Mary Droppinz Talks "Ignite" and What Fuels Her Passion

Mary Droppinz gives us insight into her summer performances, her inspirations, and her latest single on Altered States, “Ignite.”

Mary Droppinz continues to propel herself higher in the scene. Her unique sound – a versatile blend of electro, breaks, and UK bass – sets her apart from other artists as she helps raise these genres to the forefront of American dance music. When you add in her bubbly personality, hardworking mentality, and girl boss persona, her recipe for success is complete.

Turn the clock back five years, and you’ll find Mary Droppinz taking early steps in her career. Since then, she has taken the stage at festivals like EDC Las Vegas, Coachella, Northern Nights, Lightning in a Bottle, and Desert Hearts to name a few. She’s also garnered major support from heavy hitters in the scene. Zeds Dead, for instance, recently gave her permission to create an original release from their hit track, “Gassed Up” with Subtronics.

Mary Droppinz’s latest single “Ignite” sees her providing her own spin on “Gassed Up,” with her signature breaks added into the mix for an electrifying, reimagined track. With all the success she has seen lately, we thought it was time to catch up with her, chat about her latest tune, and get the scoop on what’s to come. Be sure to check out “Ignite” via your preferred streaming platform, and keep on reading for our conversation with Mary Droppinz.

Stream Mary Droppinz – “Ignite” on Spotify:

Thanks so much for chatting with us today! You’re in the middle of a slew of summer dates with performances across the country. How has life on the road been?

Stoked for this interview! It’s been great, honestly, Obviously, traveling can wear you down, but I try hard to keep a good balance while on the road. Getting to play my music across the country is very lit, so that makes it all worth it!

Speaking of performances, you’re also playing quite a few festivals this summer, like Northern Nights, Splash House, and Electric Zoo. How do you tailor your sets to festivals or larger stages versus more intimate club venues?

I like to go on a journey in the club. Usually, my set time is longer there too, so it’s honestly just flowing and playing freely. When it comes to big festivals, I like to prepare my sets. I may change things as I go and see how the vibe is, but mostly I am organized, so I can focus more on sharing my energy than figuring out what track to play next.

Congratulations on your new single, “Ignite”! I love how you took Zeds Dead and Subtronics’ “Gassed Up,” slowed it down, and provided your own unique spin on it. Can you walk us through your production process when creating this track?

Thank you! It’s a really cool and unique opportunity – I feel super honored! When I got the stems, I just started picking out the parts I wanted to keep, obviously Flowdan’s vocals. Then, I had to capture some of the original bass hits to still keep it hard but make it more electro-forward. I added a custom electro drum kit, and we’ve got the Droppinz spin on it.

“Ignite” also saw you returning to Zeds Dead’s Altered States label, and you’ve played at various events alongside them, like Deadbeats Jamboree this summer. How has this journey been for you, and what does it mean to you to have their support?

Their support means the world to me. They are absolute legends. It’s been a fun ride, and I look forward to more good times to come. The Altered States label is family!

Mary Droppinz — Photo Credit: Killed With Kindness

Your musical style is truly unique, and fans can’t get enough of your breakbeats, electro, and UK bass tunes. Are there any specific people, places, or ideas you’ve been drawing inspiration from lately?

I fell in love with my sound during the pandemic. Before 2020, I had been DJing house and techno for over five years. When the pandemic hit, I just felt like everything was sounding the same, and I was losing the fire inside. I remember being in a SoundCloud wormhole when I discovered breaks and electro, and I felt like everything was re-ignited inside of me!

When I first moved to LA, I was in production school at IO Academy and started learning to make drums on Ableton Push. Naturally, mine weren’t four on the floor. I didn’t fully identify what I was making until I took the time to understand these genres and sub-genres outside of house and techno. To be honest, I feel as if this sound was in my blood, and once I opened my heart and mind to allow it to come through, it found me.

I gain so much inspiration from my emotions and experiences. Expressing myself through fashion, what I wear, what I’m feeling, and what I’m listening to all correlates. After finding my sound, I reconnected with my former co-worker, Stephen Schroeder from Native Instruments, who is now my friend, mentor, and production partner. He’s been making this stuff since the ’90s and, in my opinion, is the GOAT at making breaks. He gives a professional touch to my productions.

When we last spoke with you in 2018, you said that your dream events to play in California would be Desert Hearts and Lighting in a Bottle, both of which you performed this year. How does it feel to see all your dreams coming true, and what have you learned through your success over the years?

Wow, I love that reflection! It’s surreal but also so real at the same time. I’ve learned that finding ways to ground yourself and make time for self-care and health is always what’s most important. If you can do that, no matter what happens in life, you’re able to navigate it. Aside from accomplishing many of my goals of performing for big crowds at my favorite festivals, it’s been truly rewarding to give back all the knowledge I’ve gained. Being the head DJ instructor for FEMME HOUSE has given me a lot of purpose.

What would you go back and tell yourself when you were starting your career? Would you give the same advice to anyone looking to get into your shoes and produce?

I’d say start learning to make music as soon as you can – even if you aren’t good at it at first! I DJed for 5+ years before I started learning how to produce, and I think it’s crucial to building a music career. I’m proud to be a DJ first, and I wouldn’t change the journey I’ve been on for the last nine years, but I think it could have propelled my career forward much faster if I had started producing a bit sooner.

Lastly, what can we expect from you in the latter half of this year? Anything else you can share with fans?

This fall, my third EP on Altered States is being released, titled The Cycle. I am so excited about this one because it’s a true testament to where I am currently with my sound and production skills. A lot of the music I’ve put out in the last couple of years has been built on samples, remixes, or fun bootlegs that I like to drop on Bandcamp for the DJs. This EP includes some of my most original music since my breakout track “Acid Mother” in 2021- including my own lyrics and vocals.