With over a decade spent shaping their craft and ever-evolving sound, TRUTH pioneers the deep, dark, and immersive side of bass music. Originating in New Zealand, the duo is renowned for cinematic production and introspective artistry that continues to shape the dubstep landscape worldwide.
As visionaries at the helm of their label, Deep, Dark & Dangerous, TRUTH pushes creative boundaries, cultivates community, and actively shapes the future of dubstep. Made up of Dre Fernandez and Tristan Roake, TRUTH’s impact goes far beyond their own musical productions. They actively spotlight a myriad of powerhouse artists who also set themselves apart and forge their own unique paths.
Deep, Dark & Dangerous is more than a music label and standout merch line. It’s a global movement that innovates and carves its own path against the grain. Deep, Dark & Dangerous transcends the boundaries of underground and sound culture, spotlighting artists who are redefining genres, including Wraz, Khiva, Hypho, Jaz Imsky, Canvas, ENiGMA Dubz, Dr Ushuu, CØNTRA, Mystic State, and many more.
TRUTH is set to unleash their production prowess and infectious performance energy on audiences around the globe. With a highly anticipated DDD showcase on the horizon this October in Denver, and an international tour spanning the US, New Zealand, and beyond, the duo is ready to ignite dance floors across continents.
Resonating Worldwide: TRUTH Redefines the Soundscape
TRUTH has reinvented what it means to be part of a global sound culture, inspiring artists and fans alike as they leave lasting marks not only through their music, but through their originality and authenticity. The duo’s two latest EPs are testaments to the raw creative vision and unique storytelling poured into their releases. The unstoppable pair has a powerful ability to craft masterworks that continually expand their impact and influence.
Their new Sandman EP is a surreal, transcendent journey through sonic “Wavelengths.” Its unearthly sounds are designed to boggle the brain’s internal systems, summoning UFOs and other celestial creatures. It gets deep and dark aurally, using music’s frequency to transcend consciousness. As it sends shockwaves through the motor senses, the EP calls listeners to let go of the ordinary as TRUTH alchemizes cinematic energy and creation.
Their other recent EP, Fight Game, conquers treacherous territory. The project tunes things into more dangerous frequencies with pulse-pounding textures and intense soundscapes. Its sinuous journey shreds cerebral circuits and perceptions. Each of the six tracks has been a staple in TRUTH sets over the past few years, with highly anticipated releases finally debuting, including “Crazy” and “Dr Octopus.”
We sat down with the bossmen behind DDD to explore their creative philosophies, ethos, and impact on the evolution of bass music. Our conversation with TRUTH explores their approach to collaboration, the stories behind their latest releases, and how they continue to foster a global community through their label and artistry.
Inside the Minds of TRUTH: Origins and Evolution
Liz Seitzinger, Electric Hawk: As two separate creative heads behind the TRUTH project, how do your design philosophies and processes start and evolve?
TRUTH: “We both have our own creative processes and ethos, but in the end it’s grounded in the fact that for the first 10 years of TRUTH (and well before TRUTH), we lived close together, or even in the same house for various periods, and made music together every few days… so we know each other’s personalities and preferences.”
“Currently, one of us is based in New Zealand and the other in the USA, so most of our tracks start individually, then bounce back and forth to completion. A big part of our process is testing music out at shows we are playing, figuring out how it landed, what we like and dislike about it, and then back to the drawing board for changes and amendments.”
“Tracks like “Fight Game” and “Sandman” are great examples of this; both were started together, and we played at least 5 or 6 final or playable versions of the tracks. With “Fight Game”, the version we have finally released bears so little resemblance to the original version we were playing, yet you would know it’s the same track; there is a creative throughline… but there have just been so many revisions… until the final version, where we basically rebuilt the entire track from the ground up.”
Liz: Sandman and Fight Game are among many TRUTH releases that explore introspective, otherworldly concepts with unique storytelling elements and cohesive song cycles that feel very intentional. What inspires you to create these extraordinary themes when curating these works?
TRUTH: “With each release, we want to tell a story, so we put a lot of intentionality into track curation and the general idea behind each release. However, what we really hope to create is a sandbox or playground where we set the scene with the music, artwork, track titles, and EP title, but then it’s up to the listener to figure out their own meaning and story within those works. I imagine your version of what any artwork means and mine are often quite vastly different, but both are equally valid. I’d love to know what’s in different people’s heads when they hear our music!”
Liz: Onhell and Stylust are both notable producers that you collaborated with on the Sandman EP. What drew you to work with them on this project? How did both of their individuality influence the creative direction of the tracks you made together?
