The wait is finally over. Today, UK drum and bass artist Hedex releases his debut album, MHITR (My Home Is The Rave), a vibrant tribute to sound system culture and the underground energy that shaped him. When he teased the project back in August with the words “MHITR is forever,” it felt like more than an announcement. It was a statement of intent from an artist who has turned late-night chaos into belonging, carving out a sound that feels personal, communal and alive.
Out today on his own label, also named MHITR, the album brings together collaborators like ArrDee and Maverick Sabre while staying rooted in the pulse of the rave. It’s a reflection of how far Hedex has come, from early sets and 5 a.m. shifts to sold-out arenas, but also of how connected he remains to the scene that raised him.
Hi Jack! How’s your summer been so far? Where have you been travelling, and from where are you answering us right now?
Everything’s moving a million miles an hour. I’m actually back in my studio just outside of London right now, but I’m leaving for Ohio tomorrow morning. I’ve been travelling so much this summer; in the last 14 days I’ve done shows in Brighton, Edmonton, Toronto, Philadelphia and Atlanta, and there’s one more I just can't think of right now off the top of my head.
It looks like you’ve had a packed season of shows, from UK festivals to dates across Europe and North America. Has this intensity on the road influenced the way you’re approaching the album’s release?
I think the album really encapsulates everything Hedex; it’s called MHITR. It’s exactly that on the tin; it’s eighteen songs taking you on a journey through my life and, subsequently, the live show.
This debut album feels like both a personal milestone and a cultural statement. What made you feel this was the right moment to finally put out a full album?
It was just finally ready; it’s been in the works for years. It was meant to come out with the documentary last year, but I just was not happy with where it was at. I sit and listen to it now, and I’m like, yeah, this actually makes sense. I’m really happy with every part of the album, which is really not like me.
The title itself is bold. In your own words, what does “home” mean in the context of rave and drum & bass culture?
It means exactly that; it’s my home. I have lived on the road for years; my only constant has been the rave. Nothing else has stuck around this long. It’s not just a saying.
Drum & bass has always been rooted in community and intensity. Which part of that DNA was most important for you to preserve in this record?
The album is full of collaborations, and the Hedex project is aided by the hard work of so many. I talk about ‘Hedex’ in the third person sometimes because I make the music, but it's not just me that makes the dream happen.
At the same time, the project seems to reach toward a bigger stage for drum & bass globally. Was it part of your vision to create something that speaks to the underground while also having the potential to cross over?
Not at all. We really did not plan much at the start of MHITR; the success of it, to me anyway, is from the slogan just resonating with so many people. It is so organic, man. Regardless of where you are from or what language you speak, we all know the feeling of release that music can provide, especially at a rave. Powerful mate.
You’ve gone from early gigs and 5 a.m. shifts at McDonald’s to selling out Wembley. Do you let yourself stop and reflect on that journey, or are you always focused on what’s next?
Honestly, only recently have I really taken all this in. I just turned thirty, and things are starting to finally make a little sense. Like you just said, I genuinely worked in McDonald's and am just a normal person; I’m not special or anything, and I’ve found that mentally hard for years. I owe a lot to my partner, Georgina, for helping me.
The tracklist includes collaborations with established scene legends and with names like ArrDee and Maverick Sabre. How did those link-ups happen, and what did each of them add to the album?
I’ve luckily worked with them previously: Mav on a remix I did for Zinc and ArrDee on Liquor with C&S. I Knew That This Was Love is written from the point of view of meeting my girlfriend, so if you listen to the lyrics, it really tells a story from verse one to verse two. Mav really brought my vision to life. I picked the sample in the session, chopped and cut it over a beat I already had, and the rest was history. I'm so proud of this one.
The ArrDee track started as a collab just with me and Nick, Digital Farm Animals. We were cooking a couple of bits; he had that ‘will you still love me’ hook, and we sat and wrote it together at his studio alongside another track on the album, Can’t Decide, on the same day, I think? I could be wrong there. There are eighteen songs on this thing, and I’m struggling to remember what I had for dinner at this point.
The ArrDee track started as a collab just with me and Nick, Digital Farm Animals. We were cooking a couple of bits; he had that ‘will you still love me’ hook, and we sat and wrote it together at his studio alongside another track on the album, Can’t Decide, on the same day, I think? I could be wrong there. There are eighteen songs on this thing, and I’m struggling to remember what I had for dinner at this point.
As the release date gets closer, what can fans expect sonically from MHITR? Would you describe it as a snapshot of where you are right now, or is it also a signal of where you want to head next?
This has everything on it, literally a piece of music for everything, I would say. DNB, Jump Up, Liquid, Jungle, Bassline, UK Garage, Dubstep and even a little sprinkling of Hard Techno at the end of one song—now that I think about it, I’m properly proud of writing everything on this album.
Your music often balances chaos, euphoria and precision. How did you find that balance in the context of making a full-length record, compared to building singles for the club?
The way the track list runs on this one is intentional and has a lot of thought behind its direction; you just gotta take it in. I couldn’t have done what I've done on this album through releasing eighteen singles. It wouldn’t tell the same story.
Looking back at your career so far, is there a track or moment you feel best represents who you are as an artist today?
I think the moment at Univerz Festival where I did that mad triple drop and the crowd went literally insane is such a defining moment because not only was that literally mental, but it also shows I’ve stayed true to my sound. You can’t listen to this album and then go and listen to that set from ten years ago and say I’ve changed. It’s just a development of it all. MHITR.
You’ve got the MHITR mini-tour lined up just ahead of the album release. How are you preparing for those shows, and will they feel like a live preview of the record?
It’s back to the original tour vibes. For the people that went to that one, you will know what I mean, but if you didn’t, it’s not what you get normally from Hedex at the festivals. Pair that with me switching up the setlist for this tour, especially; they are getting more than just the album's new music.
Do you see yourself primarily as a producer who DJs or a DJ who produces? Or is that distinction meaningless in how you see your craft?
I see myself as a performer.
Drum & bass is having a huge moment right now. Do you feel like part of a “new wave” of artists pushing it forward?
Haha, depends who you ask, really. I just feel grateful to be doing what we are doing, and there are so many talented people doing the same, too. For me, there's so much good new underground DNB right now; it's so sick to see.
Finally, if you had to describe MHITR in just three words, without overthinking it, what would they be?
Way Of Life.
