Entering the DRKNET with MEL & Enta

MEL has rapidly ascended to the top tier, known for her high-energy, dark-edged sets and heavy-hitting releases on legendary imprints like RAM Records and Viper. Enta has a discography spanning Hospital, Eatbrain, and Souped Up, his rhythmic precision and innovative sound design have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting producers in the game.

They have now joined forces for a new collaborative project DRKNET, due to premiere at the huge Korsakov Weekender.

We caught up with them both to find out more about the most exciting new team up in Drum and Bass…

The Origin Story

Firstly let’s get some background on you as a duo. How did each of you first discover D&B? Was there a particular person, artists, or track that caught your attention and made you want to explore further?

MEL: I’ve always had a pretty broad taste in music, but growing up I was mainly into rock and metal. Then in the mid-2000s I came across Hold Your Colour by Pendulum -a few friends had it on repeat one summer and that was kind of the switch moment for me.Because Pendulum had that rock crossover thing going on, it just clicked straight away and they were definitely the gateway act for me. After that I discovered Chase & Status and the rest was history.

ENTA: I found my way to DNB through video games. I played a ton of sonic games growing up and the soundtracks tended to have drum and bass fused with metal which I was a big fan of. What really sparked my curiosity in the genre was Tyke – Infected Headphones. This track stood out to me because it sounded so unique both musically and technically. It said to me this genre could get real weird and I wanted to dig deeper.

When did your paths first cross? Was it a face to face meeting or a mutual appreciation online of what each other was doing?

MEL: I think like a lot of DJs and producers these days, we followed each others stuff online, supporting what each other was doing. Enta had even recorded a mix for my radio show, The first time we actually met face to face was backstage at a Virus rave, probably a year or two ago now

What sparked the inception of DRKNET? Was there a specific moment or a particular back to back set where you realised your sounds belonged together?

MEL: It kicked off when we first got booked to go b2b together last January in Bristol. I was buzzing for it anyway because he’s already a mate and I’ve always rated Enta’s work, he’s a sick DJ, but I was also curious to see how it would actually work, because even though we’re both into hard-hitting Neuro, our styles and the way we DJ are pretty different.

The set went down really well though. We hadn’t planned anything at all and just bounced off each other, which was a good sign straight away. After that we ended up going b2b for Eatbrain in Rotterdam last April which was sick! But I’d say the one that really cemented it was Hospitality On The Beach last year – that’s when it properly felt like we got into it and everything just flowed

“DRKNET” carries a very specific, tech-heavy, underground aesthetic. What’s the philosophy behind the name, and how does it reflect the music you’re representing?

ENTA: The dark net itself is this hidden digital underworld where are lot crazy stuff goes on. Neurofunk feels like that sometimes

MEL: We were throwing names around for a while and had a list going, but DRKNET just stuck. It sounded dark and heavy, and felt right for the kind of neurofunk and harder drum & bass we play and make

The DRKNET Sound

Enta, you’re known for that deadly concoction of Jump-Up and Neuro, and MEL, your style sits in that high-energy sweet spot between Neuro and heavy Dancefloor. How would you describe the “DRKNET” sonic signature to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?

MEL: I’d say DRKNET it’s basically a big melting pot of Neuro and Hard D&B. Both of our styles are different but they contrast and complement each other well – We cover all corners of Neuro, keeping it high energy, and letting the differences in our styles push the DJ sets in different directions

ENTA: Yeah agreed, with the DRKNET music there’s definitely a bigger sense of immersion

Both of you have grafted your way to the top of the circuit individually. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to a producer trying to find their own unique sound in the darker side of D&B?

Enta: Seek out some other artists on your level and make some music together. Whether they’re halfway across the world and sending you stems or with you in the studio, you’ll come away having tried something new or different. All those little tricks and skills you pick up from collaborating will go a long way in helping you create your sound in way that’s unique to you

MEL: Don’t feel pressured to conform. Make and play what you actually love, not what you think you should be doing to get booked, trends chop and change so quickly especially nowdays, hopping on trends doesn’t give you an identity as an artist. It’s a longer road creating your own lane, but doing it that way pays off in the long run. Trust you gut, give it time, trust the process, you will find your people and your crowd

Is DRKNET going to be a production collaboration as well as a DJ project?

Yeah, 100%. DRKNET isn’t just a DJ project, it’s a production collaboration as well, and we’re Really excited about it. We’ve just signed an EP together that’s coming out this summer, so it feels like things are properly starting to move now

If you had to pick one foundation track from the history of D&B that sums up the spirit of DRKNET, what would it be?

Konflict – Messiah

Digging Deeper

We’re seeing a massive resurgence of the harder, “technical” side of D&B. Why do you think the scene is gravitating back toward that darker aesthetic right now?

MEL: I think we’ve seen something similar before, maybe ten or so years ago when D&B went a bit “poppy” and you had DJ Fresh and a few others in the charts. After a while people start getting tired of hearing the tunes everywhere. Especially with the newer fans who’ve only got into D&B in the last few years, you get pulled in by the top layer of it, but it’s natural to then start digging deeper and finding the darker, more technical stuff. That’s usually where people end up once they go down the rabbit hole.

Also If you look back at music history, you see it in things like the punk movement, it blew up because people felt ignored or alienated, and it gave them an outlet. I think we’re in a similar place now. There’s so much going on: political noise, cost of living going up… everyone’s carrying a lot. Neuro and the heavier styles give people a place to let all that out

ENTA: The world feels quite dystopian right now. Some really intense aggressive and dystopian music feels cathartic to listen to

LoveThatBass readers love a technical tip. Do you each have a piece of studio knowledge that you can share? Maybe a favourite plugin & how you use it? Or a piece of workflow advice for getting tracks finished?

ENTA: Reference tracks are handy. Super useful if you’re unsure about your mixdown and need a comparison or if you need help working out what elements you need to add or takeaway

MEL: One thing I’ve picked up is that movement is everything in neuro. Even if you start with a really basic bass, just adding little bits of modulation, messing with the filter, distortion, stereo width etc makes it feel way more alive

Of course the DRKNET project is debuting at the Korsakov Weekender, taking place in Rotterdam. Is that a festival you’ve both played before? What can we expect of the event if we book tickets?

MEL: Yeah, we’ve both played it before. Last year I was on pretty early and Enta was on at something wild like 7am, This year though, we’re stepping onto the main stage for the DRKNET debut, so it feels like the start of a really exciting year for us. This set definitely sets the tone. As for what to expect – Korsakov is always full-on. Big production, big crowds, proper energy from start to finish. DKRNET will be waving the Neuro flag on the MainStage.

The line up is huge, anyone you’re looking forward to seeing?

MEL: Defiantly Prolix, I rinse a lot of his tunes in my sets so will be wicked to see him live again and of course Mefjus

ENTA: Skrimor