Photo: Bizzurp, CC BY-SA 3.0. Illustrative where it does not show the subject of the story
Netsky is the stage name of Boris Daenen, a Belgian drum and bass producer and musician. His route into the scene shows how liquid drum and bass travelled across Europe, and how a single label could give a young producer a worldwide audience.
The beginnings
Wikipedia says Netsky was born on 22 March 1989 and that the name comes from a computer virus of the same name. He started out making liquid funk, the style of drum and bass with many instrumental layers and frequent vocals. The account says High Contrast's remix of Gold Digger was a major influence on him.
Hospital Records
In late 2009, Netsky signed a recording contract with Hospital Records, the label of other well known liquid artists such as High Contrast and London Elektricity. Within months of his first release he was nominated for Best Upcoming Producer at the 2010 Drum and Bass Arena Awards. Hospital released his self titled debut album on 31 May 2010.
That speed is striking. A producer from Belgium went from a first release to a debut album on one of the genre's best known labels in a matter of months.
The second album and beyond
His second album, titled 2, was released on 25 June 2012, with three singles. A deluxe edition followed, supported by a fourth single, We Can Only Live Today, also known as Puppy. In 2014, Netsky signed to Epic Records and Sony Music under Ultra Music.
Back to the label
Netsky's name appears again in 2026. As reported in this magazine, Hospital Records is marking its thirtieth year with a Hospital30 box set of five white vinyl 12 inch records, and the label's own shop names Netsky among the artists featured. It is a reminder of the artist's place in the label's history.
Why his story matters
Netsky shows how the scene is international. Drum and bass began in London, but its audience and its producers are now spread across Europe and beyond, and a label with a strong identity can bring them together. For a new producer, the lesson is that quality and consistency matter more than where you live.
If you want to hear the early records, start with the first album and compare it with the second to hear how his sound developed.
