We close out 2025 with a hard hitting hour of banging techy anthems from one of the UK’s best in the game.
Over the past decade, Ploy has quietly but decisively become one of the UK’s most versatile dancefloor thinkers—an artist whose catalogue maps a constant tension between percussive futurism, bass-heavy urgency and a mischievous instinct for left-turns. His most recent release on Faith Beat pushed that ethos further into focus, folding sleazy groove, screw-face swing and oddball funk into something unmistakably his own. The response has been telling: with each shift in style, Ploy only seems to sharpen his identity, earning a reputation for unpredictability that dancers and DJs have grown to trust. As the producer steps into the Phonica mix series, he arrives not as a chameleon but as a fully coherent shape-shifter—restless, playful and firmly in his stride.
Hey Sam, thanks for joining us! Can you tell us about your mix and what the idea behind it was?
I had some ideas for it which I scrapped in the end – It turned into a bit of a power hour – there’s a bunch of old records in there, it’s a bit faster paced and darker than a lot of my recent recordings. A bit more crunch to it.
What are your preferred methods for finding new music—do you still enjoy digging around in dusty crates, or do you prefer to buy online?
Online is definitely the preference these days due to time constraints but I’ll always check out some shops on my travels! It is always a pleasure popping into phonica also.
What are five records you couldn’t live without?
By accident really I started collecting records when I was around 13/14 so they mark very different / pivotal stages in my life. It’s not that I couldn’t live without these but they are some notable ones that take me back to very specific moments.
Run dmc – tougher than leather LP
This was the first record I bought, 13 probably? My friend Giorgio’s dad was a dj and I bought this one from his collection
Adam F + Redman – Smash sumthin (picture disc)
I remember this track blowing my mind hearing it in my friends brothers bedroom at 14 and as a young teen picture discs were very exciting to me also. I went and bought it from the local record shop
Testa trax – thuggish rubbish
Honestly no idea how I ended up finding this one, I think I just stumbled across it on HTFR.com where I’d buy a lot of records online as a teen. I used to play this lot when I was teaching myself how to mix.
Levon Vincent – double jointed sex freak (part 1)
I bought this on the day of my first ever proper gig – many years and two aliases ago. When I was in college I called myself basic audio – I got booked through a friend for a London venue called rhythm factory. Me, brawther, Tevo Howard and a guy called drop dead who ran the party. I bought this from Kristina records and played it in my warm up set that night.
Karen Pollack – You Can’t Touch Me (You Can’t Hurt Me) (MURK Remix)
When I started throwing parties at university in bath with friends, I would play this all the time – it takes me back to those years instantly.
What has been one of your most memorable sets over your career?
Where to start – the one where a man was sick all over me (twice), the one where a woman tried to drag me off stage while I was in the mix, the time I played a 1000 capacity room to one man at peak time, many moments I’ll never forget
What do you have up your sleeve for 2025?
Another record for Dekmantel some time at the start of 2025 and a new party Deaf Tech amongst other things!
Thanks Sam 🙂
