Last updated

Birth nameKarl Francis
Also known asBasic Influence
Suburban Knights
The Specialist
Origin Brixton, London
Genres Drum and bass, jungle
Occupation(s) DJ, record producer
Years active1991–present
Labels Metalheadz, V Recordings, Valve Recordings, Chronic, Hard Leaders, FFRR
Associated acts Lemon D
Website http://www.dillinja.co.uk

Karl Francis, also known as Dillinja, is a British jungle/drum and bass DJ and record producer. [1]

Jungle is a genre of electronic music that developed in England in the early 1990s as part of UK rave scenes. Emerging from the breakbeat hardcore scene, the style is characterized by rapid breakbeats, dub reggae basslines, heavily syncopated percussive loops, samples, and synthesized effects. Long pitch-shifted snare rolls are common in old-school jungle. Jungle was a predecessor to drum and bass, which saw success in the late 1990s.

Drum and bass is a genre of electronic music characterised by fast breakbeats with heavy bass and sub-bass lines, sampled sources, and synthesizers. The style grew out of breakbeat hardcore and jungle in the United Kingdom during the early 1990s. The popularity of drum and bass at its commercial peak ran parallel to several other homegrown dance styles in the UK. A major influence was the original Jamaican dub and reggae sound. Another feature of the style is the complex syncopation of the drum tracks' breakbeat.

Record producer Individual who oversees and manages the recording of an artists music

A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performer's music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many, varying roles during the recording process. They may gather musical ideas for the project, collaborate with the artists to select cover tunes or original songs by the artist/group, work with artists and help them to improve their songs, lyrics or arrangements.



Dillinja is a prolific producer and artist within the jungle and drum and bass scene. [2] Since 1991, Dillinja has produced a number of tracks under both that and other aliases such as Suburban Knight, Cybotron, Trinity, Capone, Basic Influence, and The Specialist.

He set up his sound system and record label Valve Recordings with long-time producing partner Lemon D in 2001 and it made its debut at Fabric nightclub in London, and subsequently travelled across the UK and Worldwide. [3]

Sound system (DJ) mobile sound system

A sound system is a group of DJs and audio engineers contributing and working together as one, playing and producing music over a large PA system or sound reinforcement system, typically for a dance event or party.

A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos, while also conducting talent scouting and development of new artists, and maintaining contracts with recording artists and their managers. The term "record label" derives from the circular label in the center of a vinyl record which prominently displays the manufacturer's name, along with other information. Within the mainstream music industry, recording artists have traditionally been reliant upon record labels to broaden their consumer base, market their albums, and be both promoted and heard on music streaming services, radio, and television. Record labels also provide publicists, who assist performers in gaining positive media coverage, and arrange for their merchandise to be available via stores and other media outlets.

Fabric (club) nightclub in London

Fabric is a nightclub in Farringdon, London, England. Founded in 1999 on Charterhouse Street opposite Smithfield Market, the club was voted World Number 1 Club in DJ Magazine's "Top 100 Clubs Poll" in 2007 and 2008 and ranked World Number 2 in 2009, 2010 and 2017.

With the re-release of his track Twist Em Out (featuring MC Skibadee) he reached number 35 in the UK Singles Chart in June 2003. [4]

MC Skibadee, Real name alfonso bondzie, is a drum and bass MC from London.

UK Singles Chart British singles sales chart




FFRR Records British record label

FFRR Records is a dance music label run by English DJ Pete Tong. Originally distributed by London Records, FFRR is currently a dance music sublabel of Parlophone, a division of Warner Music Group. The label name references the recording technique developed by Decca Records.


Selected singles/EPs

Related Research Articles

Juan Atkins American musician and techno music developer

Juan Atkins is an American musician. He is widely credited as the originator of techno music, specifically Detroit techno along with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. The three, sometimes called The Belleville Three, attended high school together in Belleville, Michigan, near Detroit.

Kava Kava is a British rock band/live dance act from Huddersfield, England featuring the vocals, production and songwriting of Pat Fulgoni.

Grooverider British DJ

Raymond Bingham, better known as Grooverider, is a British drum and bass DJ. He and DJ partner Fabio are regarded as "originators" of the scene.

