At one time, Andy's C's Ram Records label was known for the techiest and most rolling of drum & bass anthems, such as Moving Fusion's "Turbulence," Shimon & Andy C's "Body Rock," and who could forget "Valley of the Shadows." In the last few years, the label has truly branched out to be one of the UK's most enduring bass-driven labels of any genre, with dubstep heavyweights Delta Heavy, d&b dreamboat Sub Focus, and all out UK pop stars Chase & Status.One of the brightest up-and-coming stars in Ram's current constellation is Wilkinson, who hails from Southwest London and likes disco naps, old episodes of Family Guy, and chicken goujons. His new single, "Afterglow" (featuring Becky Hill), is the most feel-good drum & bass joint we've heard in a while, the kind of club kryptonite that has every girl in the UK begging for a makeout session when it comes on. It's available to buy on October 14, but check out the video below, a cheeky advertisement for coupledom including danger wanks, bonking in the shower, doughnuts, lots and lots of making out, and one very cute derriere.While we anxiously await a whole album from this D&B romantic—it's called Lazers Not Included and it's out on Ram October 28—we found out about his fondness for goats and his long-lost Christina Aguilera remix.THUMP: Tell us one line about your hometown.
Wilkinson: It's called Twickenham, which rhymes with Vietnam so we call it Nam.What was the first track that really got you into drum & bass?
Baron's "At The Drive In" and High Contrast's "Love Sick."What did the first ever track you made sound like and what was it inspired by?
The first track I ever made was, embarrassingly, a jungle bootleg of a Christina Aguilera track "Ain't No Thing," when I was about 15 years old! I think one of my mates still has it on his computer so I might have to dig that one out!Who is your best friend that also does music and what are they like?
My best friend that also does music is called Jon Stanley aka Cyantific. He rents the studio next to mine. He's like a bundle of flowers.What do you find really funny?
Goats screaming like humans.What's the best environment to hear your music, either real or imagined?
A big stage at a festival is good. I've heard a few people playing my tunes in their car as they drive past, which is a pretty strange experience!What track of yours have you enjoyed making the most and why?
I usually have the most fun making the harder dancefloor tunes. I love to get a bit geeky with synths and mixdowns and I find it really enjoyable trying to push my boundaries. I'd have to say a recent favorite is my track "Like It Hard."What are your favorite sounds right now?
I'm loving the fact that there are less and less screechy sounds in dance music at the moment. I'm really into the liquid tunes that got me into drum & bass in the first place and I'm really trying to go down that route again.Name three non-musical inspirations.
Ari Gold from Entourage, BMX, and the beach.Who is one up-and-coming artist you think we should look out for and why?
We've just signed this new guy called Karma to a label I run with Cyantific and Snatch Licker called CYN Music. He's on a deeper tip and is experimenting with so many new sounds and production ideas.What's next for you?
I'm going to keep writing music, start on a second album, tour around the world, and eat a lot of chicken goujons. I'm loving DJing now more than I ever have. I work with an MC called Visionobi and we basically go around partying in front of a lot of crowds. I'm just really enjoying myself and the opportunity I've been given!
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Wilkinson: It's called Twickenham, which rhymes with Vietnam so we call it Nam.What was the first track that really got you into drum & bass?
Baron's "At The Drive In" and High Contrast's "Love Sick."What did the first ever track you made sound like and what was it inspired by?
The first track I ever made was, embarrassingly, a jungle bootleg of a Christina Aguilera track "Ain't No Thing," when I was about 15 years old! I think one of my mates still has it on his computer so I might have to dig that one out!Who is your best friend that also does music and what are they like?
My best friend that also does music is called Jon Stanley aka Cyantific. He rents the studio next to mine. He's like a bundle of flowers.
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Goats screaming like humans.What's the best environment to hear your music, either real or imagined?
A big stage at a festival is good. I've heard a few people playing my tunes in their car as they drive past, which is a pretty strange experience!What track of yours have you enjoyed making the most and why?
I usually have the most fun making the harder dancefloor tunes. I love to get a bit geeky with synths and mixdowns and I find it really enjoyable trying to push my boundaries. I'd have to say a recent favorite is my track "Like It Hard."What are your favorite sounds right now?
I'm loving the fact that there are less and less screechy sounds in dance music at the moment. I'm really into the liquid tunes that got me into drum & bass in the first place and I'm really trying to go down that route again.Name three non-musical inspirations.
Ari Gold from Entourage, BMX, and the beach.Who is one up-and-coming artist you think we should look out for and why?
We've just signed this new guy called Karma to a label I run with Cyantific and Snatch Licker called CYN Music. He's on a deeper tip and is experimenting with so many new sounds and production ideas.What's next for you?
I'm going to keep writing music, start on a second album, tour around the world, and eat a lot of chicken goujons. I'm loving DJing now more than I ever have. I work with an MC called Visionobi and we basically go around partying in front of a lot of crowds. I'm just really enjoying myself and the opportunity I've been given!