MAD DUBZ and Automhate aren’t actually brothers, but spend five minutes watching them behind the decks or in the studio and you’d never know it. Their new collab, “THE BROTHERS,” is a full-force fusion of two elite dubstep minds. Think brutal basslines, cinematic intros, and more controlled chaos than a Friday night in a warehouse basement. We caught up with both artists to discuss their solo journeys, the unpredictable world of live shows, and how having fun has always been the driving force behind their sound.
MAD DUBZ
Kristen: Your solo sound has always had a gritty, underground energy. How do you channel that when working as part of THE BROTHERS?
MAD DUBZ: Honestly, due to our very similar interests in sound, I have always tried to keep as similar an energy as I always have with my solo stuff. The brothers is mostly trying to focus our solo intents into making the best of both of our skills.
K: From your early productions to now, how has your creative process evolved?
MD: I’ve always tried to stay true to the roots of what I came from, but a big thing for me is how my sound changed after playing live shows. I will always love what I am influenced by, but I’ve really tried to hone in on implementing different new styles since I’ve been playing these insane shows.
K: Who were some of your biggest influences when you first got into production—and have those changed recently?
MD: A few big ones for me have always been Infekt and Aweminus. Those guys are simply the best at doing the sound I enjoy. More recently, automhate has definitely been a huge part of what I’ve been trying to make. So THE BROTHERS has been an amazing opportunity for me to even be a part of. I’ve also recently been super inspired by nimda (I secretly love tearout).
K: What piece of advice would you give to a younger MAD DUBZ just starting out?
MD: Passion and friendship will always be the most important part of growing your self as a artist and producer. Learning new things and enjoying it along the way is sooo important.
K: If you could describe your music career in three words right now, what would they be?
MD: “are you mad?”
Automhate
Kristen: Are there any non-EDM genres that have secretly influenced your sound?
Automhate: Definitely old school hip hop beats influence me a lot. Iàve been listening to hip hop as far as I can remember.
K: What’s been the most satisfying moment in your solo career so far?
A: I rarely feel satisfied to be honest. I always feel like I need to try harder. If anything, I can look back and see that one of my best performing tracks is a collaboration with SVDDEN DEATH and that makes me very happy and proud. He has always been one of my favorite producers so it is a huge achievement for me.
K: In terms of personal growth, how has collaborating with MAD DUBZ pushed you?
A: I really love the creative mindset that he brings into our tunes. It makes it easy to work with him. I love Tom.
K: How important is visual branding and aesthetics to you when thinking about music releases?
A: Very important. Sound and vision are two senses that are very correlated to each other for me.
K: If you had unlimited resources for a live show, what insane idea would you want to pull off?
A: First of all, I love LED walls so I’d probably go crazy on those. Then, I’d love a stage that evolves during the set, like a huge changing machine.
THE BROTHERS
Kristen: When you first decided to team up as THE BROTHERS, what was the mission you set for yourselves?
MD: Honestly, to have fun, and to just focus on what insane music we could make with our friendship and combined skills.
K: Can you tell us about a track you made together that perfectly captures the spirit of “THE BROTHERS?”
MD: Probably the combination of da pit remix intro and drop. We really wanted to contrast some classic European music with an insane, heavy hitting dubstep drop.
K: What’s the biggest lesson you learned from playing a stage as immersive and intense as VOYD Dome?
A: That it doesn’t matter how many people you have in front of you. At the end of the day if you have fun then they are going to have fun as well.
K: What’s one dream venue or festival you’d love to headline together — and why?
A: EDC Las Vegas because I have never played there and headlining the Basspod would be a dream.
MD: EDC Vegas would be a huge one, but maybe also beyond or lost lands! There’s so many good ones.
K: Now that VOYD Dome is in the books, what’s the next milestone you’re chasing as THE BROTHERS?
A: Many more festivals, cool releases, and more fun.
MD: 100% more music and shows, we already have more music we want to do stuff with!
With “THE BROTHERS” officially out today on June 6, Automhate and MAD DUBZ usher in a bold new chapter fueled by brotherhood, raw intensity, and limitless creative energy. This debut proves that THE BROTHERS are a force to be reckoned with, and if it’s any sign of what’s to come, they’re only getting started. Stream “THE BROTHERS” now and follow the duo on socials to stay tapped in for what’s next!
