Scottish-raised producer Mha Iri has always sought to locate her identity through music. As a teen, she was drawn towards the frenetic sounds of drum ‘n’ bass, before pivoting into other lanes of club expression.
Picking up pirate CDs from her local market, Mha Iri’s older brother indoctrinated her in the techno realm, giving her some DJ lessons in the process.
Since then, her profile has exploded. A potent voice in club culture, Mha Iri gained exposure first as a DJ before her own productions took hold.
Starting this month, Mha Iri has begun unveiling a triptych of EPs, a four-strong release series themed around the elements. First EP ‘Leader Of The Pack’ represents the Earth, and it’s out now – tied to the Winter Equinox.
CLASH caught up with the talented producer to dip into her rave roots…
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The Horrorist – ‘One Night In New York City’ (Chris Liebing Remix)
I love the creepy little xylophone sound that accompanies the filthy bass in this track. It’s super driving, dark and to be honest a bit controversial.
The lyrics tell a story of a young girl’s first night out in New York City and the story gets darker as the track plays out. Whenever I played this at parties as soon as the vocals kicked in, people would exchange wide-eyed looks because of the track’s sinister vibe.
For me it’s art and art can be unsettling or uncomfortable in its nature and the track is just an absolute banger.
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Gary Beck – ‘Before The Crash’
This is such a great example of unique and driving techno with atmospheric depth, emblematic of his signature style.
As a Scottish producer, Gary was always an inspiration to me. I saw him play a number of times in Scotland and have always looked up to him. He has a unique sound and uncompromising approach to techno production and that’s something I’ve always aspired to with my own work. When I finally had the chance to meet him in Australia, it was surreal.
I had been booked to play just before him. He was as humble and down-to-earth as I’d hoped, sharing stories with me and introducing me to his wife, who was just as kind. Meeting him deepened my admiration, showing that behind this incredible music was a genuinely lovely guy.
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Taxigirl – ‘High Glow‘
Featured in ‘In Search of Sunrise 6’ mixed by Tiësto, this is an ethereal trance track that radiates warmth and emotion. It’s beautiful, uplifting melody brought a sense of calm after long, energetic nights out.
Back when I was 20, living with my sister, I’d listen to the whole album to unwind from the night. Those moments captured my love for trance music—the way it can hold both energy and peace, bringing out joy and introspection all at once.
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Dillinja – ‘Grimey’
Drum and bass has always been big in the UK and part of my raving experience was going to DNB events.
The first time I heard Dillinja’s ‘Grimey’ was at Edinburgh’s iconic Bongo Club, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. The track is as filthy as it gets—a raw, heavy bassline with a simple yet infectious groove that gets under your skin. It’s stripped-down, no-frills drum and bass, but somehow it never loses its grip. The relentless bass and gritty drops are absolutely mint.
‘Grimey’ has this rare quality of being straightforward yet unforgettable, a track that proves sometimes the simplest, dirtiest tracks are the ones that stick with you forever.
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DJ Rush – ‘Look And See’
DJ Rush’s ‘Look and See‘ is a brilliant fusion of funky vocals and relentless, driving techno. The track’s pounding energy and catchy hooks make it capture everything we loved about DJ Rush’s music growing up. I also loved a number of his tracks that featured his vocals, I feel like he was one of the only artists doing this at the time with his own vocals.
My brother and I were hooked on his sound when we were growing up. We’d spend hours listening to his tunes. DJ Rush’s music was our shared obsession, and those moments of listening together became our own soundtrack.
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The Irresistible Gabbers – ‘Pussy Pussy Dicky Dicky’
This is a mental, high-energy track that perfectly captures the spirit of Frenchcore. It’s fast and full of outrageous fun with ridiculous lyrics. When I was younger, I used to listen to this style of music a lot and I loved the pure energy in it.
Frenchcore had this incredible, rebellious vibe that felt like freedom, and ‘Pussy Pussy Dicky Dicky’ was a favourite with its playful, no-holds-barred style which matched my carefree, thrill-seeking nights. Those memories are full of good times and raw, unfiltered music.
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