure sound.

Volume One: Kato - Technology 25

It's only right that the first instalment comes from Kato. A name synonymous with Belfast's underground, he helped anchor the scene with his sharp technical skills and deep knowledge of jungle and drum and bass. A DMC finalist, Kato's turntablism was second nature - scratches cut clean through rolling breaks, while his mixing brought intensity and flow to every dancefloor he touched.

His work behind the decks was matched by his efforts off them. Kato played a key role in nights such as Overload, Flava, Solid, and Drumology - events that defined an era. Through these nights, he helped build bridges across the local community, giving young heads somewhere to belong. He also co-hosted the pirate station Flava 105FM, broadcasting drum and bass twice weekly to an eager Belfast audience. Long before streaming or social media, this was how a scene sustained itself.

The debut mix, Technology 25, distils all of that energy into one seamless session. It's not just a set - it's a statement, a reminder that skill and selection are timeless.

Honouring the Pioneers

The Visionaries Mix Series will continue with a line-up that reads like a who’s who of Northern Ireland’s underground history: Judge Dredd, Digiac, Lady Cheung, Reload, Cappo Regime, Hago Vara, Chris Nez, Lady Grew, Beckett, and Undadog. While Calibre is not currently confirmed to take part, his name remains an integral part of the story – a nod to his Belfast roots and the lasting influence he’s had on the liquid drum and bass sound worldwide.

These artists were the backbone of local culture. They played to packed rooms in venues that no longer exist, cut dubplates on shoestring budgets, and kept pushing forward when there was no commercial spotlight. Cyphersound Cartel's founder Stuart describes the project as “a massive archive from the dons and don-esses of the Northern Ireland DnB scene.” It's both a celebration and a recognition of contributions too often overlooked in mainstream histories.

Reframing the Narrative

Drum and bass has always been a story of evolution and resilience. While major UK cities had their labels and media platforms, regional movements often thrived in the margins. Belfast's producers and DJs built something raw, independent, and distinctly their own. The Visionaries Mix Series highlights that - giving context to the rise of Northern Ireland's sound while reminding listeners how vital local scenes are to the genre's health.

Projects like this also serve a wider purpose: to educate. For younger fans who know the global stars but not the foundations, these mixes are a portal to understanding where the music came from. For veterans, they are an emotional reconnection to a time of crates, flyers, and late-night sessions where it all began.

From Local to Legacy

In recent years, there's been a renewed interest in jungle's roots and drum and bass's early eras. The Visionaries Mix Series fits perfectly into that cultural moment, but it does so with authenticity rather than nostalgia. The focus isn't on romanticising the past - it's on reclaiming it, archiving it, and reintroducing it to a world where digital accessibility often erases local history.

Each new mix will drop via Cyphersound Cartel's platforms, including Facebook and Mixcloud, where listeners can stream and share the sessions. Volume One, Technology 25, sets a powerful tone. The mixes to come promise even more depth - from raw jungle pressure to early techstep innovation - all drawn from Northern Ireland's own pioneers.

In an era where global recognition often depends on algorithms, it's refreshing to see a project that prioritises heritage and community over metrics. The Visionaries Mix Series is more than content - it's contribution. It ensures that the names who built Northern Ireland's drum and bass scene will be remembered not just in memories, but in music itself.

Listen to V1: Kato - Technology 25 on Mixcloud and follow Cyphersound Cartel on Facebook for upcoming volumes.