Mr. Mitch

One of the most acclaimed producers of grime's second wave, London-based Mr. Mitch writes sparse, sentimental tunes inspired by relationships and family life rather than gritty, hedonistic club bangers. His slow, moody tracks have more in common with ambient music and R&B than with hip-hop or garage, and are unflinchingly honest and emotional, even when they don't contain vocals. He founded the label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gobstopper+Records%22">Gobstopper Records</a> in 2010, and released his 2014 instrumental full-length Parallel Memories (2014) and the vocal-heavy Devout (2017) on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Planet+Mu%22">Planet Mu</a>. His third proper album, 2021's Lazy, is an eclectic mix of grime, techno, and downtempo tracks.

Born Miles Mitchell, the producer first began releasing music in 2010, beginning with the Fright Night EP on his own <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gobstopper+Records%22">Gobstopper Records</a>. Further releases appeared on the label as well as others such as <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Slit+Jockey%22">Slit Jockey</a> and Beatfighter, and Mitch produced tracks for grime MCs such as <a href="spotify:artist:2p1fiYHYiXz9qi0JJyxBzN">Skepta</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3bICaFrkiRTZgXE5cMLv2y">Riko Dan</a>, and Trim. Mitch released a free online album titled Searching, Vol. 1: Venus in 2012. In 2013, he co-founded a grime-focused club night called <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Boxed%22">Boxed</a>, along with <a href="spotify:artist:1lqnqqkqnYMrx0kzb0qd8z">Logos</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:247mNPvtArG5YIeTbhKRZ9">Slackk</a>, and <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Oil+Gang%22">Oil Gang</a> founder Simon Hiscocks. Also that year, Mitch released a free EP titled Peace Dubs, Vol. 1, which contained his versions of tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:7k9T7lZlHjRAM1bb0r9Rm3">Wiley</a>, Plastician, <a href="spotify:artist:02r0OqwedodVoAScdnZ2bD">Faze Miyake</a>, and other grime artists. The release was a response to the aggressive "war dubs" that other grime producers were making at the time, and took the genre in a sparser, more reflective direction. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gobstopper%22">Gobstopper</a>, which had become one of the most buzzed-about grime labels, released EPs by artists such as <a href="spotify:artist:1NmRM6j6RUfsifUTo1lceq">Strict Face</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1Jehpab4kMvjrpsHcBtYHR">Dark0</a> which similarly explored spaciousness and sentimentality. <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Boxed%22">Boxed</a> also began releasing music, starting with digital compilations before moving on to vinyl EPs.

Following 2014's The Room Where I Belong EP on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gobstopper%22">Gobstopper</a>, Mitch signed to Mike Paradinas' label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Planet+Mu%22">Planet Mu</a>. EP Don't Leave (with a title track built around a sample of American R&B group <a href="spotify:artist:2P3cjUru4H3fhSXXNxE9kA">Blackstreet</a>) directly preceded full-length Parallel Memories, which appeared in December. The album received much critical acclaim, and was named the number two album of the year by FACT. Mitch's only 2015 release was The Man Waits, a 12" containing remixes of the opening track from his 2014 EP. In 2016, Mitch produced tracks by <a href="spotify:artist:5EUdiv20t58GCS09VMKk7M">Katy B</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6WjX4pepHwXa85B9KMk0PY">P Money</a>, and Py. He also teamed up with ambient grime producer <a href="spotify:artist:003Lrmd4Hy04kSf0wZm3xm">Yamaneko</a>, releasing a self-titled EP under the name <a href="spotify:artist:4uHyOCzgrK0Mb3KEJasKkT">Yaroze Dream Suite</a> on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Local+Action%22">Local Action</a> label. In 2017, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Planet+Mu%22">Planet Mu</a> released Mitch's second proper full-length Devout. Stepping further away from grime, the release was a minimalist pop/R&B album inspired by Mitch's family, and featured vocals by him and his children, as well as guests including <a href="spotify:artist:4qm6T9pMFiyCDHFTHZchrY">Palmistry</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4bS7w1U8P3Zuaa5jmj3mvN">Denai Moore</a>. The Devout Remixes EP followed in early 2018.

Primary Progressive, released in late 2018 by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Gobstopper%22">Gobstopper</a>, was a stark EP addressing Mitch's father's battle with multiple sclerosis. In 2019, Mitch's dancehall-influenced Not Modular 12" was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Pressure%22">Pressure</a>, including remixes by label owner <a href="spotify:artist:213i4NKah1DX9q0FNiKsuw">the Bug</a>. Several digital released appeared in 2020, including two albums of early unreleased tracks, the Patrimony EP, and the self-explanatory Songs with My Sons, with all proceeds going toward video game consoles for his children. Full-length Lazy was released in 2021, with guest appearances by <a href="spotify:artist:4t5XnkAKxcaYcDXI726A4Y">Duval Timothy</a> and Manga Saint Hilaire. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi