Niall consciously used different processes and techniques whilst learning and discovering his own workflow. Each tune has a very different vibe but it also tries to stay consistent as a body of work that can be listened to like a story. Niallo first emerged last year with a debut release on Oscity Music, and shortly after released a couple tracks on Expedite Records. In 2021, Niallo released a luscious rework of Jon Hopkins - Abandon Window, stunningly setting free a jubilant sensation with such fervor due to Niall’s relationship with the original.

Since then Niallo has been expanding his sound, experimenting with sound design and compositions which you can get a taste of in his - 100% Niallo Production Showcase - Vol.1 on Soundcloud. A personal favorite from the mix came to light soon after, “Focus” released on Stellar Audio back in July as part of their VA - Accretion EP. The track is a joyous ride of various tempos and styles. Layered with fluttering jovial chords aligned with sweet vocal stabs all along a chonky bass.

Making his return to Expedite Records with 'Introspection', the debut EP explores the depths of Niallo’s nourished sound while examining divergent approaches in form and technique, shining a light on Niallo’s diverse nature.

Inviting Niallo to the chat was quite surreal after hearing his sound develop over time because you never know how an artist will progress after liking one of their tunes and it’s very clear he’s been crushing it. As always was an honor to talk with Niall covering his debut EP, life, goals, and future plans.

How is your day going and everything?

Not too bad, I've been messing around with sounds today! First time in a while that I’ve done that because I’ve been flat out making tunes recently so I wanted a day of just making sounds.

Of course, definitely necessary. So I believe you’re in school correct? How’s it going?

Uni yes, in electronic music production.

Being in Bristol, I’d assume a handful of other producers alike there.

Yeah, Circumference go there and Vowel went there as well. Quite a decent bit of artists are there at the moment, it's a sick place. Obviously, it’s Bristol, Drum & Bass is massive here so it’s really good.

I notice it in your music because it ranges in a variety of tempos and styles so tell us how your surroundings influence you and influences in general.

Originally before I moved to Bristol I was into very heavy neuro. Since I’ve come to Bristol the Bristol kind of sound has influenced me quite a bit. My music now has that European tech sound but also sort of a British sound in a way, people like Skantia and Annix that sort of sound. What I’m kind of going towards now, a bit more jump-uppy. In general, a lot of my influences are outside of Drum & Bass. Electronica, Glitch Music, anything really weird honestly like Aphex Twin, Autechre, and anything really cinematic. I love movie soundtracks, a lot of my intros are influenced by them.

A couple of tracks of 'Introspection' had some halftime switches, what was the inspiration there?

I don’t really listen to that kind of music much anymore but I used to listen to artists like Frequent and Copycatt a lot which really influenced my bass sound design. I really like people like Culprate and Koan Sound, who’ve been releasing a massive range of music for years now.

So you’ve released with Expedite Records and Stellar Audio, tell us about your relationship with them and how it came together?

Over a year ago, I was in a chat with Xaetis (from Expedite Records) and he said he was starting a label. Asked if I wanted to get involved then released 'Planet Venus' as a single and then 'Alien Contact' on their Foundations VA. Around the same time I had the first release with them, John who owns it asked if I wanted to do an EP this year and I said yes straight away. I had the concept for my debut EP for a while, I started it around this time last year. Now I have another release on a VA compilation in December!

With Stellar Audio, I met the owner at a house party in Bristol, got talking and he was really into my music so I sent him a few tracks and we got 'Focus' out.

Awesome! Both have been releasing some pretty cool music, looking forward to what they have in store. So,'Introspection' artwork, how did this sick piece come to life?

James, also known as Gaijin, is the one who created it. I can’t remember actually how we started working together, I think it was just being friends on Facebook and looking at his artwork. I was just like... that would be perfect! It looks like what my music sounded like. He did a few bits for me and I told him the concept of the EP - 'Introspection', what it's all about and what I want it to be. Few examples of faces looking into each other or two faces looking at each other. The first demo was spot on, he didn’t need to go back and do anything else because he smashed it straight away. Exactly what I wanted, he’s very reliable, quick and always knows what I want as well. It can be painful to get artwork from people how you want it so shouts out to Gaijin!

I had spotted a wild Niallo in Patreon discords a while back, are you still subscribed to any at the moment?

