Get to Know the Deep DnB Style of Ainonow

Ainonow swung by to dive into the beginnings of his artistic journey, what influenced his dark soundscapes, his latest release with Slaythoven, and more.

Many artists in the electronic music scene live dual lives, and one who fully exemplifies that is Ainonow. By day, he’s an X-ray crystallographer/structural biologist, but he delivers dark, driving drum and bass-fueled tunes to the masses by night. Based out of Boston, Ainonow has continued to hone his skills in the studio and behind the decks with whatever hours he can muster, and he’s already begun to show off his deep understanding of sound design.

Ainonow’s debut EP, Exile, landed in 2023 and featured two banging drum and bass tunes that showcased his industrial, raw sound while also marrying neurofunk influences into the mix. This year saw him further his journey by taking the stage at multiple events while dropping off his latest powerful single, “Bedlam.” This release saw Ainonow team up with Slaythoven, an artist who is also part of Goop Troop, to create a deep drum and bass soundscape that you can’t help but get hypnotized by.

As Ainonow continues on his journey, we caught up with him to dig into his early days after discovering electronic music, how he breathed life into the project, how he balances his time, and so much more. Listen to his exclusive mix and read on for the full conversation!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 437 || Ainonow on SoundCloud:

Hi Ainonow, thanks so much for chatting with us today. You’ve embraced a range of dark, heavy, bass-laden soundscapes with your tunes. Looking back, who or what were some of the influences that helped push you to this sonic realm?

I think a lot of it just has to do with my own particularly internally developed taste when it comes to music. I do enjoy happy melodic stuff but it rarely has the same sticking power and emotional effect on my brain that minor keys do. I guess the two main artists that first made this very evident to me were Radiohead, Nirvana, Amon Tobin, Kid A, In Utero, and the Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory soundtrack were very major backdrops to my childhood.

Do you remember when you decided that DJing and producing music was what you wanted to do? How did you transition from being a fan of electronic music to making it?

I was always interested in it. I was in a bunch of bands in high school. That’s when I got my first copy of the software Reason and started trying to record material for bands and figure out the whole production thing. I became a fan of electronic music when I started working at a record shop after high school in 2007, but I didn’t start to get serious about production and DJing until I started going to regional Burning Man events back in 2013.

I loved the community at the Burns but the music at the events was not my bag at all and I just kinda took it upon myself to learn DJing so I could start hearing the music I wanted to hear at them. But I was DJing with Ableton because I knew I wanted to do more than DJ, so I started producing in Ableton as well. And from that the Ainonow project was born.

You teamed up with Slaythoven to release your latest tune, “Bedlam.” What’s the story behind the creation of this tune? How did you first come together with Slaythoven?

Andrew (Slaythoven) and I are both part of Goop Troop, a collective of producers, visual artists, and rappers from here in New England. The group is a very eclectic one and we all make very different styles of music for the most part. Andy and I just clicked in a particular way though and I have a particular affinity for his approach to music making so I asked him if he wanted to do a collab together. It felt really effortless throughout the entire process.

Let’s touch on one of the hottest topics in the scene right now: drum and bass. What are your thoughts on the resurgence of the genre in North America and its current state?

I wouldn’t call it a resurgence just because I’m sure if you talk to anyone who has been in the DnB scene at all in the past 20 years, it has been alive and thriving for a long time. Drum & Bass is just gaining mainstream attention now. I think this has to do with the fact that mainstream electronic music in the US has become particularly homogenous in the past five years, and people are hungry for novel sonic palettes and tempos.

It also certainly helps that massive artists like deadmau5 are starting to drop DnB into their sets, and even Beyonce had Nia Archives open for her on tour, which is just crazy to think about for me personally. I’m here for all of it, though, because I love Drum & Bass so much. It’s a genre with a TON of depth, from Neurofunk and Jump Up for the more heavy and high-energy crowd to Deep DnB for the austere minimalists to Liquid DnB for those who prefer more melodic and deeply emotional music. There’s literally something for everyone in it.

Beyond your work as a DJ and producer, you’re also an X-ray crystallographer/structural biologist. How have you been able to find a balance between your two careers?

The short of it is, I don’t. It’s a constant strain. I’m sleep-deprived every single day, as I’m sure any artist who works a full-time job to pay their bills will also tell you. It sucks, but my burning passion for this project and to share my art with the world is just strong enough to pull me through.

Building off that, what are some of the biggest struggles you’ve faced so far?

There’s only one struggle: time. There simply isn’t enough of it to go around. To make truly great art, run a successful music business, and be a scientist is essentially doing 2 to 3 full-time jobs. I’m just constantly exhausted.

Just for fun, if you could play a set anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

In a dirty, industrial, underground warehouse in Hong Kong packed with people, but no stage, no LED walls, just some basic lighting and vibes.

Finally, looking forward to the future, where do you see the Ainonow project in five years?

If I’m being completely honest, I have no idea. I want the project to be as successful as possible, so I just push as hard as I can every single day and hope that people feel as passionate about my project as I do.