Photo: Foto: Jonn Leffmann, CC BY 3.0. Illustrative, not of Lenzman
What happened
Lenzman, the Dutch drum and bass producer whose real name was Teije van Vliet, has died at the age of 47. Drum & Bass UK gives the date as 11 July 2026, and Clash reported the news on the weekend of 12 July. He had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in January 2023. His wife Ashanti and daughters Riva and Nya shared a statement on Instagram saying he fought with strength, courage and love.
Why it matters
Lenzman helped shape a thoughtful, soulful side of drum and bass over more than two decades. Drum & Bass UK dates his rise to the early 2000s and to releases on Metalheadz, the label Goldie founded. In 2016 he started his own label, The North Quarter, named after the neighbourhood he grew up in. Tributes came from artists, labels, promoters and listeners across the scene.
Who is involved
Drum & Bass UK lists the albums Looking at the Stars (2014), Bobby (2019), which it says was inspired by fatherhood and childhood memories, and A Little While Longer. The North Quarter put out music by artists including Redeyes, FD, Fox, Satl, Objectiv, Zero T, Echo Brown and Submorphics. Clash quotes tributes from fellow producers and from Harry Shotta.
What happens next
The North Quarter catalogue and his albums remain available. Drum & Bass UK says a fundraising night was held at Phonox in London before his treatment ended. We have found no announced memorial event, and will report one if it is confirmed.
The duo's seventh studio album arrives on Friday 9 October with guests including J Hus, Little Simz and Skrillex, and they have announced UK and European arena dates for February to April 2027.
Two December Fridays on the label's own events page: a Hospital30 x Critical Sound night at Stealth in Nottingham and a Kasra, QZB and Spectral night at Volks in Brighton.
