Renegade Riddims: MEL

Next up on our Renegade Riddims series, we’re welcoming back the absolute powerhouse that is MEL, and this one hits like a freight train. MEL rose from Camden dive bars in 2011, playing rock and metal before switching to Drum & Bass. That gritty start helped shape her uniquely raw yet polished signature sound.

Named one of DJ Mag’s emerging artists for 2025, she’s been lighting up KISS FM, Virus Recordings, RAM Records, UKF and Viper with her high‑octane energy and seamless mixing. She’s also a three‑time Drum & Bass Arena award nominee and the first female ever to break into their “best producer” category. Gwaaarn MEL!!

Her latest VTO Records release, ‘Night Fire / Madness‘, is pure neurofunk adrenaline. ‘Night Fire’ opens with cinematic atmosphere, tension building slowly before dropping heavy basslines. ‘Madness’ shifts from euphoric tones into dark intensity, giving listeners a full head‑rush experience. You’ll hear razor‑sharp sound design, twisted textures, and raw grooves designed for maximum impact.

On top of production and stage work, MEL hosts The Neuro Network show on Data Transmission Radio where she’s been a resident for around 5 years (could be more…we’ve lost track!). She’s smashed lineups across Europe with Virus, Neurohead and Korsakov, and those live raves feed straight back into how she builds pressure in her studio sessions. I’ve been front left for a few of MEL’s sets myself, and trust me, she doesn’t ease you in. From the first tune, it’s full-throttle energy, screwfaces all round and zero room to breathe. She comes out swinging and doesn’t let up.

Expect this Renegade Riddims mix to go in hard from the jump. Exclusive dubs, high‑energy drops and signature tension‑release dynamics make it 90 minutes of pure rave fuel. With music from artists such as herself, Prolix, Gyrda, Andy C, Noisia, Bad Company, Mampi Swift, Agressor Bunx, Stonx, Ed Rush & Optical, V O E and loads more. This is Neurofunk that belongs in sweaty warehouse sets, rave basements and big outdoor festivals after dark.

Let it run loud. Let it shake the floors. This is MEL’s territory.

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

Q&A:

Sum up this mix in 10 words…

My journey through Neurofunk – past, present, future, no holding back.

What’s your personal favourite track on it?

Other than my own productions that I’m super proud of, I would say the closing track on this mix – Mark Knight ‘Nothing Matters’ (Noisia Remix). It’s everything I love about neuro: weighty, heavy, emotional. I draw a lot of inspiration from Noisia. Ending a journey on that felt like the only right choice.

What’s the special ingredient in this mix?

A time-travel blend – fresh bangers I’m rinsing right now mixed with deep digs and forgotten weapons from way back.

Tell us about your next release…

Got a remix dropping in September, flipped a tune from producers I really rate. Also been working on some collabs with Enta, so keep an ear out for those!

What have you got coming up? 

Currently having an amazing summer, Hospitality on the Beach has been a highlight so far! I’m now heading into studio hibernation, recharging and creating. The next Virus show is locked in (can’t wait as always), and there are some exciting unannounced shows on the horizon too.

When was the last time you actually raved?

I actually rave after most of my sets – I love getting stuck in and soaking up the energy from the crowd for the rest of the night!

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

No neuro, no party. Buckle up and enjoy 1 hour 30 of pure, unfiltered chaos!

TRACKLIST:

Prolix, Gydra & Nuklear – Death Trap 

Shadow Sect & Ihr – Fckngjmp 

The Clamps – Social Disorder

Agressor Bunx – The Rush 

A.M.C – Don’t Forget The Dots (Gydra Remix) 

H_Man – Awake 

Noisia, The Upbeats 

Magnetude – Falling 

The Clamps – Click Clack (Original Mix) 

Killbox – Clickbait (feat. Ryme Tyme) 

DC Breaks & Prolix – Infinity 

Shadow Sect & Mizo – Genesis 

Merikan, Inward, HANZO & Randie – Reverse Coded 

DC Breaks – Gambino (InsideInfo Remix) 

Audio – Solar Ascending (Original) 

Prolix & DC Breaks – Beat Down VIP 

Noisia – Stigma 

Bad Company UK – Bullet Time (Spor Remix)

