An Interview with DXNBY: From Doncaster Roots to Leeds Beats

If you’re into the underground house scene, there’s no way you haven’t come across DXNBY by now. Born and bred in Doncaster and now holding it down in Leeds, DXNBY has been on a roll, steadily building a name for himself. Drawing from UK garage, hip-hop, and bassline, he blends these influences into a sound that’s raw, fresh, and unmistakably his. If you haven’t already, it’s time to keep reading—or, better yet, hit play on his tracks.

DXNBY got hooked on house during the rise of Solid Grooves back in 2017/2018, with tracks from artists like Jamie Jones and Djoko lighting a fire under him. Since then, he’s been cooking up his own sauce, releasing tunes like “White Tiger,” which went off on TikTok and SoundCloud, and dropping killer EPs like ‘ENDZ058’ on Eastenderz. His DXFiles series gives him a space to let loose creatively, breaking free from any label restrictions and letting fans into his world.

Live, he’s no stranger to legendary venues. Warehouse Project? fabric? Cova Santa? Tick, tick, tick. He even hit the MiNT Fest main stage for a B2B set with Jamie Aramayo—a highlight for him so far. But he’s not stopping there—Space Miami is high on his hit list, and he’s itching to take his sound stateside.

With a new EP dropping this February and big plans for 2025, DXNBY’s got plenty in the pipeline. We caught up with him to chat about his story, his creative development (hint: late-night Ableton sessions are key), and the highs and lows of making music on his own terms. This isn’t just another artist profile—this is DXNBY, straight up.

You grew up in Doncaster but are now based in Leeds—how have those places influenced your music?

When I was younger, my local scene was garage and bassline orientated. I think you can hear this in some of my tracks.

You started off with hip-hop and rap influences. Do you ever sneak those vibes into your house tracks?

Of course, always experimenting with different rap samples. I’d say 80% of the music I listen to day-to-day is hip-hop.

What pulled you into the underground house scene? Was there a specific moment or track that hooked you?

House had always been something I’d heard over the years but never really acknowledged when I was young as I was so obsessed with hip-hop (I wish I knew what hip-house was back then!).

But it was Jamie Jones, Green Velvet, MK, etc. I’d say the specific thing that hooked me was the rise of Solid Grooves around 2017/2018. I wanted to do something like that… Also, Djoko (Kolter) tracks started popping up on YouTube recommendations, and Rossi. started to develop this really nice, minimal cheeky house that pricked my ear after being a big UKG/bassline fan for a while from 2015-2017.

What’s your go-to move when you’re stuck on a track and need a creative spark?

I dig for records, and when I hear something I think, “I wish I made that,” it gives me the motivation to start something that made me feel how the track I just listened to did.

Where do you get your best ideas for music? Is it in the studio, on the road, or somewhere random?

Usually, 3 a.m. in bed just messing around on my MacBook. I find the knowledge that everything and everyone is asleep and quiet enables me to focus. No distractions—just lost in the music.

Chris Stussy, East End Dubs, Kolter—your influences are solid. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from their music?

The basics are important. Kick, clap, hat, snare, bass. If you perfect those, the rest will follow.

If you could collab with anyone in the world right now, who’s at the top of your list?

Burnski, Garrett David, Locklead. Luke & Max Dean would take some beating… who knows if that will ever happen ;)

How did it feel getting support from heavyweights like Michael Bibi and Sidney Charles? Did it open any big doors for you?

When Bibi played my "Onlooker" EP at Creamfields, it was a personal goal for me… From there, the support just kept getting stronger and stronger.

DXFiles feels personal. What makes a track or project worthy of being part of that series?

For me, DXFiles is an outlet where I can express myself beyond the boundaries of any label, so anything can fit.

“White Tiger” blew up on TikTok and SoundCloud, and your EP ‘ENDZ058’ on Eastenderz popped off—what’s it like to see your tracks take off like that?

It’s a great feeling. However, I am always hungry to reach the next milestone and push the next boundary.

Can you share some background about your upcoming release on neXup?

This is still in the works. We actually had an A-side locked in but had issues with sample clearance! Next EP out 14th Feb with some heavy house bangers.

You’ve played some iconic venues like Warehouse Project and fabric. Which one’s been the most unforgettable and surreal for you, and why?

The Warehouse Project was a big bucket list tick. I think a big one for me was the B2B with Jamie Aramayo on the MiNT Fest main stage last year—that one meant a lot. My favourite might be The Loft in Manchester. That’s a special place.

What’s one venue or festival you’re dying to play but haven’t had the chance yet?

Space Miami! Get me to the United States!

What’s a challenge in the music world that you’re determined to crack?

Being put in a box and controlled by labels and trends. Everyone’s susceptible to trying to be on trend—even myself. I try to fight this by making music for myself as much as possible.

If you could soundtrack a movie or a video game, what kind of project would it be, and what would it sound like?

I’ve always liked the idea of having a track on FIFA. However, to have a track on GTA would be a dream. I’d love to one day soundtrack a game or film, if and when it’s right.

If you had to make a track in the most random location ever, where would it be, and what vibe would it have?

Coffee shops in Phuket are cool places to cook up ideas for sure—the best smoke, comfortable seats, cats and dogs chilling with you, friendly people. But the most random place I’ve ever made a track was probably on the floor of my friend’s garage, sitting in an upturned inflatable swimming pool as a makeshift bench at 9:40 a.m., still up from a gig the night before. ;)