For many, the drums and bass in any one song might be the last thing you really notice. For music producer Adam Gibbons, aka Lack of Afro, the complete opposite is true. Based in the English city of Exeter, Gibbons hails from a musical family—he grew up on his father’s extensive funk and soul record collection, while his grandmother was noted concert pianist Kay Gibbons. Having fallen into DJ-ing in college, his stage name came about from the seeming disconnect between his “nerdy” appearance and the funk and R&B tracks he would play.

“I’m all about the details,” Gibbons explains to Sound of Life. “I obsess about the tracks in the mixing stage, most of all.” No wonder, then, that his albums are full of flourish and rich intricacies. Whether it’s disco, grunge rock or Britpop, his scope is all-encompassing. But through it all, you’ll never be lacking a drum and bass track that will have you listening to his tracks on full blast. 

Watch the video to find out more about Gibbons’ unique approach to building beats from the ground up. 

Part of Sound Makers, a series shining the spotlight on unique personalities shaping our everyday soundscapes: how they began their journey of creating sounds, what inspires and drives them, and the process behind bringing their magic to life.

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