Snuffy Unpacks "Clubstep," His Unique Fusion Of 140 And Dance Music

A driving force of the underground, DJ and producer Snuffy gives us insight into his forward-thinking bass project that’s turning heads.

Snuffy has crept from the depths of the underground toward the mainstream bass scene this year. The innovative DJ project helmed by Andre Kouchekey has made incredible strides in the last six months, landing festival bookings at Shambhala, Zombie Apocalypse, and Of The Trees’ Camp Alderwild.

You might ask what makes Snuffy stand out from his peers, and that’s attributed to his multidimensionality as a bass artist. Rooted in dubstep, Snuffy takes the traditional 140 algorithm and puts his own spin on it by sprinkling in elements of dance music. “It’s urban, industrial, and gritty, but minimal and energetic enough to live comfortably in a club,” says Snuffy. His unreleased collaboration with Volume Unit is a perfect example of his club-ready bass sound.

There’s a lot of UK influence — I like to make people move! I jokingly call it “clubstep” because it sits somewhere between 140, UKG, dubstep, and club music without fully belonging to any one of them.
Snuffy

Influenced heavily by the work of his peers, Snuffy credits his friends VCTRE, Saka, and Mirror Maze as inspiration. “Watching friends push the sound forward motivates me just as much as the OG’s,” he reflected.

While his tastes have changed and evolved over the years, Snuffy says he feels each chapter has equally contributed to his understanding of music. Artists like Tsuruda, Mr. Carmack, and the whole Courteous Family crew influenced his resonant sound, whereas Bakey, Interplanetary Criminal, and the artists of ATW Records have contributed to his groove-centric basslines.

While Snuffy’s flips tend to skew toward the more energetic end of things, the producer taps into a softer, more evocative side on his track “B4U” and the unreleased ID that closes his birthday mix, Footprint Vol. 2.

“My more emotional records tend to revolve around melodies, vocals, and drums,” he stated. “The heavier club records are almost the opposite — they’re much more focused on sound design, texture, and creating energy in a room, with a more stripped-back, 140-inspired approach.”

When asked how the ideation process for his tracks works, Snuffy said, “It usually depends on what’s inspiring me at that moment. Sometimes it’s a moment from the dance floor or hearing something that sparks an idea. Other times it’s coming from a much more personal place; processing love, grief, or whatever life is throwing at me.”

As a rising artist in the digital age, social media is necessary for artist growth. The use of social and streaming platforms has helped Snuffy reach potential fans across the world. With that comes the caveat of passive social comparison. While he admits that imposter syndrome still sneaks in from time to time, Snuffy remains grounded in his love for his craft.

I’ve always been a really self-expressive person, and music has become my favorite outlet for that. I still thank the person who taught me how to use Ableton, Only Child (Duncan Green), because it genuinely feels like they handed me a creative driver’s license. Making music is still the most surreal feeling to me. It is the most fulfilling experience to write something you are proud of, or properly capture an emotion/create a moment in time.
Snuffy

Snuffy’s desire to challenge the status quo of bass music is what makes his future in the scene so bright. “I love living in that pocket between 140 and UK garage. Over the years I’ve been experimenting with different rhythmic feels, drum patterns, and genre influences, and I think I’ve found combinations that feel uniquely ‘Snuffy,'” he said.

With a slew of unreleased tracks in his arsenal, it’s clear Snuffy has had no shortage of ideas in the studio, making his future even brighter in the scene. “Lately I’ve also gotten much better at creating without obsessing over the outcome,” he stated. “Instead of trying to write a certain kind of song, I’m just following ideas wherever they go, and that’s led to some of my favorite music yet.”

Named as one of EDM Identity’s Artists to Watch in 2026, it felt right to have Snuffy stop by and deliver a power-packed, exclusive mix for the Bass Fidelity series.

[This mix is] a snapshot of where I’m at creatively right now — a collection of unreleased originals, a few tracks from artists I really admire, and a little teaser of a remix I’ve been working on to close things out. I wanted it to feel like both a preview of what’s coming and a reflection of the music that’s inspiring me at the moment.
Snuffy

Check out Snuffy’s exclusive mix for EDM Identity, and be sure to follow the boundary-breaking producer and DJ on socials for updates on future releases, tour dates, and more.