At the moment in time, I’m actually not subscribed to any simply because I can’t afford it. I need to get more involved with Discord chats more but it’s just one of those things I forget to look at and there are loads of messages when I’m back. With Patreon, I was in IMANUs, The Caracal Project/Skylark’s, Koan Sound’s, Noisia’s, etc. Noisia’s was really good, the knowledge I got from there was a lot. It’s been great getting feedback from other artists as well like Emperor, and Phace. I never really been one to bounce around to see what’s what where. Discord is a good place to promote my music, especially in Secula/YAANO’s Discord and gyrofields too, I've had some great responses. One of those things I need to get back to, I very much stay with my Facebook group chats.

It’s great hearing about those interactions and it’s nice knowing there are people out there ready to help and relay feedback. So inform us about your debut EP, how did the tracks and concept come to fruition?

The concept was introspection which is examining your own mental processes and emotions. I thought that would be the perfect thing to have as a debut EP. I wanted it to be conceptual, I was reading up on philosophical concepts and that stood out to me.

The intro track actually wasn’t even a Drum & Bass track to start with, it was just an Electronica, a more ambient idea. Moved the intro synths and thought I’d try making it into a Drum & Bass tune. Around the time I decided on the concept for the EP. I had the first section of those synths and added some more which was very inspired by Stephan Bodzin, the more melodic techno sound and I threw the 4x4 jumps in it. I was messing around with the idea of doing another drop, a more standard Drum & Bass part but I didn’t really need it so I thought I’d bring it down more slowly.

'Ignorance' and “Watching Us' were just me having fun making sick sounds and experimenting. More dancefloor sort of tracks you play at a club.

'Serenity' the last one was bringing it back, molding it all back to the start, and having another more emotional track. It’s one of the tracks you can easily listen to whenever/however because it’s so stripped back. I wanted every track to have a different mood to it but also have them interlinked together as a continuous piece. Hopefully, it all sounds like one big body of work instead of four random tracks.

Where did the 'Watching Us' sample come from?

It’s a random splice sample, I wanted a pre-drop vocal and it was just a sample saying 'watching us'. I didn't want it to just be that sample so I screwed it all up Ableton. I was messing around with the wall and transient modes, put in reverb so that it made it stutter, and chucked some random effects in there to get it sounding as weird as I could. Quite interesting how that track came together, the bass was in another track I was making and the midi pattern of it was a different track. I didn’t like the bass in the midi pattern but liked the pattern. And I didn’t like the other track with the bass so I put it through the midi pattern I liked. It worked perfectly. The intro was a bastard to write, took me so long was the longest bit of the EP. I wanted the intro to be quite glitchy because I’ve always liked glitchy sounds in the background but I needed chords and musical value to it. To make it work together was difficult, I was hoping for it to be a bit better but it works how it is.

You have a variety of genres in your latest production mix on Soundcloud, even some 140. Hopefully, we see those released someday?

Yeah, a few 140 bits, a few future Garage - 130, and I’ve worked some techno tracks but haven't got anywhere. It would just be nice to get some other genres out there. I feel like nowadays it’s becoming more exceptional for people to release other genres. A couple years ago especially in Drum & Bass, everyone was so focused on just releasing and making it. Ever since IMANU’s been doing it, a lot more artists have been releasing other tempo’s of styles and everyone's been loving it.

Goals and future plans in this upcoming year?

I have a release a month till May next year. Quite a few singles until the end of the year. Start of next year I have three EP’s coming out. What I’m working on at the moment. One is done, whole concepts there, I’m just refining and making them work as an EP together. I've sent a handful of demos to a couple bigger labels, hopefully, it all works out, fingers crossed. End goals obviously Neosignal, Dividid and Vision which is really the end goal, if I could get some music on Vision that would be amazing. Other than that, releasing other genres, definitely, one 140 tune coming out next year possibly before my Incurzion EP, and hope to write an EP that's not Drum & Bass to get out there. Once I get these next few releases out, I want to start experimenting with more genres because I’d like to be more known as a multi-genre artist. Before I’d start like a techno tune and never end up finishing it. Up until a few months ago, I could barely finish anything. Though I’m quite happy writing a lot of Drum & Bass at the moment, I’m starting to get to that stage where I’m finishing more Drum & Bass tunes so hopefully, I’ll get better at finishing other genres as well.

Thanks for your time Niallo, excited to hear what’s next, cheers!