MUZZ

Artists:

The Fruit

January 25, 2025

305 S Dillard St

Durham

9:00 PM

Through the years, DnB has been kept alive in the N.C. underground and has been surging recently in the dance music world. Riding at the forefront of the new wave is British export Muzz, currently on a North American tour. His 2020 album ‘The Promised Land’ earned nominations for Best Album and Best Track in the British Music Awards. Known for blending industrial rock intensity with cinematic euphoria, MUZZ has carved out a legendary status in electronic music through releases on labels like Monstercat, UKF, and Liquicity Records. From EDC Las Vegas to Reading Festival, his high-energy performances will leave an impact on those that see him at the Fruit for years to come. He'll be joined by local DnB legend Velle and DJ Battle winning artist euuan.

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Muzz Leads the Charge as Drum & Bass Takes Over

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and... DnB?

Written By:

Angie Dodson

Photography By:

muzz sold out show durham fruit morning choir

"I want to push the boundaries of music" -Muzz

A drum & bass renaissance has taken America by storm this year, and people can’t get enough of its breakneck speed and heavy basslines. Though it isn’t new—the genre originated in the UK in the ‘90s—artists like Pink Pantheress and Kenya Grace have propelled it to new heights of mainstream popularity in recent years. As demand for the iconic “amen break” continues to rise, it was only fitting to welcome acclaimed drum & bass artist Muzz to Durham on January 25th, 2025, at the Fruit as part of his 2025 North American tour.

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eeuan durham techno morning choir fruit rave

Durham-based euuan—with a lowercase “e,” because uppercase “E” is just too unbecoming, according to the artist—started the night with a high-energy hardgroove set. A techno artist opening for a drum & bass show, he aimed to ease the crowd into the journey and get them grooving before the bpm ramped up to lightning speed. He brought an air of sophisticated chaos to the decks, his calm demeanor providing an interesting juxtaposition to the music, but commanding the room nonetheless. By the time his set ended, the crowd was warmed up and ready for more.

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Durham producer VELLE laying it down

VELLE, originally from Siler City but now based in Durham, hit the decks next with an eclectic drum & bass set. Inspired by the music of video games, VELLE brings a frenetic cyberpunk edge to the dancefloor. Rooted in drum & bass, VELLE isn’t afraid to explore the unexpected—mixing in elements of shoegaze and ambient rock into her sound. She’s a hardworking and diligent artist, continuing to refine her sound backstage before the set. The music is in her blood too—she began her journey learning the ropes from her dad and cultivating a passion for electronic music from a young age. “Music is really cool,” she says, “Really. I’m in it for the music and nothing else.” Her set was a refreshing taste of drum & bass and the perfect transition between the first and final acts of the night.

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When Muzz's 'Don't Stop' hits

muzz playing don't stop dnb d&b drum&bass durham north carolina triangle music scene

Powerhouse UK artist Muzz brought the best of drum & bass to close out the show. Though he recalls a time when he would play near-empty rooms in America, the scene here was quite different. A packed room greeted him, hands in the air, immersed in the music, and ready to feel the bass rattle in their bones. The crowd moved frenetically, like atoms bouncing between one another, as Muzz demonstrated just how far drum & bass can go. An artist unafraid to push boundaries, Muzz seeks innovation in his work, citing a desire to keep the genre “fresh and diverse.” His most ambitious project to date has seen him composing for an entire orchestra—an intense undertaking he admits he probably wouldn’t repeat. Looking ahead, he shared some insight into the brainstorming process for his second album, experimenting with a small collection of vintage synthesizers to evoke a specific feeling that gestures back to the origins of drum & bass.

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morning choir built the scene electronic music techno house music

NCDNB with Muzz at the Durham Fruit

Was this fresh hype around drum & bass in America inevitable? Muzz thinks so—and the music speaks for itself. The genre’s iconic drum breaks have an undeniable ability to get under your skin. It’s that infectious buzz, the rapid-fire beats, and the heavy basslines that hook listeners and keep them coming back for more. As the genre continues to gain traction, and with artists like Muzz leading the charge, the future looks even brighter for the genre, reaching audiences all over the world. Whether or not the hype was inevitable, one thing is certain: drum & bass is thriving, and it's only up from here.

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