Ukrainian producer CrucifyMe is making waves with his debut EP Max-Tac Roll on VTO Records. Known for his raw energy, resilience, and cinematic edge, he spoke with us about friendship, discipline, Ukraine, and the influences that shape his sound.

Max-Tac Roll marks your debut with VTO Records. How did the connection with the label first come about?

The connection came through my good mate James from Magnetude. I’m very productive and write a lot, so sometimes I’d send him batches of tracks. One day I sent him loads, he was blown away, and offered to help send my music out to some strong labels. Later on he asked me for a favour, and of course I said yes – friendship means a lot to me. That’s when he introduced me to Lee, and everything started moving. Lee is just an absolute top bloke. I’ve never met a more caring and down-to-earth manager – I’ve got a lot of love and respect for him.

The EP brings together four tracks: Moneymaker, Dogfight, Hoover, and Playschool Poppin Pals. Which of these gave you the biggest challenge in the studio, and which one surprised you most in the end?

To be honest, writing a track itself isn’t really a struggle for me. I like to experiment with sub-genres, so I’m quite versatile and can put ideas together quickly. As for results – it’s hard to say. I forget most of my track names, let alone what’s inside them. Sometimes I’ll find an old track and go, “Wait… did I really make this?”

Your music often feels cinematic, almost like it tells a story. Was there a particular narrative or vision guiding this release?

Most of the time I come up with the narrative or vision after the tracks are written. I’ll finish a tune and then think about what it might be associated with, and that’s how the names usually come about. The only exception is liquid funk. I dedicate all my liquid tunes to my wife, and those ones always have a deeper meaning from the start.

You come from Yuzhnoukrainsk, and your journey has taken you from football to drum and bass. How has that shift in discipline and focus shaped the way you approach producing?

Football and sport actually helped me a lot in drum & bass. Thanks to sport, I’ve built strong discipline – all my mates would tell you the same. I believe discipline and persistence will always beat talent. Because of my mindset, I wake up every day at 4:30 to write tracks before heading to work (I work at a nuclear power plant). It’s become a ritual for me – just me on my own, fully focused. Music has turned into my dream job, where I see myself as a professional always pushing forward.

When you sit down to write, does the act of making music feel more like escape, resistance, expression, or perhaps all of these at once?

When I sit down to write, I set myself clear goals. I’m pragmatic and result-driven, so I ask myself: what label am I aiming for? What genre do I want right now? What will bring the biggest payoff? I make a plan and get on with it. For example, if I want to reach Blackout or Eatbrain, I’ll write four to six tracks with that in mind. Whether they take them or not isn’t up to me, but I always set the goal.

Who have been the biggest influences on your sound, both within drum and bass and outside of it?

Within drum & bass, Billain and Malux had a huge impact on me. I’d listen and think: how can something be this interesting and this complex at the same time? The amount of craft and creativity in each track is incredible. Outside drum & bass, my biggest influence has been The Prodigy. I grew up listening to them on tapes and CDs. Liam Howlett is my hero – always in my heart.

Your tracks are already being supported on platforms such as Noisia’s Vision Radio. How did it feel to hear your music broadcast on such a respected stage?

At first I was obsessed with getting into every podcast, every label, making sure people were talking about me. My alias even reflects that – CrucifyMe, as in: criticise me, talk about me. So when I first got played on Vision Radio (big thanks to the Vision crew), I couldn’t believe it. Noisia playing my track? It felt like a dream. I couldn’t sit still, just wanted to tell everyone. These days I take it more calmly, but it still means a lot every time respected people appreciate my work.

What should listeners expect next from CrucifyMe after Max-Tac Roll? Are you already working on more releases, collaborations, or even live sets?

I’m always working on new releases. I’ve got music coming on Phase Records, Sinful Maze, Yamatai Records, Delta9 Recordings, Trust Audio and a few more. Can’t give away all the secrets just yet.

And finally, if you could take just one drum and bass track, by any artist from any era, to a desert island, what would it be and why?

That’s an easy one: Halogenix – Independent. I checked today, it’s got 4,778,855 plays. Well, I’m telling you now – four million of those are mine. Jokes aside, it’s such a moving, bittersweet track – it really reflects my inner side and my sentimental nature. The ending is perfect for standing alone on a beach, watching the sun go down.

A note of thanks from CrucifyMe

I’d like to thank you for giving me the space here – I really appreciate it🙏
And I want to thank my good friend Lee for always looking out for me. I truly value everything you do, mate 👑
And of course, I want to send love to my wife – I love you ❤️.

You are always welcome on Drum and Bass UK, CrucifyMe!

With Max-Tac Roll, he delivers a debut that blends discipline, creativity and resilience into four tracks of uncompromising drum & bass. It is the product of early mornings, persistence and an unwavering commitment to his craft. As more releases follow across respected labels, CrucifyMe’s name is set to carry further weight in the scene, marking him out as a producer to watch closely in the months ahead.

Readers who wish to support humanitarian efforts can do so via the Together With Ukraine compilation on Bandcamp, which brings the global drum and bass community together in aid of Ukraine.