Lenzman creates a world where the high-velocity energy of drum and bass meets the smoky, laid-back cool of 90s hip-hop. His sound is defined by a deep reverence for soul and jazz, often featuring dusty piano loops, melancholic Rhodes chords, and vocal snippets that feel like they were unearthed from a crate of forgotten Motown B-sides. It is music that manages to be physically driving while remaining emotionally vulnerable.
What sets him apart is the 'swing' in his production. While many liquid producers lean into a clean, digital sheen, Lenzman keeps things organic and slightly gritty. His drums often have the ghost-note complexity of a live session drummer, and his basslines provide a warm, enveloping weight rather than an aggressive punch. It is the sound of a producer who cares as much about the space between the notes as the notes themselves.
For those new to his catalog, start with the album 'Bobby'. It serves as a perfect manifesto for his sound, blending sophisticated breakbeats with intimate storytelling and a cinematic sense of atmosphere. It is the ideal gateway for hip-hop heads looking to find a home in the 170 BPM range.
Lenzman (real name Teije van Vliet) is a drum & bass producer from Amsterdam, Netherlands who is signed to Metalheadz. In 2016 he launched his own record label The North Quarter, which, to this day, released music by himself, Redeyes and FD. His musical style can generally be categorized under the Liquid Funk subgenre. At one occasion, he articulated his vision to incorporate 90s' Hip Hop into drum & bass. Lenzman's remix of the Children of Zeus song Still Standing was voted as Best Remix at the 2016 Drum & Bass Arena awards.
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style)
Shares drum and bass, downtempo (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style)
Shares downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style)
Shares drum and bass, downtempo (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style)
Shares drum and bass, downtempo (subgenres); soulful, melancholic, contemplative (moods)
Shares analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style); downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style); downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares drum and bass, downtempo (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, studio polished (production style)
Shares downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres); urban night, late night, rainy day (atmosphere)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, drum and bass (subgenres); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares liquid funk, soulful, drum and bass, sample based (signature)
Shares soulful, drum and bass, upright bass, serene (signature)
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