Hailing from Sheffield in the UK, TITAN has gained international recognition in the drum & bass scene, having used social media as his weapon for success. With millions of views and streams across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and SoundCloud, the rise of this DJ is hard to go unnoticed. Formerly an eager powerlifting champion, TITAN found his love for DJing while on rest due to a severe sporting injury. Although a major setback in his lifting career, this seemingly proved to be a game-changer in the start of his music profession, utilising his time off to master the art of mixing. From learning to mix on his phone using the app ‘djay’ to playing some of the largest shows in drum & bass history, notably Let It Roll On Tour and Bassfest. Other notable career highlights include supporting headline shows for Kanine and Turno, while continuing to play for some of the UK’s leading promoters—DnB Allstars and RUN—both nationally and internationally.
TITAN released his first mix in July 2022, which came only two weeks after picking up his first pair of Pioneer DJ FLX6s. Since then, he has released eight SoundCloud mixes and recorded DJ sets for the likes of Kool FM and Elevate Records. Over the past two and a half years, he has evolved his signature sound, finding the balance between “dark, heavy, and beautiful” drum & bass. This is most apparent in his ‘Full Circle’ trilogy, a mix series showcasing his full-cycle progression in mixing technicalities, track selection, and flow. More recently, he is known to make song edits in order to “take elements of the tune and rearrange them to do more techy build ups and drops”, for example ‘Off The Ground’ by Sub Focus. As such, he is able to weave sections of tunes not otherwise possible to create euphoric storyline-like sets for both listeners and ravers alike.
Heavily influenced by artists such as Camo & Krooked, Mefjus, and A.M.C, TITAN’s sets draw on neuro, jump up, and future drum & bass. Throughout his progression in the scene, he has also supported upcoming producers: Lukher, RageMode, and Suune to name a few. His meticulous track selection enables him to find and showcase unheard of producers that may not yet be fully appreciated for their talent, allowing his listeners to uncover hidden gems. There are no boundaries when it comes to a TITAN set. Be it mixing subgenres effortlessly, utilising the breadth of his dubplate collection, and harnessing emotion, he continues to redefine the limits of DJ performance. As the titan of this ever-growing community, he certainly lives up to his name.
So, TITAN, how has it been playing shows recently?
Fantastic, really really good. I was a bit nervous going into it because I wasn’t sure how the whole playing pretty much every week, multiple sets and how the balance would go, but I’ve loved every minute of it. Even the driving, I don’t mind driving. I’ve spent some weekends doing upwards of 15 hours of driving but I’m driving to somewhere I get to play my favourite tunes and music to a group of people that love the same music as me. To be able to do that and get paid to do it? Sign me up!
Sounds like you’ve been enjoying the process. Has there been a particular moment in your journey that’s been a highlight for you?
There’s a few that come to mind. The first one most recently was the Let It Roll x Run set at Prospect Centre, Bristol. It was awesome. I don’t think it was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played to but the music that I played was purely the stuff that I like playing. I played a little bit of jump up earlier on and it didn’t really get the reaction that it normally does. I was kind of happy about that in a weird way because, whilst I like jump up, neuro has my heart. I don’t know what it is but I think it’s the cinematic and emotional aspect of it. When I go to a rave as a raver, I want to feel something. I want to feel the best way, and nothing does that quite like neuro for me. To be able to do that and it be received in the same way that I enjoy it is just wonderful. I’m actually so glad nobody was recording me at the time because I was trying my best to keep it together. You wouldn’t get this at a house or techno rave would you?
Drum & bass seems like a huge part of your life now, but are there any other music genres you listen to?
I would honestly say that I’m quite versatile with the music that I listen to and the music that I’m able to appreciate. I can listen to classical, I can listen to just about any genre of music and enjoy or appreciate it at the very least. The only exception to that is country! Now, believe me when I say that I have persevered with a lot of different genres like heavy screamo and metal. I’ve gradually warmed to them and there are certain artists that I will listen to including Architect and Linking Park. But country, I just can’t do it. I have tried and it’s just not for me. But in terms of other artists, I will listen to just about anything and everything, from Coldplay to David Gray. If there’s somebody in any given genre I will listen to them, or at least try to appreciate the music that they put out.
