Who:Optimum
Where: London, UK

The UK hardcore continuum continues to evolve, and exciting producers keep sprouting up. Optimum (a.k.a. South London native Malcolm Chen) is one of the latest, and although his name is new to many, he’s been dabbling in music since he was a kid, learning piano and guitar before eventually buying decks and delving into the world of DJing. Hip-hop came first, but was eventually followed by grime, dubstep, house, and, lately, whatever you call the current incarnation of UK bass music. These days he’s busy making tunes, both solo—his Max Power EP just came out on Planet Mu—and with frequent collaborator Ikonika, with whom he’s launched the new Hum and Buzz imprint.

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