The cross-pollination of bass music and the revitalisation of techno and house in recent years has radically transformed the broader spectrum of dance music; rendered anew by a fresh batch of new producers with uninhibited perspectives on the music’s history and its future. Belgian producer Locked Groove (aka Tim Van de Meutter) is one such deacon of dance music’s next generation; swiftly appropriating and innovating his way through the historical annals of techno and house with true flair and club-ready conviction. Whether flirting with big room, one-strobe-light Berghain techno or visceral deep house – Locked Groove’s rambunctious take on soulful rhythm is wholly unique and versatile. His deeply personal sonic ideology opens up a vast emotional trajectory for him to explore as a producer, and his natural, flawless command of complex rhythms makes a strong argument towards his blatant potential as a decade-defining artist. What’s most surprising is that it was only in early 2011 that he found himself starting to develop his own explosive hybrid of industrial techno and melancholic deep house with rapid pace. Scouted by bass music impresario Scuba for the inclusion of ‘Drowning’ on his contribution to the DJ Kick’s series and a debut release on Hotflush Recordings, Locked Groove quietly but confidently begun weaving his way into the collective consciousness. Since debuting on Hotflush back in 2012, Locked Groove has delved into various genres to inform his constantly evolving sound. Drawing on an acute melodic ear developed whilst training as a classical pianist, all of his productions are underscored by an inherent sense of musicality. Using a diverse range of influences, he translates their sentiments into hybrid dance floor constructions that look primarily towards the 90s rave culture of Belgium, with a subtle nod to the UK.