Hedex: “Budapest has been flying the drum 'n' bass flag for a long time — the scene runs deep”

Drum ‘n’ bass is a global phenomenon with established scenes and diehard audiences everywhere from Brazil to Bangkok to Bristol to Budapest, where next month on September 13 the Burn Energy Tour 2024 will be making its first stop with a raucous party headlined by Hedex.

Budapest might not receive the same level of international recognition for its d’n’b scene as hotspots like London and Auckland, but the Hungarian capital has more than earned its position among the very best in the world. Powered by influential nights such as Bladerunnaz, founded in 1999, the sound has connected like no other in the city’s underground, becoming woven into Budapest’s sonic identity and fuelling the evolution of its creative community over the past decades.

As of 2024, clubs including the now-legendary warehouse venue Arzenál, home to some of Budapest's biggest drum 'n' bass events, are flying the flag for the scene, with acts like Pendulum, Mefjus, and Camo & Krooked passing through over the years. The amount of new artists, promoters, events, and platforms that have sprung up to carry the d’n’b torch has been one of the great success stories of electronic music in Europe, which makes it the perfect place for Burn Energy and Mixmag to shine a spotlight.

We’ll be landing in the Hungarian capital on Friday, September 13, for a day-into-night run of events, starting with a workshop hosted by Lahmacun radio and BBC Radio 1’s Charlie Tee, ahead of a all-star d’n’b blowout at Arzenál, headlined by Hedex, alongside Charlie Tee, DNB Allstars alum Latte, and local bass heads Shaymi and Bug.

Hedex is a name that’s been written into drum ‘n’ bass history since he first emerged as a teenager around a decade ago. Still in his 20s, he’s a leader in a new generation of d’n’b icons, synonymous with a particularly high-energy, rowdy take on the sound that’s cultivated an obsessive fanbase that follows him across all corners of the globe. He’s scored a UK Top 20 hit with Chase & Status collab ‘Liquor and Cigarettes’, sold-out Wembley Arena, linked up with Tiësto onstage at Las Vegas’ EDC, launched his own popular party series My Home Is The Rave, and starred in a documentary about his remarkable come-up, among countless other achievements.

Multiple shows in the city previously have shown Hedex and Budapest is a potent combo, and we can’t wait to bring him back to the city and further explore its inspiring creative scene.

Sign up for the Budapest workshop here, get tickets for the party here, and read an exclusive Q&A with Hedex below.

You have been touring since you were still a teenager, how has visiting disparate underground scenes all over Europe/the world helped shape you as an artist?

You go to so many different places, and you're all going for the same thing of drum 'n' bass. Everyone's got their different styles and the trends in different places, so with touring up and down for so many years, you pick up flavours in different places that give you new views on life or how you do things.

Do you think there is something about drum ‘n’ bass as a genre that allows it to transcend borders/scenes and bring people together? It feels like if people are into drum 'n' bass, they're diehard about it.

There loads of different reasons as to why it could be the case. I think drum 'n' bass is one of the few genres, especially socially, that can really induce FOMO. You look at the parties online and the tunes are going off. That definitely helps in terms of spreading it everywhere. I think drum 'n' bass is one of those genres where you know that when you're there, you're having a good party. That's something you don't always get with every type of music. It's the energy you know! Stuff that you can't accurately experience unless you're in the rave at the time.

Drum 'n' bass is also something you can listen to at home, listen to at 8:AM, listen to at midday — there's a different style of drum 'n' bass for every moment. Drum 'n' bass is a special genre, you just don't get that with every type of music.

The Burn Energy Tour won’t be your first time in Budapest right? What is your connection to the city?

I've played Budapest a couple of times. I've played for the Bladerunnaz crew, I've played for the NapiJumpup crew as well, there's a lot of people in Budapest who have been flying the drum 'n' bass flag for a long time. It covers the jump-up side, the older side, and booking me and a lot of other peers. The scene in Budapest is quite deep and the people there are really cool so I always look forward to coming back. They're drum 'n' bass family. That's one great thing about drum 'n' bass. It don't matter where you go, there's great people.

I've also been there on holiday. I've been to Széchenyi baths, had a nice day there! There's amazing people and I've always been shown a lot of love when I go there.

What has been one of your favourite memories playing in Budapest? Maybe your first time playing there?

I remember once I played on a boat, A38, for Bladerunnaz. It's an old warship.

Were you playing war dubs?

It's everything it says on the tin! I was playing really angry drum 'n' bass on a warship, it was a good vibe.

How would you describe crowds in Budapest? Are they super engaged? Do they like to dance? What's the energy like?

Whenever I've ever been there it's always been slamming off. The local crews run great parties. Drum 'n' bass in Budapest has got a long-running heritage of supporting the scene. They're big, big fans out there.

Are you excited to be returning to Budapest? What can fans expect from your Burn Energy Tour show?

I can't wait to get back to Budapest. It's been a good couple of years now. I'm also looking forward to getting back and soaking up the culture of the city, seeing it all, and just playing to the Budapest fans.

Budapest is the first stop on the Burn Energy Tour 2024, but with additional stops set to be announced in Poland, Italy and Spain, stay tuned to Burn Energy and Mixmag’s Instagram pages.