Renegade Riddims: Dj Twista

Dj Twista is one of those names that’s been woven into the fabric of UK rave culture for decades. Over 25 years deep and still moving with purpose. From the late 90s onwards, he cut his teeth the proper way, shelling it down on pirate radio across London, Essex and Kent. Weekly slots, late-night energy, raw signal pressure. Stations like Origin 95.1 FM, Charge 90.8 FM, Original 97.8 FM, Eruption 101.3 FM, Upfront 99.3 FM, Passion 91.8 FM, and Rough Tempo all felt the weight, alongside guest appearances on Kool FM, Cyndicut FM, Flex FM, and Time FM. Proper foundation work.

As the 2000s rolled in, Twista locked into the resurgence of early 90s rave and jungle. Not just watching it happen, but right in the thick of it. Line-ups stacked with history, dancefloors packed with reloads. Moondance, Breakin Science, Helter Skelter, Fantazia, Dreamscape, Slammin Vinyl, Westfest, United Dance, HTID, Uproar, Raindance, Epidemik and One Love all calling his name. These weren’t just bookings, they were moments. Sweatbox raves, laser-lit warehouses, sunrise finishes.

Then came the full embrace of Drum & Bass. In the mid-2000s the switch was locked. The sound got sharper, the sets got heavier, and the bookings followed. Alongside his old skool roots, Twista became a regular fixture on line-ups for Breakin Science, Random Concept, One Nation, Innovation, Definition and Desire. Rolling basslines, tight blends, proper dancefloor business.

Now approaching three decades behind the decks, Dj Twista has taken that energy far beyond UK borders. From Holland to Spain, Germany to Poland, Czech Republic to Cyprus and Greece, he’s carried that rave spirit worldwide. Venue-wise, it reads like a greatest hits list. Drumsheds, Printworks, KOKO, Coronet, SeOne, Bagleys, The End, plus Motion, Lakota and Prospect Building in Bristol. Then out to Amsterdam’s Melkweg and Panama Club. Big rooms, dark rooms, everything in between.

Festivals haven’t escaped either. SW4, Isle of Wight Festival, Westfest, Tranzmission, Moondance Festival, Southbound and High Definition. Proper stages, proper crowds.

Still holding down residencies at Breakin Science, Jungle Mania, Moondance and Drum & Bass Classics, Twista isn’t easing up. If anything, he’s still in full stride. High energy, no filler, straight for the dancefloor.

I’m really excited to bring Twista to our Renegade Riddims series today. He has gone fully in with this set and curated a “Back To The Future” mix with a whole heap of tracks from some of the scene’s finest producers, including DJ SS, Taxman, Original Sin, Heist, Bungle, Hazard, Serum, Dj Marky, TC, Bad Company, Calyx and loads more!

Check out the mix below and download it for free here!

Q&A:

Sum up this mix in 10 words…

Back to the Future Drum & Bass Classics!

What’s your personal favourite track on it?

That’s almost impossible for me to answer as they all hold some kind of memory for me.

Dj Marky & Bungle – No Time 2 Love

I remember first hearing this tune on Origin Fm, Dj EZM played this on dubplate, and I was playing the show after him.

I had no idea what it was called but described it to him as a liquid tune that has a switch to a dirty bassline, he instantly knew what track I meant, theres was nothing else sounding like this out at the time, the perfect blend of light & dark!… also something I don’t often get chance to play as the intro is pretty long (none of this 16 bar drops haha).

What’s the special ingredient in this mix?

Back to the Future… 

I really love so many styles of Classic DnB I’ve tried to put in a little bit of everything in here, some of my favourite blends I do in the club and dug deep on some tracks to make a proper journey. 

I’m also pretty pleased with the little pirate radio skit section giving a head nod to my radio past, I actually found an old tape of one of my shows from back then and lifted the jingle, radio advert & me hosting to put in over the new recording I did.

What have you got coming up? 

To sound really cliche “I’ve got lots coming in the pipeline” 

Some of my forthcoming dates for my residencies – Breakin Science, Jungle Mania, Moondance and Drum & Bass Classics.

18/04 – Moondance @ 338, London

25/04 – DnB Classics @ Unlocked, London

16/05 – Jungle Mania x AWOL @ Electric, London

05/09 – Summer Underground Festival @ Utopia WHS, London

26/09 – Moondance @ 338, London

21/11 – Breakin Science Weekender, Amsterdam

Loads more dates but I can’t announce them just yet!

When was the last time you actually raved?

I do like to have a little rave at the parties I Dj at, but the last time I proper raved was at The Jungle Weekender in Amsterdam 4 weeks ago.

And finally, do you have a special message for our readers?

Thanks for taking time to read this and checking the mix! Shout to anyone who has heard me play out live over the years.

Drum & Bass / Jungle has such a huge history and wide variety of styles from all over the world, don’t ever limit yourself to a single style or the newest tunes…there will always be something you’ve not heard before that will resonate with you.

TRACKLIST:

Back to the Future Part 1 skit

D Kay & Lee – Tuning VIP

Taxman – Scan Darker

Xample & Crystal Clear – Heaven and Hell

Calyx – Are You Ready (Hive & Gridlok Remix)

Taxman – Jungle Juice

Bad Company – Snow Cat

Absolute Zero – The Code (SKC Remix)

DJ Hazard – Food Fight

TC – Pornstar

Sub Zero – Poon

Roni Size – At the Movies (Drumsound & Simon Bassline Smith Remix)

Commix – Be True

Artificial Intelligence – Desperado

Sub Focus – Airplane

Scorpio – Trouble

Hive & Gridlok – Standing Room Only

Ed Rush & Optical – Reece

Bungle ft. Laura Pacheco – Resized (G Dub Remix)

Nu:Tone – Missing Link

Distorted Minds – Revolution (TC Remix)

Original Sin & Taxman – Seen

Chase & Status – Hurt You

Bad Company – The Pulse

Sub Focus – Deep Space

The Kox – It’s OK

Makoto ft. MC Conrad – Golden Girl

DJ Marky & S.P.Y – Riff Raff

Marcus Intalex – Zumbar

Raiden – Fallin’

Fierce & Cause 4 Concern – Carrier

Future Cut – 2020 VIP

Pirate Radio Skit

Modified Motion & Faction – Don’t Go

Zen – Turn Style (Baron Remix)

Serum – Push It

DJ Hazard – Evac Q8

Taxman & Heist – Frequency Scale

Clipz – New Generation

Interface – Get Lo

DJ Hazard – Killers Don’t Die (Original Mix)

DJ SS – We Came to Entertain (Sub Zero Remix)

Kilo – Scum City

Eddie K – Stinkbox (Stereotype)

Bluefoot – Einstein

Turno & Dominator – Tidal Wave

Back to the Future Part 2 skit

Original Sin – Therapy

Sub Focus – Timewarp VIP

Friction – Set It Off

Bungle – Where I Am

Culture Shock – I Remember

G Dub – Finding the Three

Chase & Status – In Love

Dj Marky – Fang Face (DJ Marky & S.P.Y Remix)

Harvest – Outsiders

Digital & Spirit – Phantom Force

Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce – Alien Girl

Netsky – Tomorrow’s Another Day VIP

M.I.S.T – Outerspace

EZ Rollers – Ready for Love (Clipz Remix)

Bungle – Too Late (Original Mix)

Dj Marky & Bungle – No Time 2 Love

Sigma – Baltimore

DJ Hazard – Time Tripping

Unknown Artist – Shatter the Sentence

Unknown Artist – Redlines

DJ Hazard – Air Guitar

Unknown Artist – The Specialist

Pendulum – Vault

Noisia – Deception

Xample – Lowdown VIP

Heist – Sleep in Ya Eyes

Original Sin – 8 Figure Bass

Die – Get Closer (Rockers Mix)

TC – Game Over VIP