He fell in love with drum and bass at the age of 16 thanks to the minidiscs he got from his brother, and by now his hit Afterglow has more than 20 million views on YouTube. Wilkinson has already played on A38, and he likes coming back to Hungary because he thinks the audience here is really open to music. He especially appreciated the naked girl dancing at the gig of Soerii and Poolek.

WLB: This is not your first time playing in Hungary, what are your impressions, what is the audience like?

Wilkinson: I love this country, I love playing here. When I first came here for a concert on A38, I immediately felt that the Hungarian audience is totally different from, say, the audience in Ukraine. People really dance when the music starts going, the madness begins, which is super cool. And Budapest is a lovely city: I have played in Akvárium as well, and I got some great reactions there, too. The audience sang along, the whole thing had a fantastic atmosphere – that’s why I’m always excited to come back to Hungary.

WLB: Did you get a chance to do a bit of sightseeing in Budapest, and will you have some time to stay a little and check out the Balaton?

Wilkinson: Sadly no, the next day I had to get going, and I’m leaving Strand Festival tomorrow morning as well. Though I can see a stuffed elephant and a topless girl on the stage (the interview took place during the concert of Soerii and Poolek - the ed.), so the vibe is promising.

WLB: How did you prepare for today’s show? Playing at a lakeside venue must be very different from a London club.

Wilkinson: Recently I’ve performed at a lot of festivals, so I have gained some experience in this genre as well – and I’m not concerned about the mood at all because I’ve found that the Hungarian audience is very open-minded.

WLB: How would you describe your style?

Wilkinson: If I wanted to put it simply, I’d say it’s drum and bass with a musical, vocal edge.

WLB: When did you fall in love with this kind of music?

Wilkinson: When I was around 16, nine years ago. My brother gave me a drum and bass minidisc, which I totally got into, I played it to death. Then I started to dig a bit deeper into the genre and to make music. Eventually I signed a record deal five years later.

WLB: Did you know that MR2 Petőfi Rádió, the eponym of this festival plays your hit Afterglow day and night?

Wilkinson: Really? Wow, I didn't know. I guess you could say that this song was my international “breakthrough”.