UK duo Wood Drift brings together the sensibilities of Den and Demi—two longtime friends whose bond was first forged through late-night conversations, record collections, and a shared love for timeless grooves.
Photo credit: Wood Drift – Official
After years of friendship, the pair gradually shaped a studio relationship rooted in maturity, intuition, and emotional depth. Their latest body of work, mastered by Alpine Mastering and released through Glenn Morrison’s Fall From Grace imprint, promises a wide-ranging catalogue defined by melody, memory, and reflection.
In this conversation, Wood Drift opens up about creative flow, long-term trust, and the ethos guiding their next chapter.
EG: Hi Den & Demi, welcome to EG! Wood Drift bridges two individual journeys. How did your paths cross, and what clicked creatively to turn a friendship into a lasting duo?
Den: Thanks for the invite. We met in the late ’90s at a party at Portsmouth University while Paul Oakenfold was on the decks playing trance. Demi was just starting with the idea of ‘Deeper Substance,’ and we connected during that time. I was drawn to his energy, his sponge-like curiosity, and his serious record collection—and luckily, he found my jokes funny, so I knew I was onto something. It took about ten years before we really started working together. In the beginning, my input wasn’t strong enough, but eventually we hit a stride. There’s no ego, no tension. It just works.
EG: Alpine Mastering handled the lacquer cuts for this run. In what ways does their touch elevate the warmth or detail you aim for in your mixes?
Den: Glenn and Alpine are incredible. They’re unbelievably efficient and intuitive—they know exactly what each track needs in terms of warmth and frequency balance. If you’ve seen their studio setup, you’d understand why the quality is so consistent.
Demi: Working with Glenn on this project has been a real pleasure. You’re always a bit nervous sending off premasters, hoping the engineer sees the same vision you do. But Glenn got it right almost every time on the first go. Even when we asked for small revisions, it was only because his work exposed something we needed to improve on our end. He’s helped us create something that feels emotionally rich and sonically excellent.
EG: You’ve signed a flurry of material with Glenn Morrison’s team lately. What makes that relationship—with Glenn and Alpine—such a natural home for the Wood Drift catalogue?
Den: Glenn reaching out and showing appreciation for the variety of what we were doing really stood out. He made the effort to communicate and build a relationship, which matters. He’s been there—producing and releasing music on some of the biggest labels—and that experience shows in how he approaches everything.
“This whole partnership is about channeling those formative years we spent raving—before everything became about documentation”
EG: When a new idea sparks in the studio, do you start with mood, melody, or groove? Walk us through your typical writing flow and any rituals you rely on.
Demi: These days, we both have the tools to get ideas going on our own, which wasn’t the case in the early stages. The flow between us has really matured, especially in the last year. Now it’s less about sitting down to start something from scratch and more about sharing private sketches we’re excited about.
Den will call and ask to run through his latest ideas, often recorded on his phone or tablet. We bring those into my home studio, dissect them, and pick the ones that give us both a feeling. For me, it often starts with a melody or bassline idea. We’ll add a soft kick just to get a feel for it. Rhythms usually come later—they’re the final piece of the puzzle. We still love drifting.
EG: The rollout over the coming months promises variety. Can you tease one forthcoming track that might catch longtime followers off guard, and why?
Wood Drift: We’ve got a wide variety of material coming, but probably the track ‘Ten Years After’, which is also the title of the album, stands out most. It’s different in terms of tempo, emotion, and musicality. It has a deeply introspective tone that encourages reflection, and it’s actually the oldest track on the record. The fact that it still feels fresh to us is a sign that it’s something that can stand the test of time.
EG: You’ve spoken about life ethos guiding the project. Which core principles find their way into your arrangements or track titles?
Wood Drift: This whole partnership is about channeling those formative years we spent raving—before everything became about documentation. Back then, it was about truly living the moment. We were lucky to experience that era before social media changed everything. That spirit, that feeling, is what we try to capture in the music.
EG: Creative partnerships include healthy friction. Can you share a moment when a disagreement in the studio ultimately made a song stronger?
Den: We haven’t fallen out yet—there’s really no need.
Demi: He’s right about that.
“There’s no ego, no tension. It just works”
EG: Outside production and DJing, what activities or environments recharge your inspiration when you’re away from screens and speakers?
Den: The usual things, but the ones that matter—family, nature, different forms of art, and allowing space for all the emotions that flow through the day. If you can record or reflect on those, they become powerful sources of inspiration.
Demi: I’ve been focused on an olive oil business I started back in 2021. You can learn more about it here. Music and food—what better combination is there?
Wood Drift’s ‘Ten Years After’ is out now on Fall From Grace Records. Stream and download here.
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