Behind The Sound: Cornah
We talk with Drum & Bass producer Cornah about his roots, creative process, and how life between Manchester and Australia shapes his music.
6 minutes read
We caught up with Manchester-born producer and DJ Cornah, a rising name in the Drum & Bass underground known for his tight, minimal grooves. After finding his footing in the UK scene and now spending time in Perth, Australia, he’s quickly gaining momentum. We talked about his journey, his creative process, and how two different scenes have shaped his approach to music.
Journey & Identity
It took a few years to find my flow, but with help from some amazing producers, I’ve been able to develop my own sound.
- Cornah
Can you share a bit about your beginnings, how did you first discover Drum & Bass, and when did you decide to become a producer / DJ?
I first got into Drum and Bass through artists like My Nu Leng and SHY FX at festivals such as Boomtown and Leeds when I was 17 or 18. I didn’t know much about the scene, then I just followed the crew and discovered loads of sick producers. At uni, I joined the RUDNB society, where I learned proper mixing techniques and got introduced to a whole new side of DnB and Jungle - shout out Visla, Treble, and Malpractice. That’s also when I started producing. It took a few years to find my flow, but with help from some amazing producers, I’ve been able to develop my own sound.
How did your time in Australia shape you personally and as a producer?
Australia has helped me take my time a lot more with producing and really pushing me to understand more about my DAW, Plugins and general workflow. It's also been great to have more opportunities to showcase my own music to different audiences. Seeing people dancing and shouting about your music is always a massive help when lacking inspiration to make music.
Did being in a different scene and culture change the way you approached Drum & Bass?
I wouldn't say so. I would say that there is less of an underground/minimal scene in Perth, so when I play out I can perform a set that Perth crowds haven't heard before which is always special.
Seeing people dancing and shouting about your music is always a massive help when lacking inspiration.
- Cornah
Sound, Style & Aesthetic
Who or what have been the biggest influences in shaping your sound?
I would say my biggest influence was living with my two mates Jake and Alex in Uni, who really showed me the minimal/rollers side of drum and bass. I slowly fell in love with it and when I discovered labels like Sofa Sound and Critical I knew I wanted to make music like this. When I went to my first Critical show I was blown away by both the music and how intimate the crowd was.
How do you balance mood, groove, and energy in your tracks, what do you prioritise when you’re producing?
Mood and Groove is all down to some heavy stepping drums. The rest just needs to be kept simple with good variation. My most recent release ‘Rounds’ was pretty much finished in about 4 hours and was blown away at how simple ideas can be crafted so easily. If the drums are rolling the rest will fall into place.
I slowly fell in love with the minimal/rollers side of drum and bass and when I discovered labels like Sofa Sound and Critical I knew I wanted to make music like this.
- Cornah
How do you approach creating deeper, more stripped-back tracks versus more energetic ones?
It really depends on what's influencing me at the time. A lot of the time my tracks are created from me listening to specific artists. At the moment I've been listening to a lot of Bladerunner and Benny L, which has led me experimenting with a lot of recess and jungly drums. I never try to force an idea, just let my creative process flow.
Technical & Creative Process
You just need to take your time in understanding how everything works.
- Cornah
When you’re producing, what’s your typical workflow do you start with drums, bassline, atmosphere, or something else?
Drums always! These really influence what basses, pads and FXs I will use/make. A lot of my pads and Fxs are patched and edited from my basses so that the elements in the tracks are closely related.
What tools, plugins, or techniques play the biggest role in shaping your sound?
KHS plugins and Rift have been a godsend. Easy to understand and a wide variety, pretty much everything you need for creating cool FXs and distortion. As well as this Serum for hats, basses, pads, fx and pretty much anything else. Mixing wise I just use stock plug-ins from FL.
Molecular has shown me some amazing tools and methods proving you don't need the most expensive plugins to get the sound you want. You just need to take your time in understanding how everything works.
Minimal production can be a delicate art, what helps you recognise the right balance between enough and too much?
I wouldn’t say there is a correct balance. There is quite a wide variety of minimal DnB. It’s all down to your opinion and the direction you want to take the song. Some people will love it and some people will think it's too much or not enough. There is a balance but I think that is decided by people listening to your music.
Scene, Community & Culture
Manchester has definitely played its part in creating the producer I am today.
- Cornah
How has the city of Manchester influenced your journey and sound?
Manchester has definitely played its part in creating the producer I am today. Met some amazing people in the scene and can’t wait to get back there and showcase more of my music.
I would say an experience that helped me gain confidence was my first Bloc2Bloc session. Banner was very welcoming and even gave me a shout out mid set, which at the time was crazy for me.
How does the Australian Drum & Bass scene compare with Manchester and the UK?
Crowd-wise, both have incredible energy and create an amazing atmosphere to play to. The main difference, I’d say, is the lineups. In Manchester, it’s much easier to bring together multiple big European artists on the same bill. In Australia, when there’s a rave with just one major European name, it feels more special — it makes the whole event more exciting and intimate.
Minimal DnB can often fly under the radar; how do you navigate getting your music heard while staying true to your aesthetic?
I think it's all about playing tracks out and sending them to the right artists. Being recognised in the scene by big names will always help spread awareness of your style and tracks.
Vision & Future
Lately, I’ve been focused on making as much music as possible, experimenting with sounds outside my usual style to see what sticks.
- Cornah
What are you working on next, any upcoming releases, bookings, or projects?
My Keep Hush set is out now. It was an amazing experience with a great lineup. Lately, I’ve been focused on making as much music as possible, experimenting with sounds outside my usual style to see what sticks. I’m hoping to start sending tracks to some bigger underground labels by the end of 2026. On the gig side, I’ve been keeping busy in Perth, supporting some incredible artists.
Where do you see yourself in five years? How do you hope your sound and reach will evolve?
In five years, I would love to be doing more UK shows and hopefully get some festival bookings come through. It's been quite hard to balance travelling, working, DJing and making music for the last two years. In the next year I want to primarily focus on making and releasing more music.
Is there a dream milestone or collaboration you’d love to achieve in the future?
Getting on Sofa Sound is my ultimate goal. With more focus on improving my production, mixing, and mastering, I’m confident it’s something I can achieve.
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A huge thank you to Cornah for taking the time to chat with us. From his early days discovering Drum & Bass in Manchester to refining his sound across the UK and Australia, his journey reflects a deep commitment to his craft.
Stay connected with Corna, keep an eye out for his upcoming projects and check out his Keep Hush set!
↳ Keep Hush | Spotify | SoundCloud | Instagram
