Latvian producer, DJ, and songwriter EXVCT is getting into the Halloween spirit with ‘DREAD’, a dark, high-energy Drum & Bass release accompanied by a cinematic music video that turns the streets of Riga into the setting for a short horror story.
Produced in his home studio in Riga, ‘DREAD’ is built around the tension and adrenaline of a late-night chase. EXVCT wanted to capture the unsettling feeling of being followed through an empty street, gradually increasing the pressure before unleashing a drop that delivers the impact of a sudden escape.
“I wanted a track that feels like being followed down an empty street at night: tension that keeps building, with a drop that hits like the moment you finally start running,” EXVCT explains.
Creating that atmosphere presented its own challenge. The producer had to balance a heavy bassline with the suspenseful spaces between the breaks, ensuring the track maintained its intensity without losing the sense of anticipation that gives it character.
The accompanying video, premiering on October 30, takes the concept further. Directed by EXVCT and Sergejs Sobolevs and produced by Heavy Lens Production, the visual was filmed on the streets of Riga. It follows the producer through a frightening encounter with a group of costumed creatures who seem determined not to let him escape. With its horror-inspired storyline and action-driven scenes, the video gives ‘DREAD’ a visual identity that fits perfectly with the season.
Behind the EXVCT project is Andrejs Lihvars, whose musical direction draws on modern Drum & Bass, Hyperpop and the energy of 1990s rave culture. Having grown up around Riga’s underground electronic scene, he began organising Drum & Bass events at just 17 before teaching himself music production. That early connection to club culture continues to shape his approach, combining powerful dancefloor sounds with melodic details and cinematic emotion.
His debut album, From the Future to the Garage, introduced listeners to that blend of influences. Since then, releases such as ‘Don’t Slow Down’, which spent three weeks on the Beatport charts, alongside ‘Acceleration’ and ‘Do It Like That’, have helped establish his growing presence. He has also worked with artists including AnDy Darling and Little Big, while gaining support from DJs and tastemakers across the electronic music scene.
EXVCT is now approaching 40,000 monthly Spotify listeners, with his recent single ‘Desire’ surpassing 300,000 streams on the platform. Its reach has been helped by appearances across Spotify Radio, Mixes and Discover Weekly, introducing his music to an expanding audience.
With ‘DREAD’, EXVCT takes a darker, more club-focused turn, bringing together the force of Drum & Bass and the atmosphere of a horror film. Influenced by artists such as Sub Focus and Dimension, he continues to develop a sound that draws from the underground while aiming for a wider audience.
For Halloween, ‘DREAD’ offers more than a seasonal visual. It is an adrenaline-fuelled release that puts EXVCT’s production instincts and creative direction firmly in the spotlight.
