The modern drum and bass landscape is teeming with talent, and when we have a personality like Nersha, we know we’re in a really solid place. Her presence brings a magnetic energy to the circuit, making it abundantly clear that the future of the culture is thriving and for very good reason.
Emerging as both a powerful and lively presence behind the decks and a distinct voice in the studio, Nersha represents a new wave of artists who aren’t afraid to blur boundaries. Nersha’s journey which was rooted in DJing before naturally expanding into vocals and her songwriting reflects her deep, instinctive understanding of the dancefloor.
Bursting onto the scene in 2025 with her electrifying CRUCAST debut, ‘Losing Control,’ Nersha immediately set a high watermark for her multifaceted journey as a DJ, vocalist, and songwriter. Now, she is bringing that momentum full circle. Kicking off the year, Nersha returns to the forward-thinking imprint for her highly anticipated first single of the year, ‘Get a Grip,’ featuring the heavy-hitting production prowess of MANIA.
The track reflects Nersha’s wider artistic direction. There’s a clear emphasis on bridging vocal-led songwriting with club-ready drum & bass, an artform she’s been leaning into more recently. ‘Get A Grip’ feels like an assured step in that lane, balancing personality with functionality.
So, naturally, ‘Get A Grip’ sat at the heart of the conversation, but we also took a few detours, and unpacked how it all began, where her inclination towards DJing first took shape, and how that gradually evolved into songwriting. We also touched on a major new milestone, with Nersha set to head down under for her debut Australia and New Zealand tour.
Time for a chat!
Between back-to-back shows, major musical pivots, and massive career milestones, 2025 stands out as by far the most successful and busiest year of Nersha’s career. It felt like everything she had been building towards began to crystallise, with each opportunity feeding into a larger upward trajectory. So, to kick things off, we took a little detour before diving into her upcoming projects to get the full lowdown on exactly how the year unfolded.
“Last year was really really special for me. I released my first song as a vocalist, ‘Losing Control’ and I think people were surprised since I’ve always been known as a DJ, but I’d always wanted to integrate my vocals and do something a bit different. Releasing that track was a great experience, and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. It did really well on streaming, and it was amazing to see many of my favourite DJs playing it.
I also played a lot of international shows, which helped me expand my reach into Europe. The crowds there really seemed to enjoy the combined vocal and DJ elements, so I started integrating that a lot more into my sets. I spent time in the studio with new producers and focused heavily on songwriting. Overall, last year was a major turning point for me as a vocalist. It showed that I’m not just a DJ, and this hybrid performance is exactly what I’ll be doing moving forward. Between the festivals and headline shows, it was a truly great year.”
It’s obvious that Nersha’s penchant for singing and songwriting was a major driving force behind her recent success. She defines it as one of the standout aspects of her year, especially being able to seamlessly weave both singing and DJing into her performances. But there’s a clear progression behind that duality, where one passion naturally led into the other. So what came first; DJing or singing? Nersha breaks it down.
“I actually think about this a lot. When I was growing up, I always used to sing, especially with my dad. He’s a musician who’s played in bands for years and can pretty much pick up any instrument, so he’s always been a huge inspiration for me. As a kid, I’d even join him playing in local pubs, so performing, in some way, was always part of my life.
Then during lockdown, I got into DJing and really fell in love with drum & bass. That became my main focus for a while. But it wasn’t until the beginning 2024, that I started thinking, why not combine both? That’s when I linked up with Rendah, who was already a friend, and we ended up making a track together.
‘Losing Control’ was a turning point, and it made me realise I could actually do this, and it really built my confidence. I’d say I started out more as a DJ, but I always had that vocal side in me. Bringing the two together has felt really natural, and honestly, it’s been such a nice process. It also feels like something a bit more unique, which I love.”
Ask any artist, and they will tell you that learning to read a live crowd early on is an absolute blessing. Nersha got a massive head start on this, gaining valuable stage experience by performing alongside her dad at his local gigs. Nersha ensured that she used those moments and channelled them into something more intentional, that helped build her confidence, develop a strong musical foundation, and eventually shape an aesthetic that feels entirely her own.
“It’s almost a modernised version of what my dad did,” Nersha explains. “My dad played a lot of ’70s and ’80s band music, whereas I’m doing it now with electronic music and DJing. Watching him perform gave me so much confidence, and he’s influenced me massively on the vocal side.”
This naturally brings up the question of influence: how exactly does that amalgamation of the ’70s and ’80s eras Nersha grew up with come together with the contemporary, heavy-hitting sounds of bass music?
“Yeah, it’s a big contrast. The songs I played with my dad were older, and I still love that to this day. Obviously, now I play mainly drum & bass, but what I’ve been bringing in more recently is an old-school R&B style vocal on top of it. I really want to incorporate that into more modern music. It’s still fairly new to me, but discovering how to blend that classic R&B feel into drum & bass is an area I want to explore moving forward. I’m still figuring it out. My taste is so diverse, and I love switching things up. Lately, I’ve been dropping 140 in my sets and exploring the full spectrum right from heavy jump up to liquid and rollers. I’m just seeing where I want to take it musically, but I’d absolutely love to keep incorporating that older sound.”