TRUTH: “We’re good friends with both ONHELL and Stylust, our brothers from way back! Both these producers have their own infectious personalities and stamp on production.”
“With Stylust, that was one of those rare occasions where both of us in TRUTH were together at Dre’s house, and Stylust came round for a day of jamming as he lives not too far. We always have heaps of fun with him in the studio, and from vague memory, “Closer” came out of an accidental riff Tristan played on a synth while Geoff (Stylust) or Dre (or both) was twisting some knobs on the same synth (I think it was an Arturia Mini-Freak). We were kinda, “should we spend our precious time making a fun metal-inspired tune instead of the serious one we already started?” To be honest, so many of the best tracks are made when you’re supposed to be doing something else.”
“With “What?”, ONHELL was staying at Tristan’s house in New Zealand for an extended period, and in between geeking out on board games and visiting Lord of the Rings filming sites, they wrote about 5 tracks! “What?” was the one that really stuck and hit home; Dre started including it in all his sets in the USA, and we knew we had to release it!”
Liz: What are some of your favorite tracks to rinse out in live sets from both projects?
TRUTH: “All these tracks have appeared in live sets; different contexts mean you dig for different tracks, so kinda hard to pick tbh. But I guess some standouts are “Fight Game,” “What,” “Sandman,” “Dr Octopus” and “Closer.”
From Underground Beginnings to Global Community
Liz: Deep, Dark, & Dangerous fosters a worldwide community as much as it platforms innovative sound and production. When you first started the label, did you ever expect it to have such a global impact and dedicated following? How has your vision for DDD evolved over the years?
TRUTH: “We had no idea where the label would lead when we started things. It was originally a night dedicated to underground dubstep at a time when there was very little home for this type of music, back in 2012/2013. Then shortly after that, a music label dedicated to releasing the amazing music that the two of us were always being sent, which never seemed to get a release! We really didn’t expect it to be “successful” in any way, we just wanted to release music that we love!”‘Now… we’re constantly blown away by how things have developed, the amazing community of people who have congregated around the label, it has a life of it’s own beyond what we have created and curated! The most rewarding moments are personal stories shared by people with us of how their love for the label, the music, the clothing etc has brought them together with a group of friends they would never have met otherwise. Those tales of lifelong friendships, relationships, community.’
Liz: Where can fans expect to see you perform?
TRUTH: “Absolutely! There are so many shows coming up we’re excited for! Of course we have Lost Lands together. A few we’d love to highlight where both of us will be performing:
Reelworks in Denver on October 17th is going to be a massive DDD showcase, we’ll be playing a 90min set. Other acts on the bill include Chef Boyarbeatz, Wraz, Hypho, CONTRA and Breathworkz. The following week we’re taking over the Concord Music Hall in Chicago with Chmura, Medicine Place, CONTRA & Wolf’d.”
Aside from those, people can catch us all over the US, NZ, Canada the next few months!”
TRUTH invites listeners to look inward. To discover their own meanings within the music and seek out their own truth through the art they experience. By crafting immersive soundscapes, the duo challenges fans to engage deeply, interpret personally, and ultimately uncover unique outcomes shaped by their own perspectives.
As Deep, Dark & Dangerous continues to blossom and evolve bass music, TRUTH stands at the forefront. They lead a movement centered on community and creative innovation. The label has spawned unforgettable releases and an intimate family united by a love for the deep and the unknown.
One of the best ways to support Deep, Dark & Dangerous is to subscribe to their Bandcamp. As the lifeblood of DDD, subscriptions help keep the label alive, funding new talent, new releases, and everything in between.
Subscribers unlock a myriad of exclusive perks, along with instant access to the entire Bandcamp catalog. Brand-new, unreleased tracks drop every week, plus premium sample/stem packs and major vinyl discounts. This keeps fans plugged directly into the DDD ecosystem while sustaining the movement.
With every release, event, and story, TRUTH reaffirms their place as trailblazing forces shaping the future and culture one frequency at a time. The journey is far from over. The waves they create ripple vastly, deep into the soul and through the darker voids of sound. For without darkness, there cannot be light.
Keep up with where to see them perform and all the latest from TRUTH:
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On the lookout for new tunes? Keep up with our weekly Spotify Playlist, Fresh Hunts. Updated every Friday with new tracks from your favorite artists of all genres. Whether it’s the newest drops from TRUTH, your favorite artists, some old-school, or underground…we just want you to hear it.