MENTALI6X: "It’s about being authentic to what we want to hear"
- Editorial Staff
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
MENTALI6X is an innovative music duo blending trance, jungle, drum’n’bass, and contemporary electronic sounds to create a unique and captivating style. With an experimental approach, MENTALI6X combines pulsating rhythms and deep emotions, producing tracks that energize both dance floors and more intimate moments. In 2025, the duo released several successful singles like New Beginnings and Tremble, along with original covers of iconic songs such as Set You Free and No Time To Die, showcasing their versatility and creativity. MENTALI6X is quickly establishing themselves as a key act in the international electronic scene, winning over listeners and DJs alike with their fresh and vibrant sound.
"True To You" marks your latest release on BLACK WAXX: what does this track represent for you, and how does it reflect your artistic evolution?
For us, "True To You" is the moment we stopped looking for our sound and realized we’d already found it. It’s the spiritual successor to "New Beginnings", which was a massive turning point for us—especially after getting played two weeks in a row on BBC Music Introducing. That gave us the confidence to realize that people were actually vibing with this new direction.
This track represents us doubling down. It’s called "True To You" because it’s about being authentic to what we want to hear on a dancefloor. Our evolution has been about moving away from trying to fit into a specific box and instead just focusing on that high-octane energy that makes MENTALI6X what it is. It’s the flagship for our 2026 sound on BLACK WAXX, and it feels like the perfect bridge between where we started and where we’re heading.
Your sound blends Drum & Bass and Jungle with personal influences — what are your main creative inspirations when producing tracks like "True To You"?
Honestly? Our main inspiration is the vibe in the room when we’re together. We don’t overthink it or walk in with a rigid 10-page plan. We usually just head to Jon’s studio in Bournemouth, crack open a drink or two, and start messing around with samples to see what sticks. That sense of "discovery in real-time" is everything to us.
Musically, we’re a total "collision of worlds." We’ve both been immersed in the electronic scene for decades, from the intensity of the "Frenzy" club nights to the raw grit of the underground rave scene. We wanted to take that energy we grew up with and see how we could push it forward with different vocals and harder-hitting production. 'True To You' fell into place so quickly because we weren't forcing it; we were just having fun and chasing that feeling that makes you want to move. If we’re buzzing in the studio, we know the track is ready.
You’ve released other tracks on BLACK WAXX such as New Beginnings and Tremble: how do you maintain stylistic consistency while experimenting with new ideas?
To be honest, the consistency really came once we stopped trying to find it. With our earlier releases like "Tremble", "No Time To Die", and "Set You Free", we were just having a blast in the studio, making whatever felt good in the moment and seeing where the tracks took us. They were all quite different because we weren't putting ourselves in a box; we were just two mates experimenting and enjoying the creative process.
Everything changed when we made 'New Beginnings'. That was the moment where we both looked at each other and went, "This is it. This is the MENTALI6X sound." We really settled into that specific high-energy, melodic vibe, and we loved it so much we decided to run with it.
So, maintaining consistency now isn't about following a strict formula, it’s about following that feeling we discovered. "True To You" feels like a spiritual successor because we’re taking the energy we found in 'New Beginnings' and seeing how far we can push it. We’re still experimenting with different vocals and production tricks, but the "soul" of the track stays consistent because we’ve finally found the sound we’re most passionate about.
Can you share some technical or creative details about the production process of "True To You"? Were there any particular moments or challenges you had to overcome?
Because we’ve both been in the game for a long time, we don’t really run into "technical" brick walls anymore. The software and the gear are second nature to us at this point, so the challenges are almost entirely creative. For us, the "puzzle" is always about finding the right palette of sounds so the mix works harmoniously. In high-octane Drum & Bass, it’s easy for things to get cluttered, so the real work is making sure the bass has its space and the melody can still breathe.
Vocals can usually be a bit of a challenge to get "sitting" right in the mix, you want that radio-ready clarity without losing the grit of the track. But honestly, with "True To You", the track pretty much just worked. It was one of those rare sessions where the right sounds fell into our laps and the vocal sat perfectly from the get-go. There were no massive hurdles to jump; it was just a pure, fun session where we let our experience do the heavy lifting so we could focus on the vibe. It’s a great feeling when a track takes shape that quickly, it usually means you’re onto something good.
Looking ahead, what projects or collaborations can we expect after "True To You"? Are there new musical directions you want to explore in the coming months?
We’re keeping the foot firmly on the throttle for 2026. Next up in the pipeline is a track called "Best There Ever Was", dropping on BLACK WAXX the 10th of April. It’s a proper hard-hitting dancefloor D&B weapon that carries on that vocal energy people heard in "True To You", using some really sharp rap elements that we think people are going to love.
Beyond that, we’re planning an EP that lets us flex our creative muscles a bit more. The lead track is going to have a heavy Dub Reggae vibe, but we’re making sure it still has that signature MENTALI6X energy and high-octane drive that defined "New Beginnings" and "True To You". Because it’s an EP, it gives us the space to show different sides of our production, so you can expect some Halfstep D&B and even a more chilled-out D&B track alongside the main club hitters. We’ve found a vibe we love, and now we just want to see how many different ways we can flip it while keeping people moving.
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