SI*BL: The Icon | UK Grime DJ Interview
SIBL wearing The Star Bureau Icon cap during his set for Travs Presents’ End of Year ’25 show. Photography by Dorian Day.
SIBL’s rise through the UK underground music scene has been defined by a commitment to sound, culture, and community. Known for blending grime and UK sounds, the artist and DJ has built a distinct presence across multiple platforms and radio stations, including Subtle Radio, BBC, and Rinse FM. As a spotlight DJ for Travs Presents, a show dedicated to highlighting UK grime MCs and emerging grime sounds, SIBL is celebrated for their precise track selections when artists perform live. Through the show, they have created a space for new talent and amplified UK grime culture, honouring its roots while pushing it forward. Equal parts curator and creator, SI*BL’s work reflects deep respect for the scene that shaped them and a relentless drive to evolve it.
Q. Can you introduce yourself to people who might not know your work yet?
Yo, I’m SI*BL I’m a Grime DJ amongst other things!
Q. When did you first start your craft, and what kept you going?
I started DJing on my boys’ decks at uni, which didn’t even have a headphone port. From that moment, I felt the passion and knew this was what I wanted to do.
Q. What inspires your work, and where do you usually get your ideas from?
I get most of my inspiration from looking back at what people did before me and figuring out how I can modernise it and put my own spin on it.
SIBL wearing The Star Bureau Icon hat while performing with Chamber 45 and MC Scrufizzer during a live DJ set for Travs Presents’ End of Year ’25 show. Photography by Dorian Day.
Q. How do you approach your work or projects, and what does your creative process look like?
I love research, just sitting there going down a rabbit hole and then coming out with music ideas and thinking about what the next move might be.
Q. What does being an “Icon” mean to you, and how do you see that in your work?
To me, being an icon comes down to the strength of your vision and how clearly you put your own stamp on it.
Star Bureau Icon Logo Cap – Black/White Adjustable Snapback
£50.00
Q. How do you learn from others or connect with your creative community, and why is that important?
Collaboration has always been a big part of what I do through our collective, Travs Presents. If you’re all roughly on the same page about what you want, collaborating is always fun.
Q. What’s next for you, and how do you want to grow as an artist?
I’m at a point where I want to understand what I truly bring to the table as a DJ and the message I want to communicate through my work.
Q. If you could collaborate with anyone, past, present, or future, who would it be and why?
DJ EZ, I think we’d spin shit that wouldn’t even make sense.
Watch the full End of Year 2025 set here. Catch SI*BL on Travs Presents and Subtle Radio.
Follow @si.bl_ on Instagram for future releases, news and updates. Images by Dorian Day.