Raised in London in a half-Japanese, half-Australian family of classical musicians, Tokyo-based producer Fonts has been steeped in music from an early age. He started playing viola at three, and that grounding in harmony and composition still finds its way into his productions today.
Working around 170 BPM, his sound brings organic textures and intricate melodies into the drum & bass framework, with releases on Integral, Shogun Audio, Hospital Records and SUNANDBASS Recordings building a catalogue that puts musicality front and centre.
We believe the best way to get to know someone is to look through their record collection, today we’re getting to know Fonts. With his latest release landing on Critical Music, we’ve invited Fonts to the Ones to Watch guest chart.
Azumai
For me, Azumai is the sound design king of the Japanese dnb scene right now. His technicality is really unique here, and with releases on incredible labels like VISION, he’s become a huge inspiration to me. He’s also someone I often go to for advice, and definitely one of the most forward-thinking artists coming out of the Tokyo scene right now.
Cody Shion
Cody is a half-Kiwi, multi-genre producer based in Tokyo, with a lot of the same musical tastes as me, especially when it comes to D&B. He’s a close collaborator and just an all-round great friend, and someone I’ve really enjoyed making music with. He also runs his own label and recently dropped his first album, which is a big step. He’s so talented, and I’m really to see where he takes things next.
Cosmo
Cosmo is someone I connected with recently after discovering his collaboration with Waeys on Critical, and then meeting up with him during the Overview shows in Tokyo. Another young producer with Japanese heritage, he’s already got some seriously high-calibre dubs, and I’m really looking forward to seeing his journey unfold.
Imo-Lu
I was already such a big fan of her Microcosm EP on Submorphics’ Rosebay Music label, and then discovered that she’s also a fellow classical musician after meeting her at SUNANDBASS this year. Understanding the deeper concepts behind the EP, including her use of tapes of her late grandma, really mirrored the sense of meaning and depth I heard in the EP, something I don’t often hear in liquid these days.
Mountain
I don’t think you’re really a newcomer if you’ve released an album on Soulvent as well as other massive labels like Hospital and mau5trap, but Mountain is one of the most established Japanese D&B artists out there. He’s constantly and consistently making and releasing music on international labels while living in Japan, and I feel like he really showed me what’s possible as a Japanese D&B producer in the modern day.
Note
His music really speaks for itself, it’s just so fresh and powerful. He first came onto my radar with the tune Vespertine, and I’ve been hooked on his music ever since. I was lucky enough to catch him and connect with him at SUNANDBASS, and he’s a true creative as well as just a lovely person.
Rue
We’ve been in touch for a long time, and it’s been really cool to watch his progression and evolution as a producer. He’s closely connected with the Yamatai label, and every release seems to show another step forward in his sound. I’ll always be grateful for him pushing me to start sending my own music to labels, which eventually led to my first EP on Integral. I’m excited to see where his next chapter takes him, both creatively and musically.
Velocity
An absolute legend of the Japanese scene and criminally underrated, Velocity is one of the pioneers of Japanese liquid D&B with releases on Liquid V, Jazzsticks and more. I’m lucky enough to have him as both a friend and mentor, and his smooth, soulful productions alongside his ridiculous DJing ability deserve much more attention. He’s someone who has played a huge role in shaping the scene, and I’m grateful to have learned from him.
Wingz
A very established artist, but someone whose music always excites me. I feel like D&B will always remain at the core of his sound, but seeing him explore a new direction towards 2-step and 140 has been really cool to watch. Labels like Overview and Gemini Gemini are lucky to have him, and he’s someone who keeps pushing his music forward.
Zar
We first connected through the Gemini Music Club Part 1 VA a few years ago, and after a couple of trips to Japan from his side and a trip to Europe from mine, we’ve become much closer. He’s an incredibly talented artist who has shown me a more collaborative approach to making music – something that has often been quite solitary for me. With soulful productions and a relentless work ethic, I always love hearing his new music, and I know there’s more to come from him.
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