Bristol-based artist XAETIS (pronounced “Zey-tis”) has carved out a reputation as a multi-talented force within the drum and bass community. Known for fusing the raw energy of old-school Neurofunk with the innovation of new-wave DnB and the weight of dark, tech-driven rollers, XAETIS brings his own otherworldly twist to the genre. Drawing on influences from drum and bass, electronic music, post-rock, prog/metal and psychedelia, his eclectic background and passion for bass have quickly established him as a distinctive and rising name on the scene.
In 2018, XAETIS relocated to Bristol to pursue a BA (Hons) in Music Production at BIMM. It was here that his obsession with drum and bass truly ignited: “I remember going to a Jungle event at Motion for the first time in Bristol, and I just instantly felt like I was home…” Though his early productions were exploratory—dabbling in rollers, foghorns, liquid and Neurofunk—this period proved vital in sharpening his technical skills and building the sonic foundation of his craft.
By 2020, XAETIS co-founded EXPEDITE Records with Jon a.k.a. ON|IT, a label dedicated to championing overlooked talent within the UK’s growing Neurofunk and heavy DnB movement. A turning point arrived in 2021 when Jon introduced him to his first ever Virus Recordings event at London’s Steelyard. With a heavyweight lineup featuring pioneers Ed Rush & Optical, Dillinja, BTK, Audio b2b Prolix, Calyx b2b Teebee and more, XAETIS witnessed Neurofunk at its purest and most uncompromising form. The experience reshaped his musical vision: “…after that I finally knew what music I wanted to make.”
XAETIS’ inspirations trace a wide sonic spectrum: the atmospheric worlds of Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin and Jon Hopkins; the intensity of post-rock and prog-metal giants such as Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You; and, more recently, the cutting-edge sound design of Noisia, Mefjus, Current Value, Audio, Magnetude, Gydra, Mean Teeth and others. Blending these influences, XAETIS now strives to push Neurofunk into fresh territory with a sound that is relentless, evolving, and unapologetically heavy.
His career momentum has accelerated rapidly. Festival highlights include sets with Minirig at Boomtown and Balter (two years running), a breakthrough performance at Darkshire in the Woods 2022 following his Leviathan LP release on Sinful Maze, and a memorable support slot for Ed Rush at Rise of the Underground in Jersey. He has been a fixture at Neuroheadz Festival three years consecutively, sharing lineups with Spor, Pythius, Prolix, Ed Rush & Optical, PRDK, Jade, State of Mind and more. Collaborative B2B sets with NIALLO have also seen him headline EXPEDITE and Yamatai takeovers across Bristol and London, supporting artists such as Gyrofield, Freshney and Stellar Residents.
With ever-expanding production prowess and a growing presence behind the decks, XAETIS now stands at a pivotal stage in his career: ready to make his mark on the global drum and bass landscape with an uncompromising and forward-thinking sound.