Simms is not a new name if you have been paying attention. He has been putting in the work quietly, building a following through his residency on Foundation FM, sets at Balamii, NTS and Rinse FM, and a run of productions that have earned him respect from some of the most credible voices in the scene.

But Traversal Tapes, his debut EP on the newly founded Passionfruit Records, is the first time he has brought a full body of work together. Six tracks rooted in a deep love of jungle and DnB, built by someone who grew up on the music, understands it properly, and has something genuinely personal to say with it.

We sat down with Simms to talk about where he comes from, how he makes music, and what it means to put something out that sounds exactly the way you want it to.

The Release

Your EP is the debut release for Passionfruit Records, with the first single coming in at just under 6 minutes. That is something we are really enthused by in today's climate. Did you guys align creatively straight away?

The team definitely pointed out the track lengths right away, but I was adamant. A lot of music is optimised for short form content nowadays, and I don't think that should translate to dance music. I want people to be able to sit with each track and really take it in, on and off of the dancefloor.

Roots

One of your earliest memories is sitting in the passenger seat of your dad's 2005 BMW 3 Series, hours upon hours of old jungle and DnB CDs. Do you still have the car?

Not anymore, my dad had it scrapped a couple years back because it was breaking down a bunch. He did replace it with a virtually identical 2007 model though!

Your mum also had a huge influence on your taste in music and you have as much knowledge about drum breaks and jungle techno as you do of Amerie and Aaliyah. What is the greatest decade or era of music in your opinion?

I'm always torn between the early 2000s, which is what I grew up with, and the 90s which I adopted through my mum and other family. I'd have to go with the 2000s though, the nostalgia I feel from that era is just unmatched.

Where the message lands. Simms behind the decks.

The Craft

You have spoken about digging for samples. Your palette is a wide one, from computer games to R&B. What do you look for in a sample or something that inspires you in production?

Honestly it could be anything that pulls me toward a sample, but what draws my attention most of the time is a rich vocal. I build a lot of tracks around a vocal sample to get ideas.

Given your love of 'textbook breaks', can you actually play the drums or any other instruments? You have mentioned mixing in key and making sure tracks in your sets do not clash sonically, so we were curious whether you play, read music, or if it is all by ear?

I don't play any instruments (yet). I've learnt the basics of music theory on my own in recent years and I use the circle of fifths to inform my mixing decisions which helps when I'm planning long, melodic blends. It's not a rule everyone needs to follow, but it just helps me to make decisions without getting lost in my library.

Traversal Tapes era. The sound has been building a long time.

Culture

Do you still play computer games now? Do the soundtracks still hit the same way or is it the retro soundscapes you rate more?

I still play games almost every day! Honestly, game soundtracks are nowhere near as consistent as they used to be in the 90s. Some recent favourites though would be Streets of Rage 4, Sonic Mania and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.

You seem to really love all aspects of the culture, from DJing to skating, production to visuals. Where does that come from? Does it ever get a bit much trying to juggle it all?

I've always had lots of hobbies. Music, skateboarding, video games and graphic design are the ones which have followed me into adulthood. It gets difficult trying to find time for all of them these days as I pick up more responsibilities, but I could never give any of them up entirely.

Traversal Tapes — SIMMS / PF001. Out now on Passionfruit Records.

The Dancefloor

What was it like the first time you played one of your own productions in a set?

It was actually quite dead haha. First time I played my own tune in a set, everyone stopped dancing. It took a while before I tried that again.

You have done sets with Reek0 and had a few MCs on your Balamii show not long ago. Is the MC an important part of what you do? Going back to the Good Looking Records days it was a huge part of that movement, with vocalists like Conrad and DRS. Would you ever consider linking up with an MC on a long-term basis to build one of those classic partnerships, or is it just as and when?

I think a good MC will forever add a level of intimacy to a dancefloor which cannot be created in any other way. I'd be open to regularly connecting with an MC, it would just need to be the right person. To me a good jungle MC knows how to elevate the crowd while also leaving plenty of space for tracks to breathe. Jolie P, Renelle 893 and Kibo have been my favourites to connect with.

Seeing you support Takuya Nakamura was a real moment. Playing the Jazz Cafe felt like a statement for the music and culture, which seems to have shifted away from what people might call real music recently. That must have felt different to playing in a rave?

Takuya's crowds are definitely interesting. It's always fascinating to see how people appreciate music in different spaces. People in those crowds tend to stand and observe more than dancing, but you can still feel the shared love for dance music and to me that's what's most important in these spaces.

Rapid Fire

Top 5 video games of all time

Sonic Adventure 2, Outrun 2006, Skate 3, Unreal Tournament, Call of Duty Black Ops 2

Jodeci or Jagged Edge?

Jagged Edge

Sonic or Tails?

Sonic

Tony Hawk or Rodney Mullen?

Rodney Mullen

Dream b2b?

Tim Reaper

Last thing you listened to before this?

BC Rydah - Sour Jack Mercy

NYC or London?

London

Rizla colour?

Black RAWs

Traversal Tapes is out now on Passionfruit Records.

SIMMS: Traversal Tapes | Passionfruit Records | 2026