Promo ZO on Community, Grassroots and the Next Chapter of Drum & Bass

Promo ZO has built her name by moving with intention through the UK’s Drum & Bass ecosystem. From early broadcasts on Ministry of Sound Radio to Bassdrive, Rinse FM and a steady presence across London’s clubs and festivals, her journey represents something that feels increasingly rare in electronic music: continuity. 

“For me, the culture has always been about connection and responsibility,” she explains. “None of us get here on our own.” That sense of stewardship underpins not just her radio and DJ work, but the grassroots event series FOUR::MULA, a project she describes as born from “a shared love for Drum and Bass in its most honest form.” The idea, she says, was simple: “keeping things real and celebrating the roots of the culture. Intimate venues, quality sound and pure vibes.” As she puts it plainly: “It was never about scale or hype, it was about atmosphere, connection and respect for the culture.”

The concept resonated quickly. With nightclub closures accelerating nationwide, FOUR::MULA positioned itself not as a club night, but as a form of cultural maintenance. “With the decline of nightclub venues across the country, we felt a real responsibility to support grassroots spaces and the people who keep the scene alive,” ZO says. Parties at Boxpark Shoreditch, Planet Wax in New Cross, Dalston Roof Park with Intabeats and an ongoing Sunday residency at SOCIAL in Maidstone have quietly built a loyal ecosystem around Kent and London. 

The reaction surprised even her. “The biggest, unexpected win has been how deeply people have connected with it,” she admits. “Ravers really understood what we were trying to build and backed it in a genuine way. People travelled, came back, brought friends and supported consistently without needing constant promotion.” Another moment that landed hard was support from cultural veterans: “Having people like Bailey, Jumpin Jack Frost and IC3 recognise what FOUR::MULA is about and want to be involved has meant a lot. That kind of respect from artists who helped build the culture in the first place is incredibly affirming.”

SOCIAL in Maidstone, a venue she describes as “welcoming and unpretentious”, has begun to play a key role in that network in 2026. “It’s built around good sound, good energy and people who are genuinely there for the music,” ZO says. The daytime Sunday format furthers that ethos: “The Sundays feel less like traditional events and more like shared spaces where music, people and culture come together.” Whether through Strictly Social’s Old Skool lineage, Liquid Sundays’ more soulful atmosphere or our Open Decks sessions,“removing barriers and giving people a chance to play out in a supportive environment”, the intent is the same: cultivate future infrastructure rather than just future lineups.

That regional focus matters to ZO. “Kent has always had strong DJs and passionate crowds,” she says. “Rather than trying to mirror London, Kent works best when it leans into its own spaces, communities and way of doing things. Those regional ecosystems are vital to the health of the wider culture.” In her view, Drum & Bass has always relied on these parallel networks, the places where new DJs experiment, where new ravers convert, where old heads reconnect.

Her broadcasting work sharpened that sensibility. Ministry of Sound Radio offered “a broad foundation,” while Bassdrive forced her to “think globally about flow and longevity rather than quick reactions.” Rinse introduced responsibility: “Rinse comes with cultural weight,” she explains. “It made me very aware of intentionality in selection.” But it was standing in for Uncle Dugs that marked a turning point: “It was a huge honour and genuinely quite emotional… you are not just filling a slot, you are holding space for something much bigger than yourself.” It wasn’t lost on her that it happened more than once. “That level of trust reinforced the importance of humility and responsibility. Opportunities of that significance should never be taken for granted.”

Her role as a tastemaker extends into championing new artists, which she frames not as altruism, but as duty: “We have lost a lot of the spaces that used to nurture artists and scenes… With fewer of those around, it feels even more important to create environments where that exchange can still happen.” When asked how she knows when something is ready: “You can hear intent. Even if something is not perfectly polished, you can tell when someone knows what they are trying to say musically.”

The touring calendar reflects her widening reach: Fabric, Amsterdam, Bristol, Hackney, Bognor, Croatia and more. But one booking stands out: Valve at The Prospect Building for D&B Classics. “That combination carries huge cultural weight,” she says. “Playing the D&B Classics arena on Valve feels like a moment of progression and recognition rather than just another booking.” It marks a shift beyond her traditional geographic base: “Bristol feels significant because of its deep relationship with sound system culture and Drum and Bass history.”

She thinks deeply about the differences between spaces. “Fabric is very focused,” she says. “Every decision feels amplified.” Amsterdam offers “real openness and curiosity,” while Croatia is “much more emotional and physical.” Legacy venues demand “consistency and discipline,” whereas grassroots rooms demand “connection… You cannot rely on reputation; you have to read the room properly and adapt in real time.”

ZO is clear-eyed about misconceptions from outside the culture. “People still see Drum and Bass as aggressive or one dimensional,” she says. “At its core, the culture came from small rooms, pirate radio, record shops and tight authentic communities. It has always been emotional, detailed and community driven.”

Looking ahead, she’s optimistic. “There feels like a renewed appetite for depth… the culture feels like it is maturing again.” For her, this new phase is marked by intention: “Artists and audiences alike are becoming more discerning… Drum & Bass is finding its balance again.”

Read the full interview with Promo ZO at The Night Bazaar HERE.

Promo ZO's "Pie & Mash VIP" is forthcoming on Beatport via Mustard Music on February 26 and Sinking Ship will be released via ZO Audio on March 26.