All of the recent experiences Nersha described have seamlessly translated into her first single of 2026, released on the heavyweight UK drum and bass label and collective, CRUCAST. Featuring MANIA, ‘Get A Grip’ feels like a natural progression from ‘Losing Control,’ sitting comfortably within the high-energy, vocal-led drum & bass space that CRUCAST has helped define.
Crisp drums, a heavy low-end, and a groove designed for the dancefloor, it’s a track built for instant impact. Naturally, that led us into breaking down the process; how the idea first sparked, how it evolved, and what went into shaping the final version.
“In terms of the actual tune, the idea happened before the studio session while I was just sitting in this very chair at my desk. I was casually eating and watching a video, and the melody just came to me so organically. I don’t know exactly what sparked the phrase ‘get a grip,’ but it was the main idea that came to mind, and the melody naturally followed the hook. It just clicked, and I had to record it right then and there. I messaged MANIA immediately and said, ‘I’ve got this idea, let’s get in the studio.’ He loved the concept and instantly suggested adding a heavy roller right after the vocals. From that moment in the studio, we were constantly bouncing ideas back and forth. I think ‘get a grip’ is just such a powerful term. On any given day, people can relate to needing that confident, independent vibe, which I love.
What I really admire about MANIA’s production is the way he balances everything. He put that jungle break midway through along with the heavy roller, but he still lets my vocals shine. It’s a really nice juxtaposition between the softer vocals and the heavy bass. It makes the track perfect for listening casually in your car or the shower, but it goes just as hard in the raves. We really wanted to create something that works perfectly whether you’re in the dance or just chilling at home.”
Beyond the lyrics, the entire collaborative process with MANIA sounded incredibly fluid. With the track coming together so naturally, we were curious to know if there was a definitive turning point in the studio or a specific moment when the juxtaposition of soft vocals and the heavy jungle breaks finally clicked, making Nersha realise she had captured lightning in a bottle.
“The exact meaning actually came to me a bit later. I realised it’s really a song about independence. I have a big, extroverted, and unfiltered personality, and this track is about breaking free from negative energy or anyone trying to shrink me down. It’s about being unapologetically who I am. That same high energy carried right into the studio with MANIA The whole process was completely effortless; we were bouncing ideas non-stop, and the song essentially wrote itself. We got amazing immediate reactions from the people we showed it to, but honestly, we both knew right then in the studio that we had cooked up something special because we just couldn’t get the hook out of our heads.”
What was also special is, a couple of weeks later, I was on Charlie Tee’s BBC show, and she asked us to send her a song to play that day. So, we went into the BBC studio, I gave her the song, and it was really special because everyone was digging the tune. They all loved it. I had some great feedback there and then from Charlie, which was great.”
Nersha couldn’t have picked a more fitting collaborator to help bring her vision for ‘Get A Grip’ to life than MANIA. Boasting a heavy-hitting catalogue with releases on premier imprints like NUFORM, DnB Allstars, Elevate Records, and UKF as well, MANIA has consistently proven his dynamism as a producer.
The delicate balance of infectious energy and technical precision that MANIA brings with his music allows him to deliver a sound that is suitable for the airwaves as well as the dancefloor.
CRUCAST proved to be the ideal home for Nersha and MANIA to unite their creative vision, and Nersha was quick to spotlight the depth and character he brought to the track.
“I’ve always loved MANIA’s tunes; they were constantly on my Spotify rotation while I was out and about. What he does with vocalists is incredible. He really gives them the creative freedom to do what they want, and his production blends perfectly with the vocals. You can hear it on his track with Catching Cairo; his distinct production style comes through, but her vocals still sit beautifully on top.
He has a real talent for making catchy songs, and I felt he could give our track exactly what it needed. The production didn’t need to be crazy; it just needed to be catchy, hard-hitting, and punchy, and that’s exactly what he delivered. My favourite part actually is the jungle breakdown. After our studio session, he took the track and added that section, which nicely slows down the momentum before ramping it right back up, giving the song this amazing dynamic journey. What he did with the track is just great.”
There is arguably no greater rush than road-testing your own tune and watching a packed dancefloor erupt. It is the ultimate litmus test, and Nersha got to experience this unparalleled high firsthand.
Throughout the build-up to the official release, Nersha teased the track in her live sets which provided a real-time gauge of its dancefloor impact. The result of it was that, by the time the release date came around, ‘Get A Grip’ had already built a palpable energy around it.
“I’ve played it a few times since, including on New Year’s Eve,” Nersha recalled. “That was a really special show because I did a lot of live vocals alongside my DJing, so being able to sing it live in the middle of my set was incredible. I’m quite a high-energy DJ, so breaking things down to get on the microphone and sing was a unique moment. The crowd loved it; it completely went off, and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying the song.
