American drum & bass producer Justin Hawkes is charging into a new chapter with the release of ‘Stomp’, the first taste of his forthcoming sophomore album, Now or Never. The Southwest Virginia artist, who rebranded from Flite in 2020, has steadily carved out a reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in the US DnB scene, blending influences from rock, hip-hop, and cinematic sound design into a style that’s earned him more than 100 million streams worldwide.
‘Stomp’ sets the tone for what Hawkes describes as an a concept-driven collection of tracks, with Now or Never unfolding as a continuously mixed 12-track journey that pushes beyond traditional drum & bass conventions. Following the success of his 2022 debut album Existential and breakout moments like the genre-bending hit ‘Better Than Gold’, the new project looks to further expand the boundaries of modern bass music while staying rooted in the energy that has made Hawkes a festival favourite.
“I wanted every piece of this next album to feel like discovering myself again in a new light, letting go of the pressure to please or do something commercially comfortable in favor of creating nothing but the raw, core memories,” Hawkes explained. 
The album rollout itself is taking an unconventional route. Hawkes will first release Now or Never exclusively on Bandcamp through a pay-what-you-want model before making it available across streaming platforms, a rare move in today’s dance music landscape. The project also arrives through his newly launched Drumcaste Collective, an independent imprint designed to champion forward-thinking drum & bass while maintaining a commitment to human creativity over generative AI.
With performances at major events including Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival and Alexandra Palace under his belt, plus support from heavyweight names like Sub Focus, Andy C and Pendulum, Hawkes has spent the last few years proving that American drum & bass has a global voice. If ‘Stomp’ is any indication, Now or Never could be his most ambitious statement yet.
Listen to Justin Hawke’s new single ‘Stomp’ HERE
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