TALKING SHOP
Mella Dee
The London-based producer admits he’s not precious about gear, and tells us how his new studio keeps him inspired
Ryan Aitchison, better known as Mella Dee, is a bit of a rave chameleon. The Doncaster-born, London-based producer and DJ has explored almost every corner of the dancefloor over the decade-plus he’s been in the game; kicking off his career warping dubstep and grime into daring new forms while dishing up UKG as one half of Mista Men. He’s now settled into an acid-tinged style that deftly folds disparate elements – anything from sped-up disco samples to bitcrushed breakbeats – into a muscular techno framework.
Much of Aitchison’s music comes out on his own label, Warehouse Music, set up in 2017 as a nod to formative years spent raving in his Yorkshire stomping grounds. For his latest project, though, he’s absconded to Saoirse’s trUst Recordings and adopted a new alias: RYAN. The Connected Experiences EP is made up of four gritty, wigged-out analogue belters that showcase an experimental side to Aitchison’s expansive musical vision; for our money, these are some of the best tunes he’s ever put down on wax.
We caught up with Aitchison to hear more about the making of
Connected Experiences and he was kind enough to leave us with three production tips for good measure.
When did you start making music, and how?