Darkcore or darkside is a music subgenre of breakbeat hardcore and jungle that became popular in the United Kingdom. It is recognized as being one of the direct precursors of the genre now known as drum and bass. Popular from late 1992 and through 1993, Darkcore was a counter movement to Happy Hardcore, which also evolved from Breakbeat Hardcore.

Z-Trip American DJ

Zach Sciacca, better known as DJ Z-Trip, is an American DJ and producer. He is a pioneer of the mashup movement.


M.O.T.O. is a garage punk band currently based in New Hampshire. Formed in New Orleans in 1981 by Paul Caporino, the lineup of the band has seen many changes over the years, with Caporino being the only consistent member. The band has recorded many albums, singles and CDs, including several albums for the Chicago-based record label Criminal IQ Records.

Percy Chapman, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, is an American rapper and record producer. Chapman hails from the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Queens, New York, who helped spawn other hip hop artists such as Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, Nas and many others both through production and influence. His name is a reference to the former leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.

Simon Heartfield British musician

Simon Heartfield is a DJ, musician and record producer.

DJ Rectangle American DJ


TC is the stage name of drum and bass producer, singer and Bristol DJ Tom Casswell. He left school and started making music inspired by the sounds of the Bristol scene and the music and atmosphere of St. Paul's, the area of Bristol where he grew up.

BeXta is the performance name of Rebecca Elizabeth Poulsen, a trance and hard dance, DJ and producer. She studied classical music and music technology before turning to electronic dance music from 1992. BeXta established her own label, Mixology Digital, in 2000.

Drumagick are the brothers JrDeep and Guilherme Lopes. They are DJs and drum 'n' bass producers who live in São Paulo, Brazil.

Grooverider Presents: The Prototype Years is a 1997 drum and bass compilation album by DJ Grooverider on his label, Prototype Recordings.

Valentino Kanzyani Slovenian musician

Tine Kocjančič, better known as Valentino Kanzyani is a Slovenian techno deejay and music producer. He has also released records under the name Recycled Loops, which is also the name of one of the record labels that he co-runs, the other being Earresistable.

DJ Hidden Dutch DJ

DJ Hidden is an electronic music producer and DJ from Goes, Netherlands. His solo work consists of (Experimental) Drum & Bass, IDM and Crossbreed. He is one-half of Industrial Hardcore/Crossbreed duo, The Outside Agency, alongside Eye-D.

Mike Morasky American composer, animator/visual effects artist, director and programmer

Mike Morasky is an American composer, animator/visual effects artist, director and programmer. He is best known for his work at Valve Corporation composing the scores for Portal 2, Team Fortress 2, and the Left 4 Dead series. He is also known for his visual effects work on The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix trilogies as well as founding the underground art bands Steel Pole Bath Tub, Milk Cult and DUH.

Ken Delsol, better known as Kenny Ken, is a British Jungle and drum and bass DJ and record producer.

Ed Rush musician

Ed Rush is the stage name used by the drum and bass musician, producer and DJ, Ben Settle. Rush has been releasing records since 1992 and primarily with his musical partner Optical, since 1997. Along with Optical he is also the co-founder of the record label Virus Recordings which releases his records along with other drum and bass acts. He is most associated with the aggressive styles of drum and bass music known as techstep, darkcore and neurofunk.

Matt Quinn, known by his stage name Optical, is a British musician, producer and DJ. He is co-founder and owner of Virus Recordings, a widely regarded Drum and Bass record label. He is best known as one half of drum and bass duo Ed Rush and Optical, whose debut album Wormhole has been described as one of the most significant LPs of the drum and bass genre. He is also the brother of another successful dance musician Jamie Quinn aka Matrix.

V Recordings British drum and bass record label

V Recordings is a drum and bass record label, based in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1993 by Bryan Gee and Jumpin Jack Frost.


  1. "Dillinja - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. "::ATM Magazine:: Features - Dillinja". Atmosphere Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010.
  3. "Valve Sound System - About". Vlvmusic.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
  4. "twist 'em out | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.