Mampi Swift – Gangster 

Gydra – Hearing Damage 

Qo & The Clamps – Krieg

Gydra – Lava Run (VIP) 

Mind Theory – Darkness 

Mefjus – Suicide Bassline VIP 

Mizo – Dust Devil 

Stonx – Look at the Funk 

Merikan – Absolute Zero 

Agressor Bunx – Star Blast

Disphonia & Gydra – Can’t Hold Back (Gydra Remix)

Black Sun Empire & State of Mind – Modern Propaganda

Neonlight – Ultraviolet (Prolix Remix) 

State Of Mind, Coppa – Red Sky (Original Mix)

Xylym – Retcon 

V O E – Heavy Heart (Instrumental) 

The Prototypes – Rocket Guns Blazin’ 

Prolix, Renny Carroll & Pythius – Set Me Free (Pythius Remix) 

Noisia – Into Dust (Neonlight Remix) 

MNDSCP – Edge of Disaster 

Metanoia – Awake

Pythius & Neonlight – Tarkin

Mr Frenkie & Audio – Bass Symptom (Audio Remix)

State of Mind – Ice Cold

Mob Tactics – Double Bubble 

State Of Mind – Lockdown

Sub Focus – Swamp Thing

Ed Rush & Optical – Funktion

Punchman – Kabina

Ewun – Screw Up (The Upbeats Remix)

Punchman – Minigun

Karpa & Raido – Watch Out

HighThere – Head Under Water

State of Mind & Smooth – Runaway Train

MEL – Madness (MIX & MA)

Gydra – Ikra

Metanoia – Corrupt

Mob Tactics – Bloodbucket 

L 33 – Bloodbrain (VIP)

State of Mind – Doomsday

Raido & Prdk – Iced Out

Metanoia – Sleepless

Gydra – Problem

Symplex, TR Tactics – Halloween VIP (Original Mix)

Xylym – Compound

Mob Tactics – The Feeling

Metanoia, Disphonia – Heavy Impact ft. Kryptome

Vici & Audio – Bad Spirits

[Unknown Artist] – Power Through v7

Mampi Swift & InsideInfo – The One (InsideInfo Remix)

Bad Company UK – Snowcat

Billain – ESEF

Break & DLR – City Slickers (Skeptical Remix)

Halogenix – Blej (Fade Black Remix)

The Upbeats & Noisia – Shibuya Pet Store

Rockwell & Workforce – Ditch

Calyx – My Dark Place

Noisia – Diplodocus (Skeptical Remix)

Mefjus – Mirage

Rawthang – Beautiful Morning (Black Sun Empire Remix)

Konflict – Beckoning

Qo – Descent

Noisia – Block Control

Pendulum – Vault

Bad Company UK – Hornet

Stakka & Skynet & Kemal & Rob Data – Bios Fear

Zombie Cats & Skellytn – Intergalactic

Meph & Notequal – Ironforge

Task Horizon – Shrink Ray (Phace Remix)

MEL – Telekinesis 

ICOMB – Unknown

Holotrope & Qo – Bass So Loud

Bad Company – The Nine (ChaseR Bootleg)

Ed Rush – XO Clinical (Original Mix)

Badlokk & Coppa – Hurricane

Metanoia – The Edge

Neonlight & State of Mind – Nyx

Grinder – Shadow Strike

2Whales – Move

DC Breaks, Prolix – Purge (Original Mix)

Despersion & 2Whales – Slam of Seagulls

Andy C – Haunting

The Upbeats – We Don’t Lie

Audio – Bricktop

Agressor Bunx – Nitro Funk

Black Sun Empire & Noisia – Feed the Machine

Killbox – Colony

Noisia & Phace – Deep Down

Exult, Killey – Grand Funk 

Enta X Mel – Kill Code 

Metanoia – Meteor

Mefjus & Black Sun Empire – Something Bad

MEL – Underworld

Concord Dawn – Morning Light

Future Cut – Whiplash (Verb Remix)

Noisia – Shellshock (feat. Foreign Beggars) [Original]

Unknown Error – Exit

Mefjus & Rido – Magnetism

Mark Knight – Nothing Matters (Noisia Remix) [feat. Skin]