Break Opens Up About Gear, Emotion, and Longevity Ahead of ‘Digital World Remixes’
Across two decades of releases, Break has become one of drum & bass’ most respected figures by building his own sonic language: punchy drums, textured low-end, and a sense of balance between grit and musicality that never feels overworked.
His work as a producer and label head through Symmetry Recordings has set a high bar, both in output and ethos. And with the new Digital World Remixes project, he’s inviting top-tier names like Mefjus, Calyx, L-Side, Skeptical, and Alibi to flip tracks from his acclaimed 2023 LP Digital World into fresh shapes fit for the dancefloor.
The record hits hard across all angles: club support is already strong, the collaborators speak for themselves, and the vocal lineup includes respected names like Charli Brix, Liam Bailey, MC Fats, SP:MC, and Lorna King. But in the midst of this celebratory remix moment, Break took some time to reflect on the emotional side of gear, creative pacing, and how his studio tools have evolved alongside his career.
Do you have any gear that holds sentimental value or reminds you of a certain time in your career?
I still have my old Emu sampler that I started my career with and all the floppy disks—also my original Mackie mixing desk which I still use sometimes. They were simpler times where you made a tune, recorded it, and then started a new mix on the desk and moved on.
Have you ever sold something and then realized it had more emotional weight than you thought?
I’m a bit of a hoarder as I always worry about that regret. Only had that problem with cars!
Do you think the energy or mood you associate with certain gear comes through in the music?
Yeah, I think so sometimes. My track “Overstayed,” for example, I made when I was demoing a unit from a brand called Overstayer. That unit had some savage distortion and filters which really influenced the whole creation of that tune. The dark and gritty sound of that hardware really comes through in that track.
Are there tools you reach for when you’re in a specific emotional state—frustrated, focused, inspired?
Yeah I guess so.
The tools are there to help you create and mood often dictates the direction. As I’m quite varied in my styles, if it’s a chilled vibey day I might reach for a Rhodes and jam out some chords for a liquid track, and if it’s a day for a heavy dancefloor banger it could be Serum and a Culture Vulture distortion.
When choosing gear, how much do you factor in the way it feels to use—not just how it sounds?
I guess these days it’s almost more important because plugins are so close if not better sometimes. So the hands-on feeling and the unique character that a piece of gear brings is a big factor. That’s why I love real tape delay—it’s quite a hands-on experience to use and then incredible to hear.
Have you ever kept something around because it “feels right,” even if you don’t use it often?
That was my drumkit until recently. I never have the space or time to use that, even though I’d love to be able to play the drums every day. I’ve not had the right studio or house. I did sell it in classifieds for really cheap, hopefully I’ll have a setup one day where I can have a kit to play.
How do you balance the emotional pull of certain tools with the need to stay efficient?
As time’s gone on and I’ve got older, got other commitments and priorities in life, I’ve had to become a lot more efficient and focused in the studio. Sometimes it can be sad, as experimenting and vibing out can be a great way to end up somewhere musically, but it can also feel good to take charge and focus in on finishing things methodically.
