Interviewing Tank Howls of Music From The Mothership
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Tank Howls and Music From The Mothership are no strangers to us at DT. Their monthly show on Data Transmission Radio is a hotbed for up-and-coming D&B talent, championing the next generation of artists through a series of spotlight interviews and guest mixes.
For anyone not in know, you need to get The Mothership on your radar. A collective of DJs, MCs, singers and producers, The Mothership is a diverse and inclusive group representing various sub-genres of Drum & Bass from a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and ages, including female-identifying, transgender and LGBTQ+ artists.
Not only does this mix make them truly unique, but their work to foster new talent and empower those artists through mentor programmes, a DJ academy and apply to play events, makes The Mothership a remarkable and unstoppable force.
As The Mothership gears up to another exciting year of festival appearances and club takeovers, including a mega takeover of Room 2 at XOYO alongside Jungle Cakes on 14 March, we caught up with founder, DJ and all-round good egg, Tank Howls, to discuss the story so far, mentoring with Hospitality, the new events series at Lakota, Bristol, and much more.
Let’s jump straight into the good stuff. Music from the Mothership has rapidly grown into a multifaceted entity in just under three years. What initially inspired you to create the collective?
After I started the radio show, I met a lot of amazing female-identifying DJs and MCs. Up until that point, I’d been performing as Tank Howls, and was starting to experience a kind of isolated feeling, going to gigs and travelling on my own. I recall thinking something was missing and wouldn’t it be great to actually perform as Music from The Mothership with all the great female-identifying artists I’d met, to be able to support them as well as myself.
So, I reached out to everyone that had been on the show and asked if anyone wanted to start a little collective and try to get takeovers. It all grew from there into something very successful. We’re getting big bookings with Jungle Cakes at XOYO and at festivals too. We’re working a lot with Rumble in the Jungle and Gorilla Tactics and are aiming to work with a lot of other bigger brands to develop The Mothership brand further.
Inclusivity, diversity and opportunity are significant themes in your mission. Why are these values so central to Music from the Mothership?
I think in all honesty it’s because they’re important values to me on a personal level. By day, I’m a teacher of art, photography and textiles at secondary school, but I also teach with the AAA Academy with Euphonique.
When you work with people in these situations, you notice how important diversity is. For example, I noticed with teenagers that the more they’re included and the more culturally diverse an environment they see, the better they develop into well-rounded human beings. I think people need this mix all the way through life.
Shining light on areas where there are issues of this is incredibly important. In some organisations, it’s written into policy, but in a scene like the drum and bass world, there are no policies. They’re just promoters putting on their friends, putting on people they like, and not thinking about the bigger picture, which I think is part of the problem.
I don’t think this is a purposeful move by the scene, but simply because the people making these decisions maybe haven’t had enough experience of inclusion and diversity either within their friendship group, the group of people directly around them or within people that they work with. Lots of people just dont think, “I must consider drawing in people from different ethnicities, from the LGBTQ community, female-identifying artists etc”.
But for us, it’s really important to shine a light on that and to work towards making the music scene a much more equal space because there is still a long way to go with it.
We were excited to hear about your Room 2 takeover at XOYO with Jungle Cakes on 14 March. How do you go about a curating line-up for one single show when there are so many of you while staying true to your ethos?
We are an incredibly diverse collection of female-identifying artists, members of the LGBTQ community and ethnically diverse artists. That diversity extends to our individual fashion sense, the sort of people we hang around with, and of course our music. It’s a wide cross-section where each artist has a different style, whether that’s garage, 140, footwork, jungle, raga, d&b, but in essence, we all have a different subgenre of Drum & Bass that we can showcase.
When putting together a full room or a stage takeover, the main thing I need to consider is the running order. I consider which artist should be first and second so that the show builds and has a journey.
We might start with the slower temp stuff, 140 or garage, then rollers and maybe work into more vocal-led D&B, building up the footwork, jungle and maybe into neuro and dancefloor four-by-four. It naturally happens, as does staying true to our ethos because that’s just who we are as a collective of people.
What are some of the challenges you have faced in creating opportunities for underrepresented voices in the music industry, and how have you overcome them?
The main challenges are time and money. Creating opportunities for people and seeing them achieve their goals is an amazing thing, but it requires a lot of hard work to run the radio show, to plan the guest mixes, to put on an event and come up with the money to stage it.
I would love to be able to pay all the up-and-coming artists that we have, but there is no money in it for The Mothership either. One of our big goals for the year is to create events that are affordable for punters but earn enough money to pay our artists.
