Known for his heavily saturated sound and relentless energy, Diode returns to VTO Records with Radial, his first solo EP for the label and a full-force follow-up to his appearance on Cells Interlinked Vol. 2. Across three brutal cuts, the US-based producer leans into horror-laced atmospheres, twisted basslines and big distorted percussion, crafting a release that’s as bold as it is uncompromising.

We caught up with Diode to talk about the process behind the EP, his evolving sound, and what keeps him moving forward in the underground scene.

Radial is your first solo release on VTO after contributing to Cells Interlinked Vol. 2. What was the vision behind this EP, and how did it come together?

I wanted to come up with a sound that matched Brain Tag from Cells Interlinked Vol 2 with big, thick beats and bass, but with a little more grit and roughness to the sound. Radial Bomb came together, and the lyrical hit Bring the Bomb Squad worked well with the cinematic action team take-over feel. 

There’s a strong cinematic and horror-inspired tension running through Radial Bomb. Was that a conscious theme you wanted to explore, or did it just evolve naturally in the studio? 

Conscious. You can’t go wrong with arps and a moody key when you wanna build up into a ferocious drip. 

You chose to re-release Brain Tag here after it featured on the compilation earlier this year. What makes that track so important to you, and why bring it back now? 

It’s a fun one and a testament to my personality, really. It features a running pitch drop synth that can be considered jumpish while maintaining a serious tone. And the Brain tag lyric was fun to manipulate my voice to sound that way. 

The production across this EP feels deliberately raw and saturated. What are you aiming to capture in that texture, and how does it reflect where you’re at sonically? 

I’m trying to get LOUD. Most of my tracks are really self-tests and journeys in learning. Though I personally don’t like much rock, I feel that I emulate some of that grittiness in some of my tunes and keep that raw energy going. 

You’ve been active since the early 2000s and have worked across multiple labels and styles. How do you think your journey through the darker corners of drum and bass has shaped this current sound?

Yeah, throughout the years, it’s been more of a neuro tech journey. As I said, all of this is me training and learning, and when I’m sitting in the studio and get to do a chair dance to my own song, I’m content. 

What’s your DAW of choice, and what is it about that setup that fits your style and workflow? 

I use FL Studio. I like the workflow of it. It’s very fluid, non-static, and highly editable. 

The US drum and bass scene has always had a different flavour from the UK. Has being based stateside influenced your outlook or sound in a way that you think comes through in the Radial EP? 

I’m not sure there. I wish the world were smaller. But yeah, I guess being so distant from all other producers has kept me on my toes in my search to learn. I spend loads of free time listening, analyzing, and watching a slew of tutorials to learn. And my style, I say, is more loop-influenced. Like the days of MTV music Generator, yet not, I’m making my own clips. 

You’ve mentioned before that you avoid chasing trends. How do you stay focused creatively when the wider scene shifts so quickly around you?

I try to make tracks that will mix with today’s hitters while still maintaining a balance of originality and intrigue. 

With Radial now out in the world, what’s next? More VTO releases? Any collaborations or remixes we should be keeping an ear out for? 

I’m not stopping, I’ll say that. I’ve got collabs in the works with Subminderz, Gntlmn, Bad Syntax, Knoxz, Faux Realz, J Augustus, Burner Broa remixes for Inerpois, the Fi5th, J Augustus and Astro, a split release on Dirtbox, and a solo release coming on Warlock Audio, along with dancefloor releases coming on Manifest. 

You’ve clearly got a packed release schedule ahead, with no signs of slowing down.
To close things out… 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?

Noisia - Believe. The title of the track is important, and the flow of the track's drums mixed with that bassline has yet to be touched by anyone. It’s truly a unique masterpiece. 

Massive thanks to Diode for taking the time to chat. Radial is out now on VTO Records via Beatport and Spotify, with full digital release following on 8 August 2025.

Buy Radial EP by Diode