Nu:Tone

British drum’n’bass producer Nu:Tone has traversed the genre’s multi-faceted sound, through rip-roaring bass-heavy cuts to anthemic, cutting-edge big-room rollers. From his debut in 2001 through 2021′s Hospital Records-released Little Spaces, his sound has become synonymous with not only the label but the whole drum’n’bass scene.
Born and raised in Cambridge, Nu:Tone (aka Dan Gresham) developed an interest in music at a young age, playing piano and joining the prestigious Jesus College choir. Going on to study music at Durham University, Nu:Tone found himself teaming up with producer John B, engineering studio sessions, establishing a club night together, and immersing themselves in the drum’n’bass scene. In 2001 he dropped his debut single, “Grand Central” — a frantic blast of breaks, rave stabs, and raging basslines — for John B’s own Beta Recordings. More singles followed over the next few years, with releases on his own BrandNu label as well as Beta’s more soulful sub-label, Tangent. In 2004 Nu:Tone released his debut for Hospital Records in the form of the EP The Future Sound of Cambridge, alongside his brother Matt Gresham (aka Logistics) and future Metalheadz-signing Commix. The label was already breaking new ground with their own particular sound, and Nu:Tone’s mix of anthemic, big-room drum’n’bass and gritty bass-heavy cuts fit perfectly. Following a handful of EPs, he delivered his debut album, Brave Nu World, for the label in 2005. Balancing production with DJ’ing, Nu:Tone spent the next few years producing a solid supply of material for Hospital, with singles such as “The Things That Lovers Do” and “Beliefs” alongside 2007′s sophomore album Back of Beyond. By 2010, he’d teamed up with his brother for their second proper EP, New Technique under the name Nu:Logic, before dropping his third solo album, Words and Pictures, a year later. Returning to focus on the work with his brother, the duo released their debut album, What I've Always Waited For, in 2013.
Nu:Tone returned to his solo work a year later, dropping his fourth album, Future History, before taking a break from the scene to focus on family life. Collaborating with his brother on 2017′s, Somewhere Between the Light, it wouldn’t be until 2020 that Nu:Tone would return with fresh solo material; the soulful, rolling, double A-side “Sweeter/Do It Right.” He welcomed in 2021 with the first fruits of his fifth solo album: the singles “One Day at a Time” and “Jonas” appeared just before Little Spaces, released few months later. ~ Rich Wilson