High Maintenance – Summary
- Genre: Drum & Bass
- Location: Brighton, England
- Facebook – ~23.6k likes https://www.facebook.com/highmaintenanceuk/
- Soundcloud – ~11.9k followers https://soundcloud.com/highmaintenancednb
- Twitter – ~1.1k followers https://twitter.com/highm_uk?lang=en
Introduction
Welcome back to the newest edition of our On The Radar Artist of the Month! For the new readers, this series focuses on producers with high quality sound and track development that we feel are under-recognized and should be garnering more attention than they currently are. This month’s edition features a drum and bass producer from over the pond, which explains his modern take on classic dnb styles and sounds.
For the seventh edition of OTR, we will dive into the productions and remixes of UK drum and bass artist High Maintenance. With song features on BBC Radio 1, Liquicity, and UKF, it’s clear that his production quality is amazing enough to have his music reach major players in the drum and bass scene. Currently signed with AudioPorn Records, High Maintenance has played at major festivals like Hospitality On the Beach and Let it Roll, and numerous other smaller festivals across Europe. These big musical names and major tour performances create a conundrum, if High Maintenance is capable of interacting with dnb legends and icons, why is he not attracting more reach? The last 50 tracks on his Soundcloud average right around 12.5k plays, much lower than we would expect from someone who has such an impressive rolodex.
Original Productions & Remixes
With 165k plays on Soundcloud, this remix of Dirtyphonics & 12th Planet collaboration entitled “Free Fall” feat. Julie Hardy is one of his most listened to tracks. Released three years, this tune expresses High Maintenance’s ability to ace a remix across genres. Originally a grimy, slow dubstep track, High Maintenance took the core feel of the track and translated it into a fantastic drum and bass tune. Diving straight into ominous energy and delicate lyrics, this remix wastes no time in bringing in the heavy dnb one can expect in High Maintenance’s darker tracks. Though for a second it may feel somewhat repetitive, High Maintenance does well to break up the repetition with small changes dotted throughout. The quality of this remix is astounding, and it is a fantastic representation of High Maintenance is capable of creating.
One of his most recent works, “Know the Way” is a beautiful blend of smooth bass and perpetual chill energy. In his own words, as shown on his Facebook post announcing the song’s feature on Liquicty’s YouTube channel, this release is filled with “funky elephant bass sound”. Beginning with a spacey and light intro, emotional lyrics lead us right into a fluid and harmonious drop. High Maintenance does well to keep the energy of the track moving steadily throughout all the respective parts, ensuring the audience keeps their interest. “Know the Way” is a fantastic track, balanced in all respects, and is a good representation of the specific atmosphere liquid dnb is known for.
Perhaps one of our favorites from the artist, “Change Your Ways” feat. Charlotte Haining is a powerful drum and bass tune. The lyrics are both empowering and motivational, and Charlotte Haining’s voice fits perfectly with the mood of the track. Matching with High Maintenance’s tendency to jump directly into a track, the build of “Change Your Ways” is quick, intensity building within the first twenty seconds. Each breakdown of the track evokes images of someone unshackled and confident, ready to move forward and embrace something new. With a smooth synth line and heavy bass, High Maintenance encompasses a number of his signature styles and sounds to create an original track that is fantastic in its entirety.
Conclusion
On the whole, High Maintenance is an artist that consistently puts out tracks in all the realms of drum and bass that are tremendously high quality. His name being next to “larger” artists on popular festivals and on major drum and bass labels creates a disparity compared to the numbers he pulls on his social media and music platforms. We hope that through his continued interaction with the giants of the drum and bass niche, High Maintenance becomes a larger and well known player in the genre in the new year and on.
Music: Hard Dance | Drum and Bass | Future Bass
Hobbies: Cosplay | Travel | Music Festivals | Sewing | Dancing | Contact Staff
Likes: Fried Chicken | Samurai | Video Games | Sleep
Dislikes: Beans | Bugs | Traffic | Complacency