This will sound bias, but we’re big fans of The Mothership show on Data Transmission Radio where you champion up-and-coming talent. How has the audience response been, and how do you select the artists for the show?
The audience response to The Mothership has been incredible. Wherever we play—whether I play out as Tank Howls or we play as The Mothership—people approach us, expressing how much they love the show and our efforts to champion emerging, underrepresented, and female-identifying artists. We played before Shy FX at the Cheese and Grain in Frome, which is where I’m based so it’s kind of the home of The Mothership, and loads of people came up to me saying they absolutely love it. It’s amazing to see how our niche platform resonates, inspiring others to believe they can pursue opportunities in music, from DJing to performing.
We aim for a fair and accessible selection process for artists. Anyone can apply via a form, and we ensure everyone has a chance, regardless of experience. While it may take some time to feature on the show, there are no barriers like networking or presentation expectations. Occasionally, we blend emerging talent with established artists to create a diverse mix. Our mission has always been to support and elevate talent in an inclusive, approachable way.
Can you discuss the role of mentorship and workshops in your collective? How do these programs contribute to the growth and development of new artists?
Myself and Euphonique established the AAA DJ Academy, which I have to say is Euphonique’s baby – she has worked incredibly hard on it and I wouldn’t want to take any of that away from her! I’ve supported it by tutoring and promoting. Mentorship and workshops are essential for giving back, sharing my expertise as a DJ and teacher with a diverse range of artists, whether they’re beginners or those who are already DJing out but want to upskill.
These programs not only teach new skills but also offer invaluable networking opportunities. I get to meet talented individuals, promote opportunities through The Mothership, and help them secure chances like guest mixes or radio appearances. It’s all about fostering growth, building community, and empowering artists.
What are some of the standout moments or achievements for Music from the Mothership that you are most proud of?
I’m incredibly proud that The Mothership radio show has been running for nearly three years, despite challenges like the rare illness or when I needed to take a break from it all and Asset stepped in. It’s a significant commitment every month, and maintaining its consistency is a real achievement.
I’m equally proud of our collective. We’re a diverse and inclusive group representing various sub-genres of drum and bass and a wide range of backgrounds, identities, and ages, including transgender and LGBTQ+ artists. This mix truly makes us unique, and I’m proud of every single artist we work with.
Mentoring with Hospitality has been another of my proudest moments. I had applied for that mentorship three years in a row and it was amazing to actually get it. We have been working hard with them, learning about all aspects of The Mothership, whether it be radio events or collective DJing.
One standout moment was our Wrong Side of the Tracks takeover at Boomtown last year. It was an incredible experience—playing such an iconic stage with full collective energy was unforgettable.
Looking ahead for 2025, what are your plans for The Mothership? We hear there are festival appearances and perhaps a 3rd birthday party?
We have lots of exciting plans. We’ve already announced appearances at smaller festivals like Nowadays and Beat Goes On, with more in the works, including a major show this August. This showcase will feature a diverse lineup of DJs, singers, and MCs—definitely one to watch.
On the mentoring front, the Academy continues to thrive. We’ve got a taster session planned for April 22nd, with the next course kicking off in May at Lakota and running every other month. It’s an incredible opportunity for those looking to develop their skills.
We’re also planning a third birthday celebration. While it may not happen by May, I have big plans for October, including a prominent female artist—details to come soon. Keep an eye on Instagram for updates!
For aspiring artists looking to get involved with Music from the Mothership, what advice would you give them, and how can they take advantage of the opportunities you offer?
My advice to aspiring artists is to work incredibly hard; dedication and consistent practice are key. When I was getting back into DJing, I practised every single day, and I still dedicate time daily to The Mothership. You can’t just wish to be a DJ or singer without putting in the effort; a strong work ethic is essential.
Perseverance is equally important. Progress often feels gradual, and it’s easy to compare yourself to others, but staying consistent and determined will pay off. Giving back to the community also plays a big role. The Mothership has grown in under three years because we prioritise creating opportunities for others—whether through mentoring, events, or radio shows. It’s a give-and-take system; the more you give, the more you grow.
To get involved, visit our Instagram and use the ‘Get Involved’ option in our bio. There are forms for guest mixes, applying to play, and more. You can also message us directly, though it’s a busy inbox! Attend our events, like the Mothership and Friends event at Cosy’s on April 18th or join our DJ Academy. If you can’t attend in person due to responsibilities or distance, you can still fill out the forms and connect with us. Inclusivity is important to me—I’ve designed The Mothership to ensure everyone has a chance, no matter their circumstances.
Grab tickets for Jungle Cakes x Music For The Mothership at XOYO on Friday 14 March, via Skiddle.
