Cyclops Breaks the Internet With the HILARIOUS Viral Hit, ‘Blunt Song’
May 19, 2025
May 19, 2025
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One of the brightest stars in the dubstep genre, New Zealand natives Truth are on a path to global domination. Their Deep Dark and Dangerous record label has become a leading force in the deep dubstep scene. We were able to get an exclusive interview with Dre, one half of the duo who will be opening up for Zeds Dead on their Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness tour this Saturday! We could not be more excited to welcome the masters of deep dubstep back to AZ.
What is it like producing as a duo? What are some of the advantages and challenges that come from producing as a duo?
Producing as a duo is one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of what we do. The biggest advantage is having a second brain — someone to challenge your ideas, add to them, or flip them in a direction you’d never expect. Tristan and I have built that creative trust over many years. The challenge, especially with the distance now, is syncing schedules and workflows — and just trying to get a hold of each other sometimes!
What was it like growing up in New Zealand and how has it affected the music that you have produced over the years?
Growing up in NZ definitely gave us a strong connection to nature, space, and a bit of solitude. That sense of atmosphere and depth naturally found its way into our music. There’s a calm but powerful undercurrent in a lot of NZ culture — the ocean, the forests, and the sound system culture that’s existed there for decades — all influenced our sound. Even in the darkest tracks, there’s always a bit of that earthy, grounding energy.
What were some of the major factors in your decision to move to the United States? Has moving to the States affected the style or sound of your music?
For me, it was really about cutting back the crazy amount of travel — constantly flying back and forth from NZ to the US. Touring opportunities, building community, collaborating with more artists — the US just opened more doors. Being immersed in the scene here has brought new textures to my sound, but at the same time, it’s made me appreciate our roots even more. I’d say the sound has evolved, but it’s still grounded in that deep, meditative bass we’ve been into from the beginning.
With Dre living in the United States and Tristan still living in New Zealand, what are some of the challenges that you have faced in producing music with someone across the globe?
The time zones can be brutal — when I’m waking up, Tristan’s often wrapping up a studio session. But we’ve found a rhythm. We’re always messaging each other, bouncing projects back and forth, and sometimes we’ll just jump on long sessions to get a full idea locked in. Tools like Dropbox have been a game-changer. It’s not as seamless as being in the same room, but it works because we trust each other’s ears — and we’ve been doing this together for so long that collaboration feels natural.
When producing music, do you try to work on tunes together or do you share mostly completed tracks?
Bit of both, honestly. Sometimes one of us will start with a nearly finished idea and send it to the other to add some sauce. Other times, we’ll go back and forth building something from scratch. It depends on the tune. But every release is a blend of both of us — even if one of us starts it, the other’s energy is always in the final track.
What was one of the biggest moments that changed the trajectory of Truth? And what would you say is one of the biggest moments for Deep Dark and Dangerous?
There’ve definitely been some major turning points. I’d say when Mala signed us to Deep Medi in 2007 — that was a big shift for Truth. We started playing shows in London and all over the UK and Europe. It opened up a global audience and really solidified us in the scene. Another huge milestone was when we launched the Deep Dark & Dangerous nights in San Francisco in 2014. That’s when we started curating our own shows and tours. From there, DDD evolved into a label — and eventually, it became a movement.
What kinds of inspiration do you bring with you from New Zealand?
A lot of it is subconscious. The sound of birds in the bush, the stillness of a misty morning, the power of a storm rolling in — those are part of the landscape we grew up with. A lot of our music definitely pulls from that natural, emotional place. We don’t always set out to be “nature inspired,” but it shows up anyway — deep bass is like the earth speaking back.
Are there any artists, pieces of pop culture, or places that inspire your music?
Yeah, definitely. We draw inspiration from sound system culture, obviously, but also from sci-fi, mythology, the unknown — even architecture. Jungle legends like Goldie and the Metalheadz crew, and early dubstep like DMZ, really shaped us. But we also pull from film scores, video games, and old vinyl. As for future projects — we’ve got a few dream collabs in the works, but no spoilers just yet!
Where did the inspiration for the Deep Dark and Dangerous logo — the angry cyclops squid — come from?
Ah yes, the one-eyed beast. I was working on a bunch of logo concepts and wanted a symbol that was raw, mysterious, and a bit primal. The ocean has always been a part of our lives — it’s deep, unknown, powerful… just like bass. The cyclops represents vision and the unknown — focused and intense. It kind of evolved into the face of DDD naturally. It’s a creature that could live deep below or among the speakers at a show — either way, it’s watching. The flipped pyramid behind it represents power to the masses — a twist on the usual Illuminati symbolism.
What can fans look for from Truth and from Deep Dark and Dangerous?
We’ve got some big things lined up — a new Truth album is in the works, plus some huge EPs and remixes we’re hyped to drop. On the DDD side, we’re expanding the family — we’ve signed some incredible new music from both emerging and established artists. We’re also bringing more visual art, merch drops, and some wild DDD takeovers at some epic locations. Can’t say too much yet, but 2025’s gonna be wild.
What are the best places for fans to go to find your music and stay up to date?
Definitely follow us on Bandcamp and Spotify — that’s where the music drops first. For merch, Instagram and Facebook are key. We’ve also got some great Facebook groups where the community lives and breathes — especially the DDD Squad.
Don’t miss Truth this Saturday, May 3rd, at Rawhide Event Center in Chandler, AZ, where they will be supporting Zeds Dead on their Return to the Spectrum of Intergalactic Happiness tour. Tickets are currently sold out, but we hope to see you there!
Connect with Truth: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | X | Spotify | SoundCloud
