Track of the Week: LYNCH… From the Front Left to the Festival Stage

A shift in focus from DJing to production changed everything for Ollie Lynch. Meet the Perth local who went from raving at Touch Bass to playing on its stage.

For Ollie Lynch (aka LYNCH), the connection to Perth’s underground scene is visceral.

Born and raised in WA, his introduction to Drum & Bass was standing in the crowd at Belvoir Amphitheater for Touch Bass, and catching Gino at The Rechabite. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is where I belong,'” he recalls.

Fast forward a few years, and LYNCH wasn’t just in the crowd, he was on the lineup. “It has to be Touch Bass last year with Maggzy,” he says when asked about his career highlight. “Supporting my idols that got me into this scene in the first place… let alone playing at the first festival I ever went to, really was something else.”

We sat down with the DJ and producer to discuss his shift away from pure Jump Up, why he’s tired of posting DJ reels, and the grueling two-year process behind his new Track of the Week, “Hands In The Air.”

🎧 Evolving the Sound

When LYNCH started out, it was Jump Up or nothing.

But over the last four years, his palate has expanded significantly. “I’m definitely playing and listening to a lot more neurofunk, dancefloor, old school jungle, and roller-type music,” he explains. “Incorporating other sub-genres has definitely helped me get a better understanding of the genre and the scene as a whole.”

That evolution was heavily influenced by a specific set: seeing A.M.C at Metro City. “It genuinely changed my entire perception of Drum and Bass,” he says. “It also happened again at Pendulum last Sunday… there’s a reason why these artists are on top and have been for decades. Truly mind-blowing.”

📱 The Content Struggle

Like every modern artist, LYNCH wrestles with the social media machine. But recently, he’s made a conscious shift in his strategy.

“One thing I’m personally trying to steer clear of posting recently is DJ reels,” he admits. “As hard as it is… it’s literally the one thing we all have to do to promote our sound. I’ve felt recently I haven’t been getting as much engagement from posting videos of me mixing compared to posting about my personality and production journey.”

This realisation marked a massive turning point. “I stopped focusing so much on DJing… and I put all my focus into production,” he says. “DJing can only get you so far. People booking me for my music will always top getting booked regularly as a local DJ.”

🔊 The Track: Hands In The Air

That intense focus on production birthed our Track of the Week: “Hands In The Air.” It’s a track designed for a specific moment: “I picture that song being played in the Uber from ‘pres’ to a festival or party, everyone being happy and just excited to have a good time,” he says.

But getting it to that point was a brutal, two-year process. “It was the biggest mess of a project ever,” he laughs, noting that the mixdown was the hardest part. The breakthrough finally came when he scrapped a neuro/reese-style sound for a punchy Jump Up bass. Using plugins like Sausage Fattener and Gain Reduction Deluxe, he finally managed to match the bass volume to the rest of the heavy drum mix without muddying the track.

⚡ LYNCH Quickfire

🔌 Pass the Aux

We ask every feature guest to answer a question left by the previous interviewee.

Incoming Question from PHA2E: “What has the biggest turning point been for you in the last year?”

LYNCH: “I stopped focusing so much on DJing… and I put all my focus into production. I realised DJing can only get you so far, people booking me for my music will always top getting booked regularly as a local DJ.”

Outgoing Question for the Next DJ:

“What’s one thing you wish you did earlier, or one thing you wish you understood the importance of more when you first started DJing?”

Listen to “Hands In The Air” on Spotify & SoundCloud

Follow LYNCH: [Instagram Link]