“Deep Sea Dubs” by Gizby
GIZBY 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.
GIZBY is a South Coast DJ with a love for dark, rolling and high-energy drum & bass. Inspired by old-school jump up, she’s built her sound around heavy basslines, cheeky rollers and a willingness to explore beyond the usual jump-up formula. Jump up remains at the heart of what she does, but she’s never one to stay in a box, moving between filthy rollers, minimal grooves and darker, more experimental sounds.
Q: What was your creative vision or inspiration behind the mix?
I split the mix into three sections based on how I interpreted the deep sea: the calm surface, the midnight zone and the abyssal zone. I wanted the mix to gradually build in intensity, with each section reflected through the music, starting with darker, minimal rollers before descending into slightly more chaotic, wobbly territory.
I chose tracks with subtle background melodic elements and used one of my favourite tunes, Innerbloom by RÜFÜS DU SOL, doubled with a QZB heater to transition from the surface into the midnight zone. From there, the midnight zone becomes more techy and minimal, with a grotty, dark atmosphere that felt fitting for the complete lack of light down there.
The abyssal zone was probably my favourite section, despite being the shortest. I love the way artists like Simula and Skantia create tunes that feel almost otherworldly, strange, dark and unpredictable, like the creatures and sea life you’d find in the deepest parts of the ocean.
Q: Tell us about some of the tracks or samples that you selected.
For the surface, I went for deeper, more spacious rollers with subtle melodic elements. Tracks like Aetherial & Cosmic Sequences, Kill Bunk, Decent and Man Made helped create that calm, underwater feeling. I wanted this section to feel quite open and peaceful before gradually descending into darker territory.
The midnight zone is where things become darker, grottier and more techy. There are a lot of minimal sounds throughout this section, with tracks like Powder VIP, Cocooned, Switchblade, Rules, Outta Control, Jungle Survival and Missing VIP. I wanted this part to feel like you’re gradually losing the light as you descend deeper into the ocean.
Then comes the abyss, which is the shortest section but probably my favourite. This is where I wanted things to feel more strange and otherworldly, using tracks like Gargoyle, Ventator, Inertia, Foreshadow and Devious. I love the way artists like Simula and Skantia create such dark and unusual sounds some may describe these tunes as unorthodox. I thought these songs really suited the idea of the creatures and sea life you’d imagine finding at the very bottom of the ocean.
Q: What does this mix reveal about you as an artist?
I’m usually a jump-up DJ, but I didn’t feel that style really fitted the theme of this mix. Instead of trying to force my usual sound into it, I wanted to let the concept dictate the music. It pushed me outside of my comfort zone and allowed me to explore a darker, more minimal side of drum and bass that I don’t normally play. I think the mix represents my willingness to experiment, be creative and adapt my sound to fit an idea. It also reminded me how much fun it can be to step away from what you normally do and discover something completely different.
You can listen to the full mix on our Soundcloud here.
