Today, we caught up with British producer and DJ Viv Castle to chat about his latest release, “The Funk,” his remix of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” and what’s next. Known for his high-energy House anthems and perfectly timed breaks that keep you moving until sunrise, Viv draws inspiration from artists like Eli Brown, Matt Guy, and Hannah Laing. His sound effortlessly blends driving Tech House influences with deep Techno grooves, making every set an electrifying journey through rhythm.
Last year was huge for Viv—he surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify, dropped 11 tracks on respected labels, and played unforgettable gigs in Chicago, Denver, and beyond. But 2025 is shaping up to be even bigger. Dive into our interview with Viv Castle below.
Hello Viv, thanks for taking the time to chat with us! How are you?
I’m doing great, thanks! Excited to chat and talk about what’s been going on.
Last week, you released “The Funk” on Hood Politics Records. What made you choose this label for the release?
Man, I’d been trying to land a release with Hood Politics for ages. DJ Susan and the whole team just have this insane energy—so positive, so supportive of the scene. It finally happened with The Funk, and yeah, I couldn’t be happier with how it all came together.
Let’s talk about your sound design. How did you achieve that Reese-style, wobbly bassline?
Ah, the Reese bass—classic. You hear it a lot in DnB and Speed Garage (wink, wink—some inspiration from there). It’s all about detuning two saw waves just slightly so they start phasing against each other. Then a low-pass filter, some movement with LFO modulation, and boom—wobbly, dirty bass. Hard to put into words, but once you hear it, you know it.
“The Funk” also features strong, punchy drums. Do you have one key tip for crafting a solid kick drum?
Yeah, layering is key. One kick won’t always give you everything you need, so I like to combine a subby low-end kick with one that’s got more mid-punch, then maybe a tiny top-end click so it cuts through. And then, it’s all about EQ and phase alignment—making sure they don’t muddy each other up.
The release includes a remix by London-based producer R3WIRE. What’s your connection with him, and how did this remix come about?
R3WIRE’s been supporting my stuff for a while, so I’ve known him for a bit. But honestly, I had nothing to do with this remix happening—Sherm (Hood Politics A&R) hit me up like, ‘Hey, what do you think about R3WIRE doing a remix?’ and my response was pretty much, ‘F yeah, that would be wicked.
Last week, on February 26, you released a remix of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work.” What drew you to remix this classic, and how long did it take to complete?
That track is pure emotion, and I wanted to do something different—something that kept that deep, moving energy but still had that driving, club-ready feel. Took about three weeks to get it just right (IDK, is a track ever truly finished, though?). Wanted to make sure it honored the original but also gave it a fresh take.
Back in 2024, you released “Bring It Back” as part of Diynamic’s Four to the Floor 39 series. With all the love and support it received, do you have any plans to release a solo EP on Diynamic?
Oh man, “Bring It Back” was actually my second release on Diynamic—Here Comes The Ride was the first in 2023. Would love to do a full EP with them, and we’re
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When you’re in the studio, what does your typical creative process look like? Do you start with brainstorming ideas, jamming on synths, or building a beat first?
Honestly? Depends on the day. Most times, I start with a vocal—if I find a vocal hook that hits, everything else kinda builds around that. Then I’ll get the beat grooving, and from there, it’s just layering in the elements that fit.
But it’s different every time—sometimes I’ll just be messing around with melodies, and suddenly, a whole track comes out of it, and sometimes weeks go by with nothing worth a damn.
We know you’re active not only in the studio but also in the club scene. Do you have any upcoming shows you can share with us?
Yeah, got a busy few months coming up! March 21 – Black Circle, Indianapolis (first time playing there!) March 22 – LunchBox, Atlanta (brand-new venue!) End of March – Miami for the rest of the month (can’t say too much yet, but it’s gonna be fun).
And then, some big ones coming up in Denver, Minneapolis, NYC, and Chicago—so yeah, a lot happening.
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Finally, what’s next for Viv Castle? Any surprises in the store?
This year’s already shaping up to be wild—so many gigs coming, but also some really exciting collabs with artists I’ve looked up to for a long time. Can’t say too much yet, but yeah, big things coming.
Purchase Viv Castle – The Funk via this link.
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