It’s good to be versatile! Now, about your future sets, have you got a dream back to back partner?
I think the obvious choice to me is Camo & Crooked and Mefjus. That’s mainly because I want to understand how they go about planning their sets and just get inside of their minds. I find set prepping and planning really interesting. They’ve obviously got their craft down to a T so I think those three would be my choice if I had the option.
You’ve played multiple shows last year and already have a stacked Q1 for 2025. How do you go about relaxing in between events?
Honestly, I find the actual playing the most relaxing part. It’s the prep before midweek leading up to a set I find more stressful for me than playing itself. When I’m playing a set, that’s when I’m in my element. That’s the good part! Whereas when I’m prepping that’s the difficult part. I overanalyse things and I’m hypercritical of everything that I’m doing. Whereas on the day and during the set I’m loving life.
Tell us a bit about the process of putting together ‘Full Circle Part 3’. How long did it take you to curate?
Honestly, it depends what you mean by curate because I started putting the mix together and curating blends literally a week after I posted ‘Full Circle Pt 2’ in December 2023. But in terms of actually putting it altogether, I was running that set, trialling, and adjusting it for about two months prior to me actually posting it. I realised that there were loads of different blends in the original set that I liked but some of them were getting good reactions from some crowds, and the crowd that I wanted to tailor the set to most was the Let It Roll crowd. That set was the closest version to the final iteration because the blends that I played there were a little bit different to the blends that I normally play but they were more in line with my taste and preferences. And they were really well received, which is how a lot of them ended up in the final iteration.
What part of this mix has gained the most attention since its release?
I think there’s one part in particular that’s gained the most traction and attention from people, and I’m so glad it has because it is—by far—my favourite part of the mix. It’s around 37:00 with RageMode’s ‘Ashes (I Fall)’, his new tune coming out, and I think that is one my favourite tunes. It’s just everything I want my sets to encapsulate: feels-y, dark, heavy, beautiful, everything. Literally finding the balance between dark, heavy, and beautiful. That song, down to a T, is perfect. So yeah, I’m glad that part was received and picked out amongst all the other blends and that it stood out to everyone.
Now that the ‘Full Circle’ trilogy has come to a close, are there any new mixes on the horizon?
Yes, so the plan regarding mixes is I want to drop a more vibe-y, dancefloor-esque mix just before summer this year. I’m going to try to make that one more about vibes because I feel like ‘Full Circle Part 3’, whilst it was a technical demonstration and it’s my sound in a nutshell, I don’t feel like that sort of mixing style is easy to listen to outside of a rave setting. Whilst it might get really good reactions in a rave, outside of a rave it’s a lot and it’s very intense. Whereas, the mixes I tend to listen to, and the mixes that I feel will be better received, are the ones that are slightly slower paced but easier to listen to. That’s the plan for the next mix. And then, potentially, there will be another special one towards the back-end of this year, just in time for Australia and New Zealand summertime.
That’s an exciting road ahead! Now looking at your journey as a DJ, is there anyone in your personal life you couldn’t be doing this career without?
Ah, too many people to mention! But as I’m sure the majority of people that follow me already know — my older brother, Max. None of this would be possible without him. I do genuinely mean that 100%. I wouldn’t be doing any of this without him. He was the one that pushed me into getting decks because I didn’t see this as a career. I didn’t even think this would be doable as a hobby. So yeah, I am forever grateful and I can’t thank him enough.
Is there anything in particular you’re looking forward to in your 2025 calendar?
Yes, absolutely! I’ve got more than a few things that I’m looking forward to this year. The big one that’s been announced is Tomorrowland. And I’ve got a couple others coming up that I’m unbelievably excited for. So yeah, this year is going to be unbelievable. I can’t wait.
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