In this interview, Zane talks to Mistabishi about his music, inspirations, and what’s on the horizon for the drum and bass producer…

It’s hard to miss “No Matter What” right now – the song’s been getting all kinds of play. How do you feel about that success?

It’s a Hospital ting! They are a very organized and powerful business, and they’re not afraid to take risks. Luckily it paid off in this case and was embraced by people who normally turn their noses up at d&b. So yeh, reached a lot of ears with this one…

What inspired the song’s unique mix of styles?

The relationship with my missus is very up and down. Sometimes we feel great and euphoric together; other times we’re at each other’s throats. The track was done during a rough patch. That old schizophrenic hardcore sound from the early 90′s seemed to fit with my mood at the time so it came out like that!

So I want to know more about Mista the artist. How did you get started in drum and bass?

It was just our local folk music really. I grew up in Essex on the border between London and Cambridge. Cambridge has a healthy d&b scene and there were loads of free hardcore parties around our area, plus the west end of London if you fancied something more swish… so it’s firmly in the core of how approach the music. Couldn’t get away from it even if I tried tbh!

Who do you consider influential to your music?

Hard to say coz I’ve listened and loved so much stuff over the years. I’m just a product of the early 90s really. Grunge, electronic music (which really got serious in the 90s), Shoegazer music, jungle (obviously) and indie stuff (britpop guess).

I love that picture of your studio. Can you tell me about your production environment?

Little kitchen table in a tiny flat with a real nice air of headphones. I get bits of kit out of cupboards when I need to… the Mackie desk, the old synths and guitar pedals.. oh yeh and my trusty blue Korg. i love that thing.

You’ve released track for Virus and Hospital… what’s on the horizon for Mistabishi? New projects we can look forward to?

More effort at sneaking d&b behind enemy lines and into the mainstream without compromising it too much… I’m sposed to be a producer innit… it’s my job to make sure what comes out of those speakers reaches people’s tastes in a way that doesn’t turn them off this music but makes them wanna be junglist for life… (it was done to me 15 odd years ago… it’d be rude not to return the favour!)