Cumfi R.A.S was actually one of my first collaborators. At the time, I was already into drum and bass as a listener, but I hadn’t quite dared to step into that world as a musician myself. Drum and bass felt intense, fast, almost intimidating in a way, but working with him changed that. Through those early exchanges, I started to understand how that energy could be shaped and controlled. Over time, together, we made three tracks.
I found there was something very direct and instinctive in his creative process: a clear connection to the energy he wanted to bring out. Behind that instinct, though, is years of experience as a producer, which gives his sound both precision and depth.
Since then, I’ve explored drum and bass on my own, but I still recognize how much of that initial spark came from those first moments of collaboration. There’s something about learning through someone else’s creative language that stays with you.
Cumfi R.A.S’s sound lives in the darker corners of jungle and drum and bass, with a controlled intensity that pulls you in and refuses to let go. His music is made for late nights, for full-volume drives, for sound systems that shake everything around you… Or even just for those moments where you need something to wake you up.
Some of his tracks that really stayed with me are Needed Me, Cornflakes, and Midnight Reverie. They each explore different textures, but all share that signature blend of heavy low-end and immersive atmosphere. It’s the kind of music that evolves the more you listen to it.
You can listen to Cumi R.A.S here:
🎧 Spotify |☁️ SoundCloud|🎶 Beatport
I was curious to understand what really sits behind that intensity, not just the sound itself, but the way it starts, evolves, and turns into something you can feel. So I asked him a few questions.
How would you describe your sound?
My sound lives in the darker corners of jungle: heavy subs, raw breaks, and a kind of controlled chaos. It’s not just about energy, it’s about mood… something that pulls you in and keeps you there. Music for late nights, full volume in your car, heavy sound systems in clubs, festivals, and for me, first thing in the morning to get the blood flowing.
What’s a track you’re most proud of right now?
I’d say my proudest track is always my most recent one. I’m constantly evolving as a producer, so each new release reflects a higher level of detail, control, and understanding of my sound. It’s not just about finishing a track, it’s about progression, and that’s what I take the most pride in.
What are your biggest influences?
My biggest influences come from early jungle around 93 to 95 and the jungle tekno era, that raw pioneering energy really shaped how I hear rhythm and bass. I’m also heavily influenced by reggae and dub, especially how space in the low end is used. On top of that, the ’90s free party scene had a big impact: the DIY spirit, the attitude, and the focus on pure sound system music. A lot of early artists, especially when they were releasing under different alias names, played a big part in that influence too.
When did music become a serious part of your life?
I wouldn’t say there was one single moment, it was always there. Even in the early ’90s I was making music in my head, constantly thinking in rhythms and sounds. Life took priority though. Once I had my first child in ’93, and two more after that, music had to take a back seat. It wasn’t until years later, when they were grown and we had a bit more freedom, that I could fully come back to it. My wife (Sonia) has always supported me through that journey, and that’s played a big part in me being able to pursue it properly. (I’ve always had a pair of decks through this journey: Technics 1200s and CDJs.)
If your music was a place, what would it look like?
It would be a nighttime jungle, dense, shadowy, full of movement you can’t always see but can definitely feel. The colors would be deep black, with flashes of red, gold, and green. The emotion is tension, but not panic, more like controlled pressure, building and releasing through the sound.
Do you have any rituals or habits when producing?
My main ritual is the mindset that I’m only as good as my last track. That keeps me focused and always pushing forward. I also try to produce every day, even if it’s just small progress. It keeps me connected to the sound and constantly evolving.
Is there something people might not know about you?
Something people might not know is that I’m originally from the UK, but I’ve spent the last nine years living overseas, in Spain, Malaysia, Thailand, and Portugal, and I have a cave house in Spain. During that time I’ve connected with a lot of talented artists from around the world, many of them online who I’ve never actually met in person. Now I’m heading back to the UK, bringing all those influences and experiences with me.
What kind of music did you grow up with?
My musical taste actually started at home. My dad was a guitarist and singer, so I grew up on artists like Jackson Browne, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and Simon & Garfunkel, with music always playing loud. That’s where it began for me. Now beyond jungle, I’m drawn to the sound of nature: rainforests, different environments, the textures of places I’ve travelled. It’s a different kind of rhythm, but it still feeds into the music.
How do you deal with creative blocks?
I’ve learned not to force it. If I hit a block, I step away and give it space. The more you push, the more it resists. Once your mind shifts onto something else, ideas tend to come back naturally. Sometimes I’ll leave a track completely, start something new, and return a few days later with fresh ears and a different mindset. I take the same approach with mixdowns and mastering. It’s all about perspective.
Three words to describe your music?
Pressure, Depth, Movement.
Looking at Cumfi R.A.S’s creative journey, there’s a clear thread running through everything: progression over perfection. The idea of being “only as good as your last track,” producing consistently, and not forcing creativity when it’s not there, it all connects. It’s not about chasing a perfect result, but about staying in motion, refining, adjusting, and building over time. I think sharing his mindset with me is also what helped me step into drum and bass after collaborating with him.
When you listen to his music with that in mind, you don’t just hear the energy, but you also hear the work behind it. It all reflects something that was built, refined, and lived over time.
Big thanks to Cumi R.A.S for sharing a part of his journey and the mindset behind his sound.
Follow Cumfi R.A.S on Facebook and Instagram.
I had the chance to collaborate with Cumfi R.A.S and Estate Of Mind on Symphony Unfolds below:
— Spacey Panda
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