By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – London, The landscape of contemporary electronic music is often defined by its fluidity, a constant shifting of boundaries where the lines between club-ready functionalism and avant-garde experimentation become increasingly blurred. Few artists navigate this intersection with as much technical grace and emotional depth as Felix Manuel, the London-based producer and DJ better known to the world as Djrum. In a move that cements his status as one of the most vital curators in the scene, it has been officially confirmed that Djrum will be the next visionary to contribute to !K7 Records’ legendary ‘DJ-Kicks’ compilation series.
Scheduled for a global release on October 16th, Djrum’s entry into the ‘DJ-Kicks’ canon arrives at a pivotal moment for both the artist and the label. For over two decades, the series has served as a prestigious platform for the world’s most influential selectors, offering a deep dive into their personal record bags and artistic philosophies. By joining a lineage that includes recent contributors such as Sofia Kourtesis and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (TEED), Djrum is tasked with maintaining the series’ reputation for excellence while injecting his own signature brand of cinematic, bass-heavy, and rhythmically complex storytelling.
The forthcoming mix is an ambitious undertaking, featuring a dense tapestry of 33 tracks that span the breadth of the electronic spectrum. Rather than a straightforward linear progression, Djrum has curated a selection that reflects his own eclectic tastes and his refusal to be pigeonholed into a single genre. The tracklist is a treasure trove for enthusiasts, boasting exclusive, never-before-heard cuts from some of the most respected names in the industry. Among these are brand-new contributions from the elusive Munich-based producer Skee Mask and the veteran sound-sculptor Clark, both of whom share Djrum’s penchant for intricate percussion and atmospheric depth.
Perhaps most exciting for fans of Manuel’s own work is the inclusion of four original Djrum productions created specifically for this compilation. One of these tracks, ‘Psychic Video’, has already been shared as a preview of the mix’s overall aesthetic. The track serves as a microcosm of Djrum’s broader artistic intent: it is a piece that feels both grounded in the physical mechanics of the dancefloor and elevated by a sense of ethereal, almost haunting melody. It provides a glimpse into the headspace he occupied while constructing the mix—a place where nostalgia for old-school rave culture meets the clinical precision of modern sound design.
The technical process behind the mix is as noteworthy as the tracklist itself. In an era where digital synchronization and software-based mixing have become the industry standard, Djrum has opted for a more labor-intensive and tactile approach. The entire set was recorded using physical vinyl, a choice that honors the traditional craft of DJing while introducing a layer of warmth and unpredictability that is often missing from digital recordings. However, the process did not end at the turntables. After the initial recording, Manuel took the various takes into the studio, where they were meticulously chopped up, rearranged, and transformed into a sonic collage. By overdubbing and layering the vinyl recordings, he has created a final product that exists somewhere between a live DJ set and a studio album.
This methodology speaks to Djrum’s identity as both a performer and a composer. He is an artist who treats the DJ booth as an instrument, using the textures of vinyl—the occasional crackle, the subtle pitch shifts, and the physical weight of the wax—as fundamental building blocks for his compositions. In a statement regarding his approach to the ‘DJ-Kicks’ set, Manuel shed light on his creative philosophy, noting that he prefers his mixes to be "a bit bumpy." He expressed a desire to embrace the "ups and downs" of a musical journey, explicitly stating his intent to "fuck with expectations." This rebellious streak is a hallmark of his career, as he consistently seeks to subvert the predictable tropes of 4/4 electronic music in favor of something more jagged, unpredictable, and ultimately more human.
The inclusion of artists like Venetian Snares, upsammy, Susumu Yokota, and emptyset further illustrates the wide-ranging influences that inform Djrum’s sound. The breakcore intensity of Venetian Snares provides a sharp contrast to the delicate, crystalline textures of upsammy’s experimental electronica. Meanwhile, the inclusion of the late Susumu Yokota—a visionary of Japanese ambient and house music—hints at the softer, more melodic undercurrents that often swell beneath Djrum’s heavy breakbeats. The industrial, minimalist explorations of emptyset round out the selection, ensuring that the mix remains anchored in a sense of raw, visceral energy.
Djrum’s ‘DJ-Kicks’ announcement comes on the heels of a particularly prolific period for the artist. Only last month, he released the ‘I Wander’ EP via Houndstooth, a label that has become a spiritual home for his more club-centric output. ‘I Wander’ was widely praised for its ability to balance high-octane energy with moments of profound introspection, further solidifying his reputation as a producer capable of commanding a festival main stage as easily as a headphone-clad listener’s living room. This followed his 2018 full-length masterpiece, ‘Under Tangled Silence’, an album that many critics hailed as one of the definitive electronic releases of the decade. That record showcased his ability to weave together disparate elements—operatic vocals, jazz-infused piano, and tectonic bass—into a cohesive and emotionally resonant narrative.
To understand the significance of Djrum’s contribution to the ‘DJ-Kicks’ series, one must look at the historical weight of the !K7 imprint. Since its inception in the mid-90s, the series has sought to capture the "true" essence of a DJ’s personality. It is not merely a promotional tool but a historical document of a specific moment in time. By inviting Djrum into this circle, !K7 is acknowledging his role as a bridge-builder. He is an artist who connects the dots between the jungle and hardcore of the 90s, the dubstep evolution of the 2000s, and the contemporary "deconstructed" club scene.
For the listener, the 33-track journey promises to be an exercise in active engagement. Djrum’s music has never been intended as background noise; it demands attention, rewarding those who listen closely to the micro-details of his arrangements. The "bumpy" nature of the mix suggests a narrative arc that will challenge the listener’s comfort zone, moving from moments of serene beauty to passages of intense, rhythmic disorientation. It is this willingness to take risks that has earned him a devoted following among both casual listeners and seasoned industry professionals.
As the October 16th release date approaches, the anticipation within the electronic community continues to build. ‘DJ-Kicks’ has always been about the art of the selection, but with Djrum at the helm, it becomes something more: an exploration of the medium itself. By blending the analog warmth of vinyl with the surgical precision of modern studio editing, he is offering a commentary on the past, present, and future of DJ culture. Whether he is dropping a rare ambient gem or one of his own thunderous new tracks, the goal remains the same—to surprise, to move, and to subvert. In a world of algorithmic playlists and predictable transitions, Djrum’s ‘DJ-Kicks’ stands as a defiant celebration of the unexpected.
