Get to Know the Versatile Stylings of Duckworthsound

UK juggernaut Duckworthsound dropped by to discuss his label Duckplates, his evolution in bass music, and handling advice from peers.

Hailing from the UK, bass music DJ and producer Duckworthsound is making waves with his seamless approach to crafting multi-genre bangers. London’s thriving music scene made a significant early impression on him, leading him to dive into producing in his teen years. Now a decade into his project, the multifaceted rising star has a multitude of accomplishments under his belt as he continues to grow the Duckworthsound project.

His eclectic and innovative sound led him to official releases with Mad Decent, Dim Mak, and Insomniac Records prior to establishing an imprint of his own. Duckworthsound and collaborator Dread MC founded the label Duckplates in 2024. What was originally created for maximum freedom in their own releases has now garnered features from dozens of artists through their remix EPs.

Duckplates’ latest release, “Badman Sound 2,” serves up a fresh twist to the 2024 precursor, “Badman Sound.” The sequel packs a punch with a heavier flavor, as opposed to the original bass house stylings of the initial track. The release marks a first for Duckworthsound as it landed a feature on the UKF Dubstep channel on YouTube.

Riding the high of this personal win, Duckworthsound swung by to discuss his career growth, plans for the future, and friendship with Dread MC. Listen to his exclusive mix on SoundCloud and read on for the full conversation.

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 475 || Duckworthsound on Soundcloud:

You recently premiered “Badman Sound 2” with Dread MC, which ended up on the UKF YouTube channel. What was it like releasing on such an iconic platform that’s been pivotal in pushing bass music forward for close to two decades?

Honestly, it’s such an incredible feeling for UKF to premiere that track. I’ve grown up, like so many other people my age, listening to UKF religiously. It’s been such an iconic hub for all types of bass music, and to see one of my tracks get premiered on the legendary blue brand was such a genuine feel-good moment for me.

Dread MC is not only your collaborator, but the co-founder of your imprint, Duckplates. How did that relationship develop, and what made you take that leap into starting a label together?

Dread is an incredible artist to work with, and we get on so well on the day-to-day with what we want Duckplates to become and the vision we have for it. It’s been great starting this label up with him, and I’m excited for what we plan on developing Duckplates into.

We initially worked on a track around 2020 or 2021 that we ended up making so many versions of. Dread told me he had an album in the works, and that really got me to step up and finally create something we were both hyped on. Once we finished that track, we had a couple of shows where he was my MC, and we got chatting more and more about different styles of bass and dance music.

We started making new projects that were so out there and different from other tracks in some of these genres. We realized how we work, and what we do is a bit more unique and in between many genres and styles, which is something I’ve always loved. When it comes to productions and when I play DJ sets, I like being out there and unique.

We realized with tracks like this and the direction we saw it going in, maybe it’s best to create a label that represents the music we love making and playing, which is a wide array of electronic dance music genres. That’s what Duckplates is all about.

How did growing up in an environment deeply rooted in bass music shape you as a producer?

I took inspiration from so many different artists and genres. I’ve always been influenced by new and evolving sounds happening. I guess growing up enjoying and loving such a wide array of bass music is what led me to producing the type of music I do today!

You entered the scene in 2015 at just 18 years old. As you’ve grown personally and professionally, how has your outlook on the Duckworthsound project shifted over the years?

There have been so many high points, and also a lot of lows, which is natural after 10+ years of doing the Dukworthsound project. I’ve had so many different people in the music industry give me advice — some good, some not so good. I’ve taken it all in, and it’s shaped me into who I am now. I always look for advice and thoughts from peers and people in the scene. Looking at things from multiple perspectives is the best way to continue to learn and grow.

What’s been the biggest struggle you’ve faced in your career over the past decade? Have you been able to overcome it?

I’ve had plenty of struggles, some I still face now. Sometimes I get lost in my head when it comes to what direction I should be going in. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people comment or mention that I should really focus on one genre or style, or maybe I should create alternate artist names for different genres. I struggle with that because I do understand where they’re coming from. Perhaps that would elevate me as an artist more, or maybe more fans would become more engaged with me when I’m only making the style they enjoy, but that’s just not me.

The whole reason behind my name was that I wanted people to see this is me and these are the sounds I enjoy making. I understand not everything is for everyone, but I like making such a mix of music. I’ll continue to do so with hopes that more people will value that and enjoy all the different types of music I put out.

As a producer, your sound spans a variety of genres, always anchored by a booming bassline. What motivates you to experiment with different genres instead of sticking to one sound?

My motivation comes from my enjoyment of all these different styles of music. I enjoy listening to so many different styles, and I hope people can hear and realize that from the music I release. When I find myself in my most creative times, I’ll truly experiment with all genres and styles and really take a deep dive into that genre’s roots to understand it better and make the best possible track I can while still giving it my own twist.

You’ve already had the pleasure of doing a showcase at Glastonbury — a huge milestone. Are there any other festivals you dream of playing, and what makes them a perfect match for your style?

Thank you! It was an amazing moment to play Glastonbury. I still can’t believe it happened myself! I would love to tour North America — EDC Las Vegas has always been a dream of mine, and I’d love to make it happen one day.

Finally, do you have any specific goals that you’d like to achieve in the rest of 2025 and the coming years?

For the rest of 2025, I just hope that I and the label Duckplates continue to grow and reach as many lovers of bass and dance music as possible. If I had to set a goal, though, I’d love to play some more shows outside of the UK. Hopefully I can make it happen!