Dave Kennett Discusses Solo Project, Nixxy Rain

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We spoke with Dave Kennett as he takes his soulful liquid alias Nixxy Rain to new heights. He talked about his Hospital Records release, social media, and more.

In 2025, former SpectraSoul member Dave Kennett debuted his solo project, Nixxy Rain. The duo had delivered the sad news that the partnership had run its course, and that’s when Kennett pivoted into the liquid drum and bass moniker. Focused on the emotional and melodic side of the genre, Nixxy Rain creates music from the soul.

While continuing to produce with other artists, Nixxy Rain took time to work on his own music. He cultivated and crafted his sound, leaning into the drum and bass that has always spoken to him. Coming from a more intuitive place, vocals and melodies are at the core of what he creates, and he lets the music guide him.

When he first debuted Nixxy Rain, he released on his own imprint, Nixxy Rain Music. He wanted to establish himself on his own terms before taking the leap on another label. But when it finally happened, with his banger of a tune “Lawyer” on Hospital Records, the timing felt right, and the song felt appropriate for that imprint. When it comes to his music, Kennett’s instincts have served him well.

Kennett took time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about the move into his Nixxy Rain alias. Read on for the full conversation.

Stream Nixxy Rain – “Lawyer” on Spotify:

You’ve been releasing music on Nixxy Rain Music until “Lawyer,” which debuted on Hospital Records. Is that by design? Will you primarily release on your own label?

Yeah, that was very deliberate. Launching the project my own way gave me the space to build the identity from the ground up, without outside expectations. It felt important to establish that foundation first: the tone, artwork, cadence, everything exactly as I imagined it.

Releasing “Lawyer” on Hospital Records felt like the perfect moment to work with them. They really got behind the track from the very start and championed it. Going forward, I’ll probably keep a hybrid approach, some releases in house, others finding the right external home depending on the record. That’s one of the things I love about making music: You never quite know where a track will end up.

Following that, is there a dream label you’d love to release on?

There are definitely labels I’ve admired for years, but I don’t really approach them as a checklist. For me, it’s more about alignment and when the music, the timing, and the label’s identity all fit naturally. If that happens with a label I’ve looked up to, that’s amazing. But the main thing is that the record lands with someone who understands it and can present it in the best possible way.

Your releases now are more personal, liquid, and emotional. Will you continue exploring this melodic direction in drum and bass?

Yeah, that emotional, melodic thread is definitely at the core of what I do. It’s the side of drum and bass that’s always resonated with me most, where the music feels like it’s saying something, not just moving. There is still loads of room to evolve within that. I’m interested in exploring different tempos, moods, and vocal approaches, but always keeping that sense of feeling at the center.

Your remix of “Nothing Lasts Forever” was chosen as “Earworm Track of the Week” by BBC Introducing. Did that feel like validation that you’re heading in the right direction?

It was a really nice moment. You never fully know how something’s going to land when you put it out, so it was great to see. I take it as a sign that what I’m doing is connecting. The main test for me is whether the music feels right while I’m making it, but moments like that definitely give you a boost and the confidence to keep pushing forward.

How has the transition from a duo to a solo artist been? Is it easier to move in your own direction?

It’s been a big shift, but a really positive one. Working as a duo teaches you a lot about collaboration and balance, and I carry that with me. Working solo just makes decision-making more immediate. If I have an idea, I can follow it through without needing to translate it first. That’s helped me move quicker and trust my instincts more.

You recently did a Reddit AMA. What inspired that, and how was the response?

I liked the idea of engaging with people in a more open, unfiltered way, and Reddit felt like a good space for that. It was great seeing the production questions in particular, as they show how invested people are in the craft. I’ve always believed sharing knowledge helps the scene evolve, so I’m always happy to talk about that side of things.

Nixxy Rain is a memorable DJ name. What’s the story behind it?

A few years back, I was working with some artists in the US and needed a producer’s name quite quickly. You have to think carefully about these things now, so they don’t get confused with something else online. In drum and bass, names either disappear into the algorithm or cut through. I wanted something that had its own identity sonically and visually. “Nixxy Rain” felt clean and distinctive.

I hear you’re into photography. Would you ever take that further?

Yeah, I’ve always loved photography; it’s something I’ve naturally gravitated towards alongside music. It sharpens how you see things, and that feeds back into my creative process and the visual side of my projects. I’ve also incorporated it directly into releases. For example, I shot all the 35mm black-and-white film for our first album as SpectraSoul back in 2012, which helped create a visual world around the music.

I’ll definitely keep exploring that and blending it into what I do musically, and I’m open to wherever it might lead.

What else do you have coming up? Anything exclusive you can share?

There’s a lot of music ready to go and a lot more being written. I’m working with some amazing vocalists and exploring a few new shades of the sound, which I’m really excited about. I don’t want to give too much away, but there are releases coming on other labels this year, alongside another EP on my own imprint, Nixxy Rain Music, plus a few collaborations that should get people talking.

I’m also focusing on bringing the project further into a live and DJ context this year.

Any final words for people discovering Nixxy Rain for the first time?

I’d just say, welcome, and thank you for listening. The whole project is built around feeling and connection, so if any of the music speaks to you, that’s exactly what it’s there for. There’s a lot more to come, and I’m looking forward to sharing that as it unfolds.