EXVCT drops “DREAD” music video

Operating under the artistic banner EXVCT, Latvian producer, DJ and songwriter Andrejs Lihvars first became involved in Riga’s underground drum and bass scene as a teenager, organising events at just 17 before teaching himself production. That early connection to the dancefloor continues to shape his vision, with music designed to deliver the physical impact of a festival anthem while retaining the atmosphere, melody and emotional tone that makes electronic music just as compelling away from the club.

Recognised by DJTOP as Latvia’s number one drum and bass DJ in 2011, Andrejs has since travelled through an assortment of electronic styles. From drum and bass and dubstep to trap, slap house and deep house, his career has been marked by an ongoing desire to explore different sounds. Now, under the EXVCT name, he’s opening another chapter, returning to his origins while incorporating the influence of everything encountered along the way.

It’s an atmospheric, dancefloor-focused interpretation of drum and bass that brings together heavyweight basslines, cinematic emotion and the spirit of rave culture.That journey through different musical preferences can be heard across his debut album, From the Future to the Garage. Written during a period of transition, the record traces a movement from dance music towards electronica before eventually finding its way back to drum and bass.

His subsequent releases have continued to develop that sound, with “Don’t Slow Down” spending three weeks on the Beatport charts, followed by “Acceleration” and “Do It Like That.” Collaborations with artists including AnDy Darling and Little Big have helped expand his reach, alongside growing support from DJs and tastemakers across the electronic scene. But for all that momentum, EXVCT’s latest direction finds him exploring something darker altogether.

His new single titled “DREAD” represents his most club-focused and unsettling release to date, embracing the Halloween season through a track built around suspense, impact and an almost cinematic sense of pursuit. Not relying solely on the relentless energy associated with drum and bass, the track frames what happens between its explosive moments, distilling the anticipation, the uncertainty and the tension that makes the eventual release feel all the more powerful.

“I wanted a track that feels like being followed down an empty street at night: tension that keeps building, with a drop that hits like the moment you finally start running,” he explains. Produced in his studio in Riga, “DREAD” presented him with the challenge of creating a heavy bassline-driven mix while maintaining that atmosphere of tension between the breaks. It’s a balance that reflects his wider style of sound design, where physical energy and cinematic detail are intended to work together.

The accompanying video takes that atmosphere beyond the music, playing out like a short horror film directed by EXVCT and Sergejs Sobolevs and produced by HeavyLensProduction. Filmed on the streets of Riga, it follows the producer on a fearful journey as a cluster of costumed creatures relentlessly pursue him around the city. Thrilling and action-packed, the visual gives the track its own story-focused world, extending the sense of drama that runs through the production. With “DREAD,” EXVCT continues to stride towards a sound that reflects both his history and his changing creative output and while his journey has taken him through multiple corners of electronic music, the central ambition remains to make music that feels entirely his own.

Watch the music video for DREAD below

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