Drex174 may be a new name on the Metalheadz roster, but he’s no newcomer to the craft. Formerly known as B-PLEXX, the Bristol-based producer has spent years refining his sound in the shadows before emerging with Otaku EP, a five-track release so fully formed it was signed in one go. We caught up with him to talk about rebranding, getting the call from Goldie, and rediscovering a love for production after time away from the scene. 

First off, congratulations on the Metalheadz debut. Goldie personally reaching out after hearing your demo is a rare thing. What was that moment like for you? 

To be honest, it didn't feel real, and still doesn’t now! Certainly a moment I won't ever forget. Going from hearing his voice on my phone when watching Instagram to hearing it in my ear on a call was very weird for me, but very cool, especially in all he was saying about the demo I sent, kept saying to him I can't believe how well it went. 

Otaku EP carries that unmistakable Metalheadz energy but with a modern twist. What sounds or ideas were guiding you when putting the EP together?

I was taking a break from music for around a year as I fell out of love with it when the new Rufige Kru album dropped, Alpha Omega. When listening to tracks like ‘Secret Handshake', The Guardianz and People and Places’, it sparked a new desire to get back to writing again as it was a refreshing sound away from the same old same old you hear in the charts week in and week out. From there, I started to dabble in producing jungle, a new style I've not made before, and the 5 tracks were born. 

All five tracks were signed straight away. Were they always written with Metalheadz in mind, or did the EP come together after the fact? 

Yes, when writing the music I knew I wanted these to be signed on Headz! Although, naturally, I wasn't expecting them to all be snapped up like they were. The fact that all 5 were, blew my mind, and since then, I have been writing religiously again. 

Drex174 is a new chapter in your journey, following years of work under B-PLEXX. What led to the rebrand, and what does Drex174 represent creatively? 

I reached all of my goals as B-PLEXX, as crazy as they were when i first started and always joked I'd retire when I hit 10k followers on Soundcloud as a joke with friends, that came around. I guess things naturally came to an end for that name, I wanted to make a new alias and was toying with the idea as I liked the idea of staying under the radar with no expectations, but guess that's out the window now. The funny thing was when i was on the phone to Goldie he made a joke about the name saying I sounded like a computer technician. We laughed about it, so i guess that showed me that a rebrand was needed and with being on Headz and having so much creative freedom it was only right to put the other alias to bed. 

There’s a strong sense of control and atmosphere across the EP. Have your production habits changed much in recent years, or is this the sound you've always been aiming for?

As an artist, I've always tried to be diverse, you’d not catch me making the same song over and over. I've made all sorts, but mostly to follow trends, as most up-and-coming artists feel like they have to do to fit in. This EP was something new; I started again, wiped my sample library, and started building a new one. The atmosphere was what caught my attention, and I wanted to use it as the focus for my new sound. 

Your earlier work as B-PLEXX got support on BBC Radio Devon, and now you’ve landed on Metalheadz. How has that transition felt, moving from grassroots recognition to being part of such a respected label?

Radio Devon back in the day, I still remember, my mates and I all waited patiently and tuned in, this was a huge thing for me, even if I did send them music to play. Then, years later, featuring on Kool FM for Headz! So the transition from then to being a Metalheadz artist has been a cool journey, even if I never thought I'd get this far. 

What’s your current studio setup like? Are you working fully in the box, or mixing in hardware as part of your process? 

I dabbled in hardware, owning a Moog Sub37 and using a Virus TI a few times, but I've always preferred in-the-box stuff. I found it helped me get ideas down faster, and over the years, it's become what I'm used to. I created this EP on the sofa, listening to it through my headphones. Although I have Adam T7v’s and other equipment, along with a decent studio setup, I'm currently setting up again after a break. 

With Otaku EP having landed on 1 August via Metalheadz, is there more in the pipeline already? Any upcoming collaborations or follow-up projects you can talk about? 

Yes, and everywhere else on the 8th! To be honest, the words Goldie and Ant TC1 have shared with me have cut me loose from the creative block and confidence as an artist. I've been writing like a madman again.

I'm currently working on an album that Goldie asked me to start on during our first phone call, and I'm also collaborating on an EP with Ant TC1, which is a huge honour. Additionally, I'm producing some music with the Legend Conrad Subs! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have sent the demo in.

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? 

One track that stands out is Pendulum's Hold Your Colour. What an amazing song on an incredible album! It would be between that and any of the others on there. Where my love for DNB was born!!

Huge thanks to Drex174 for taking the time to speak with us. Otaku EP is out now on Metalheadz, available digitally from 1 August 2025 and hitting all other platforms on 8 August.