“I also played it recently at My Home is the Rave with Hedex. It was interesting because that’s a very jump-up heavy crowd, and while this song isn’t necessarily heavy in that way, it’s very catchy and breaks down the set perfectly. It brings a really cool vibe. I had a fantastic response afterwards, with other artists and fans messaging me to ask when it’s coming out. The overall reaction from those shows has just been amazing.”
Shifting the focus back to her foundational roots, we took a trip down memory lane, digging into some of Nersha’s earliest experiences behind the decks. While her live vocal performances have become a highly anticipated staple of her sets, her journey in scene began purely with DJing.
Within that journey, there were a handful of pivotal turning points, where Nersha found herself thinking, “Alright, this is it. This is what I live for.”
“There have been a few times where I’ve thought, ‘Mum, I’ve made it!’ I mean, I haven’t actually made it yet, but there have been moments where I realized this could really be a career for me, and I’m just so passionate about doing it.
I think the first major moment was a DnB Allstars show. I was originally supposed to be playing in Room Two that day, but Turno got stuck in traffic. At the last minute, they asked, ‘Nersha, do you want to hop on the main stage?’ It was a 360-degree setup with two or three thousand people. I was absolutely terrified; little me thought I was going to be playing Room Two for maybe 50 to 100 people! Having to step up to the main stage in front of thousands of people was terrifying, but it was amazing.
Then there were the big festivals. Rampage was a massive one for me; playing to huge crowds at a major European festival a couple of times was definitely ticking off a bucket list item.
The My Home is the Rave shows were huge, too. Hedex asked me to play with him, and he’s someone I’ve looked up to and whose music I’ve loved since my early raving days. I played his Bristol and Manchester shows, joined him again more recently, and we have a festival coming up together. That has been so pivotal for my growth as an artist, and I’m just really grateful for all these opportunities.”
That was a bit of a look back, but now we’re firmly in the present, and it’s a big one. In exactly one month, Nersha will cross a major milestone off her bucket list by embarking on her highly anticipated debut tour across Australia and New Zealand. Sharing the tour with fellow drum and bass wizard FMS, this six-city run is set to introduce her revitalized live vocal and DJ sets to some of the most dedicated and high-energy drum & bass crowds on the planet.
The trans-Tasman expedition kicks off on 17 April with Sydney and Perth being the Aussie stops before heading further down under to New Zealand, with stops in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington.
For an artist whose trajectory has been defined by seizing the moment and taking control of the stage, this debut international tour represents the perfect platform to present her new era of music.
“The tour is also with FMS, but we’re both doing our solo sets. He’s going to be doing his six-deck magic, and I’m going to be doing my new live vocal and DJ set. I’m planning to showcase a lot of unreleased tracks. It’s almost like introducing the new and improved Nersha, so it’s going to be really exciting to get all that new music out there.
Touring New Zealand and Australia is definitely a bucket list item for me. I’ve always wanted to go over there; I’ve heard amazing things about how absolutely insane the crowds and the scene are.
I’m most excited about meeting all the people who have been following my music. The fact that there are people supporting me in other countries is amazing, and I can’t wait to chat with them after the shows and perform my songs in places I’ve never been to. Just being among the Australia and New Zealand DnB crowds, feeling that energy firsthand, and showcasing my new exclusive tracks and live performances is going to be incredible.
I want the audience to feel like I’ve truly interacted with them. I’m not just going to be a static DJ behind the decks; I want to be dancing with the crowd. That interactivity is such an important part of being a performer. I want everyone to leave feeling like I was right there in the rave with them.”
Closing out the conversation, things turned a little more introspective. We spoke about the responsibility, and the opportunity that comes with a new generation of drum & bass artists carrying the baton. It’s no longer just about preserving what already exists, but about reinterpreting it through a fresh lens, pushing the culture forward while keeping it open, dynamic, and accessible to a wider audience.
We can see the shift already with newer producers and DJs unafraid to blur boundaries, draw from different influences, and reshape what drum & bass can sound and feel like. When asked about her own place within this evolving landscape and the broader responsibilities of her peers, Nersha offered a refreshingly candid and thoughtful perspective.
“I don’t want drum & bass to all sound the same. It’s important that the genre keeps its individuality, that people aren’t just making music that blends into everything else.
What I genuinely value is when something feels a bit different not typical. Whether it’s bringing in R&B influences, jazz elements, or experimenting with live instrumentation, that’s what makes things exciting. I love all kinds of music, so naturally I’d want to explore that more in my own work too, bringing in different genres, different textures, maybe even working with live musicians like guitarists or sax players to switch things up.
And I think that ties into a bigger point as well. As a DJ, you’re not just playing the music, you’re shaping how people experience the genre. So, it’s only imperative that the scene keeps evolving itself.“
