Molecular Presents: One Dub EP.
We welcome Molecular back to the imprint with his debut One Dub EP. Following his contribution to our Fragment / 2 VA LP last year, the Porto based producer returns with a dance floor centric drum and bass 4 tracker.
From the dubbed out title track ‘One Dub’ to the teched-out rolling ‘Sisyphus’, this one is for the clubs.
At the core of Molecular is Raf, a producer driven by a deep love for sound in all forms. “Making music and weird noises makes my brain feel excited and rewarded….I love anything with character, authenticity, depth and texture.” It’s a theme that runs through every track, less about sonic perfection and more about feeling.
Like many producers, Raf’s draw to music changed when he realised there was more beyond the radio, identifying a time when his brother introduced him to sounds outside the mainstream as the turning point.
“I remember having my mind blown and instantly realising there’s a world out there with so much music that I have no clue of... I still chase that feeling to this day.”
Inspiration doesn't stop at music. Novelty, in all forms, is key. “I love finding something new be that new music or new techniques... I also LOVE to watch other creatives work... cooking, painting, guitarists, drummers."
Based in Porto, the city’s climate, pace and proximity to the ocean are all essential in sustaining that creativity and inspiration. “Not just the city itself, but also the lifestyle and the sun that it provides me surely helps to keep me inspired”. This openness to influence gives Molecular that depth. The music isn’t referential for the sake of nostalgia; it’s shaped by process and experimentation.
In the studio, there is no formula. Each session unfolds differently depending on energy, mood, and intent. “If I have an idea in my head I’ll try to get it laid out ASAP... If not, I’ll just jam either on the hardware or software, it really depends.”
On the software side, Raf singles out Rift as indispensable. Hardware choices, however, aren’t as easily narrowed down. “The Super 6 and the Lyra 8…. Sorry, I can’t choose one.”
The One Dub EP can arguably represent moments in a wider journey. “Cold Classic” was written earlier, during a different headspace altogether. With the remaining tracks, Raf “wanted something raw, but still musical in some way - rolling and dirty. A lot of the FX and synths/instruments apart from bass and drums heard in these 3 tracks are played live on my hardware setup.”
At its core, this is club music. Raf hopes listeners will feel it physically first. But beneath that lies deeper influence - from dub, punk, and old-school drum & bass. Understanding those layers is a bonus, not a requirement. “I’m happy enough to make people move.”
“Hopefully they struggle to stand still.”
Looking forward, Raf’s vision remains clear. “Keep on making more music and develop the Molecular sound even further.” There’s excitement in not knowing exactly what comes next, only that there is more to explore.
The One Dub EP is out now on all platforms digitally. Check out the full release here.