Fresh from a huge Australia and New Zealand tour and a packed summer of European festival dates, UK drum and bass producer Subsonic is showing no signs of slowing down. With support from heavyweights like Dom Dolla and Dimension, and a growing catalogue of club and streaming favourites, his latest single Where You Are featuring Aya Anne drops on his own label, Frequencies. We caught up with him to talk about the track, his approach to production, running a label, and what’s next.

Let’s start with the new single. Where You Are feels like an emotional step up while still keeping that signature dancefloor energy. How did the track come together, and what was the writing process like with Aya Anne?

It was actually such a quick process. Aya Anne DM’d me on Instagram with some demos, and when I heard Where You Are, it instantly sparked an idea in my head. I’m pretty sure I cooked up the basis of the tune in a couple of hours with the acapella. Obviously, from there it was months of refining, but the main idea has remained the same since.

You’ve had a seriously busy summer following a massive Australia and New Zealand tour. What impact has that run of shows had on you, both musically and personally?

Super busy - I live for it. That tour was my fourth time out there in both countries, but I have to say, this most recent one is definitely at the top of the list. I toured with two of my best mates for a month (K Motionz and CK3), so that was a huge bonus to the whole experience. As always, I’ve got a lot of love for both Aus and New Zealand - they always give me such a buzz and huge inspiration for new music when I come back to reality.

From Launchpad and Last Time through to Where You Are, there’s a clear sense of progression in your music. How do you think your sound has evolved in the past couple of years?

My taste has definitely changed over the years, but my sound has kept a certain consistency. I never want to just make one type of tune - I've always liked to cater to every kind of environment where someone might listen to a track. With Where You Are, I think it blends into both an easy listener while also sounding great on a big system.

With names like Dom Dolla and Dimension supporting your tracks on huge stages, do those moments feel different when you’re out touring, or are you already focused on the next step?

Oh, for sure - I absolutely love seeing names I massively respect playing my work. Obviously, there’s always an element of looking ahead to the next big thing, but I do think it’s important to savour these moments in life and in your career.

You’ve released across respected platforms like UKF and Elevate Records. How do you decide where a track should land, and what makes the right home for a release?

Yeah, I’ve had great experiences with both of those labels. Elevate massively helped me get boots on the ground in the dancefloor scene - so huge props to them. UKF is arguably one of the biggest labels in electronic music, especially drum and bass. I love everyone who works there, so it just feels like the right home for a lot of my stuff.

Where You Are is landing on your own label, Frequencies. How has running the label influenced your creative process and the way you approach the business side of music?

I think having your own brand is really important - especially now, with so many other producers coming through. It’s such a bonus to have your own “thing”. Running the label has been great for my creative output and motivation. Having my own place to release my sound is ideal.

Tracks like Pressure with Ekko & Sidetrack and Castles In The Sky with 1991 have marked some big collaborations for you. What do you look for in a collab, and how do you know when something is going to work?

Thank you! Loved making both of those - shout out to the lads. I love working with like-minded people. There are so many sick producers out there, and sometimes it just comes about at the right time to make an absolute belter. Usually, within the first few hours of working on something together, you get a feel for how it’s going to turn out. Having fun with it is always a telltale sign for me.

You’re hitting some massive stages this summer, including Rampage Open Air, Flight Festival, and Motion Bristol. Do you tailor your sets to those big festival crowds, or is it always about keeping a personal edge to the selection?

To be honest, I rarely tailor my sets to specific crowds. In my opinion, if you’re coming to see me, then you’re coming to hear my style - if that makes sense. I really like throwing in tracks you wouldn’t expect to hear in a drum and bass set, whether that’s old classics or a heavy techno tune. That being said, sometimes I do like to chuck in the odd anthem for the vibe.

You’ve spoken before about being a perfectionist in the studio. How do you decide when a track is finished, especially when balancing its emotional impact with technical polish?

I’ve always struggled with being a perfectionist when it comes to my music. But I’ve realised recently that I spend way too long on things that only I’ll notice - things no one else will even clock or appreciate - which in turn slows down my output. I think knowing when to let something go and accept that it’s finished is an art in itself.

Thanks to Subsonic for taking the time to chat with us. Where You Are featuring Aya Anne is out now on Frequencies and is already making waves on the festival circuit. Keep an eye out for his sets this summer and future releases from one of drum and bass’s most exciting names.