“Dystopia” by apollo navigation

Apollo Navigation takes on our new Storytelling Challenge, picking the theme of "Dystopia." Each DJ who participates in this challenge is asked to create a narrative or storytelling mix in their own unique style to match a theme from our list. The DJ is allowed freedom to experiment, explore and be as creative as possible.

Q: What was your creative vision or inspiration behind the mix?

I wanted to create a mix that explores styles of drum and bass that fall outside of the usual club focused strains that I usually play, whilst sticking to a mainly dark, dystopian atmosphere throughout.

Visually, I imagined I was walking through brutalist architecture in a future dystopian landscape. Being in this mindset helped to inform the track selection for the mix.

I also wanted the transitions to be much more gradual than my usual mixing style, which gives the listener the chance to really sit with some of the selections and become immersed in their worlds.

Q: Tell us about some of the tracks or samples that you selected.

Choosing to start the mix off with the ambient drone piece Telepathic Dog by Special Request helps to establish the dark, oppressive tone of the tracks to come.

The pounding distortion of the Quartz track Sycophants, blended into the jagged, footwork inspired grooves of Skeptical’s Eyes Down, provide the mix with some of its most intense moments.

Elsewhere, the dystopian mood eases up slightly on the icy but euphoric Revenant by QZB and the trip hop mix closer Glued, from Pessimist and Loop Faction, which also acts as the final credits rolling as the mix draws to an end.

Q: What does this mix reveal about you as an artist?

I think this mix showcases the dystopian styles of electronic music that I feel naturally drawn to and also reveals a deeper side to my selection that I don’t often get the chance to properly explore, but have always wanted to.

You can listen to the full mix on our Soundcloud here.