Doc Brown, the innovative DJ, producer, and owner of Unlearn Records, is set to drop his upcoming single, “Heard The Bass Drop,” and it’s already generating buzz among music enthusiasts. We had a chance to chat with Doc Brown and he shared with us a little bit about the inspiration behind his latest track and gives us a glimpse of what listeners can expect.
Known for his dark, twisted, and hypnotic productions, Doc Brown talks about his unique musical style and the influences that have shaped it. As he prepares for his ADE debut later this year, he also discusses the importance of connecting with his audience through live events and his aspirations for this milestone performance. Furthermore, Doc Brown unveils exciting future releases, collaborations, and projects, showcasing the promising trajectory of both his career and Unlearn Records. Get ready to dive into the mesmerizing world of Doc Brown’s music.
Congratulations on your upcoming single, “Heard The Bass Drop”! Could you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind this track and what listeners can expect from it?
The idea of having that vocal & cadence came to me one day while driving around in the car & I thought complimenting it with a big bassy synth note would create a nice theme for a track. It used to be that I’d try to sample hunt for similar vocal bits but now I just record them myself. I find I have a lot more control, it’s cleaner & working with my own vocals sharpens my skills to work with other vocalists—or even just random vocal samples.
As the owner of Unlearn:Records, you have been curating and releasing innovative tech house and techno music. How does this new single fit into the overall sound and vision of your label?
I think the aesthetic of the label matches the music I play & release. The label ends up being an extension of my taste both as a DJ & a producer, so it seems to make sense that everything has a similar vibe. I’ve always abided by the “if I’d play it I’d sing it” mentality, so every track that comes out either from myself and/or on the label is something I really believe in & has my full dedication behind it.
Your productions and DJ sets are often described as dark, twisted, and hypnotic. What drives you to create such unique and captivating music? Are there any specific influences or experiences that have shaped your style?
I don’t really know where it comes from to be honest. There are some elements of progressive music I like, but sometimes it’s too etherial. I like a lot of the grooviness & fun of house music but sometimes it’s too corny. And, I love techno too, but sometimes it’s too snobby & serious. I kind of pick & choose from a variety of genres to create a sound that I think takes the best from different corners of the dance music spectrum.
You have worked with various prominent record labels like UNDR THE RADR, Stereo, and WyldCard. What made you decide to release your new single on Farris Wheel? How does this collaboration contribute to your artistic journey?
I’ve been working with Farris Wheel for a while now, this will be my third release. They’ve always done a good job with both curating and promoting their releases, which is all you can ask for in a label. Gene is also one of the coolest dudes in the industry. It’s all love with him & seeing the level of success he’s been able to maintain and the respect he has for the game is inspirational, truly. Always a good time to hang with him as well!
Unlearn Records has established a strong presence in the music scene, featuring releases from talented artists like DJ IDeaL, DJ Dove, and K-Mack. How do you discover and select artists to be a part of your label? Any upcoming releases or collaborations that you are particularly excited about?
Most of the music is sent in via the demo email ([email protected]) but I also have friends that will send me stuff when they think it fits my vibe. It’s flattering artists trust me with their music, so I always try to do my best by everyone & put maximum effort into every release. Coming up we have music from previous label artists Mitch Dodge & MC Flipside under his Rovito & Nolin alias as well as new stuff from Basura Boyz, Ekoboy and a smoking new tune from Casmalia that is going to feature a Gettoblaster remix.
Your label, Unlearn Records, holds a Groove Cruise residency and hosts regular label parties in Miami. How important is it for you to connect with your audience through live events, and how do these experiences influence your creative process?
Fans are the core of the business, without any fans you simply have no career. I quite literally wouldn’t have the label in the position it is today without support from the Unlearn:Family, not only because they stream & buy music, but because they believe in what the label is doing & support it by buying merch, subscribing & donating on Twitch, buying tickets to shows and more. I feel fortunate the fans trust the label enough to know that any show or release is going to have good music, even if they aren’t familiar with some of the names at first glance.
With your ADE debut coming up later this year, what are your expectations and aspirations for this milestone performance? How do you plan to showcase your music and engage with the audience during the event?
I’m so happy to be taking the shows abroad! The live events have been a great vehicle for connecting not only artists & fans, but additionally connecting artists with other artists. The entire ethos has been community-driven since the beginning & that includes having only label artists on label shows, unreleased label music always shared first to label artists, etc. This will be the first chance to get some of the European artists on the label together with friends & fans of theirs, so I’m very much looking forward to helping foster those relationships.
Looking ahead, what can we expect from Doc Brown in terms of future releases, collaborations, or any other exciting projects you are working on? Are there any specific goals or milestones you are aiming to achieve in the coming months?
It’s kind of crazy to think, but every year I like to take stock of where I’m at & see what kind of progress has been made. 2023 is shaping up to be, by far, the biggest year yet. I feel like he quality & stature of my own releases is as good as ever & the label just continues to go from strength to strength—we’re adding top-tier artists to the label family & pushing shows throughout North America & beyond. Later this year, though, do be on the lookout for a remix I’ve done for 28mm on Julian Gray’s label Graydent Collective. The original is an absolutely lovely piece of music & I’m really happy about the way the remix came out!