Metronome #035: Logan D

It’s safe to say Danny Logan, the man behind the alias Logan D, was destined to make an impact in drum & bass. Born to legendary DJ Micky Finn, creator and cofounder of seminal jungle label Urban Takeover, Logan has gone on to create a legacy all his own with his sought-after DJ sets, productions and award-winning record label, Low Down Deep.

In addition to snatching up the accolade for Best Label at the National Drum & Bass Awards, Low Down Deep boasts a monster arsenal of in-demand D&B DJs who are constantly dominating the UK and European festival markets. There’s no denying the brand has certainly left an impression on the dancefloor.

On his Metronome mix, Logan D takes us on a 45-minute, 42-track journey through a rough and tough assemblage of recent, unreleased works and label favorites via his renowned, quick-cut mixing style. We learn more about the Cities Series, his destination-based conceptual EP project, and how his standout sound has taken him on adventures around the world.

Congratulations are in order for Low Down Deep winning Best Drum & Bass Label at the 2015 Drum & Bass awards. How did you react to the news?
Thank you so much! The news was a massive shock to me. Although we came runner-up in 2013 and 2014, I never expected that we could take the top spot.

When did you feel LDD started to set itself apart from other imprints?
In 2011, our events started to climb over the 1,000 attendance mark. I think this played a big part in the popularity of the label. It wasn’t just record-buyers that knew about us anymore; we were hitting a bigger audience.

LDD has worked with a variety of artists, but who are the core LDD artists?
Our core artists are Majistrate, Pleasure, DJ Sly, and Heist & Pacso. Recently, we have taken on board Serum, Jaydan, Dominator, Voltage and Turno. These guys are bringing some heat at the moment.

We love the concept for the Low Down Deep City Series, your destination-themed EPs based on different locations around the world. Where is the series traveling to next?
Next up in the City Series is Amsterdam. This will be a four- or five-track EP by Majistrate. After that, Turno will be gracing us with a four-track EP titled Rome. We also have Rio de Janeiro, Brussels and New York in the cards.

Here in Los Angeles, we have a huge culture representing bass music. Could you ever see yourself coming out here for a Low Down Deep tour?
I would love to include a Low Down Deep tour date in Los Angeles; it would be the ideal spot. I hear the [D&B] scene is very healthy again. I haven’t personally played in the States for quite a few years, since dubstep kind of took over. Hopefully, I will be back over again soon to make some contacts to make that happen.

Where is the most far-away or remote place you’ve performed?
The farthest place I have traveled to perform was Australia, in November 2014. I’ve been booked again to play this November, even though it is nearly 40 hours on a plane to get there and back. The most remote place I have ever played in would have to be Almaty, Kazakhstan. I just never thought that D&B would reach a place like that.

Who are some of your favorite vocalists at the moment?
I really like Becky Hill. Jenna G is amazing; I don’t think I have ever heard a track from her that I dislike. Singing Fats, Darrison, David Boomah and Stamina are also some of my favorites. Oh, and I can’t forget Justin Bieber! Just kidding.

With the evolution of D&B in the last 10 years, where do you see the genre moving in the next decade?
I can only see drum & bass growing bigger and stronger. If it keeps growing worldwide at the same rate the UK has been going in recent years, then we are onto a winner. I have to give props to the likes of Sigma for hitting new boundaries and promoting the music we love on a major scale.

What were some of your earliest memories of breakbeat music?
Mixing two tracks and actually getting them in time. I remember thinking to myself, “This sounds different to the mixes I have done over the last 12 months.” It was a good feeling knowing that I got my first mix in, but it also made me feel stupid that it took a year to do so.

If there were to be a soundclash featuring Mickey Finn vs. Logan D, which tune do you pull up first?
This is a tough one. My dad was known for his VIP special dubplates. I don’t think I would like to clash him; it could end in tears for me. But if I had to pick a track, I would say “The Terrorist” by Ray Keith.

If you could trade riders with any other D&B DJ, who would it be?
It would have to be Andy C! Those first-class flights to Australia would add so much comfort to the journey. Especially as I have long legs. (Laughs)

Track List:: Dominator & Logan D “Rumble”
Modified Motion & Faction “Funk Foo”
Heist “Through the Gate”
Coda “Haunted”
Pacso “Mind Your Business”
Taxman “Billy Big Bollocks”
Majistrate “You Keep Playin”
Freek “About a Murder”
Dominator & Logan D “Monster Sharks”
Voltage “Locked On”
Pleasure “Torn”
Logan D & Heist “Gargons”
Logan D & Dominator “Giant Killer Bees”
Modified Motion & Faction “Mischief”
Drumsound & Bassline Smith “Something About You”
Majistrate “Attention”
Hoogs “Bunga Ranch”
DJ Sly “Running” VIP
Kotu “Moving on Up”
Majistrate “Pick Em Out”
Upgrade “69”
Freek “Wanna Dance”
Tyke “Larries Large Looking Lengthy Ley Lines”
Taxman “Falling Down” VIP
Jayline & Ruffstuff “The Demons”
Logan D & Dominator “Hooligan”
Zinc “Backup”
TNT “2 Degrees” (Logan D & Dominator Mix)
Turno “Get Back”
Jaydan “Shaolin Skills” VIP
Sub Killaz “Dreaming of You”
Taxman “Creepshow”
Coda “Untilted”
Konichi “Pyramid”
Serum “Hit List”
Jaydan “All Crew”
Origin “Excalibre”
Dialogue “Transmit Vibes”
Freek “Headcase”
Samy Nicks & Rekwest “Rum Droll”
Taxman “Reprezent”
The Prototypes ft. Ayah Marar “Kill the Silence”