Matt Quinn, better known as Optical, is a drum and bass

Drum and bass

Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...

 producer and DJ from England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

He is best known for his work with Ed Rush

Ed Rush

Ed Rush is the recording name of Ben Settle; a prominent jungle/techstep/neurofunk DJ, who often produces tracks in collaboration with Optical. Hailing from west London, he came to prominence with the release of the track Bludclot Artattack in 1993...

, fellow head of the Virus Recordings

Virus Recordings

Virus Recordings is an influential UK-based drum and bass record label, specialising in the techstep and neurofunk sub-genres. Founded by Ed Rush and Optical in 1998, the label is known as the main home of the duo as well as Fierce, Matrix, and MC Ryme Tyme...

 label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk

Neurofunk

Neurofunk is a subgenre of drum and bass which emerged between 1997 and 1998 in London, England as a progression of techstep. It was further developed by juxtaposed elements of heavier and harder forms of funk with multiple influences ranging from techno, house and jazz, distinguished by...

 sound. His first single for Metalheadz

Metalheadz

Metalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass record label based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 by Kemistry & Storm and Goldie, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue....

, 'To Shape the Future'/'Raging Calm' (1997) and his collaborative material with Ed Rush, such as the Wormhole, album (1998) were archetypal developments in the style. The duo followed this debut album with The Creeps (2000) and The Original Doctor Shade (2003), as well as countless singles and remixes.

He also notably did most of the engineering and production work for Grooverider

Grooverider

Grooverider is a British drum and bass DJ.-Biography:Grooverider began his DJing at illegal raves and warehouse parties in the UK in the late 1980s, and rose to prominence with partner Fabio through his sets at nightclub nights such as 'Rage'. Grooverider was also on the London pirate radio...

's album Mysteries of Funk. In addition, he has produced solo, and released in collaboration with many artists, including Trace

Trace (artist)

DJ Trace is the recording name of Duncan Hutchinson, a British electronic music artist, disc jockey and founder of DSCI4 Records. Hutchinson's remix of T Power & MK Ultra's Mutant Jazz, entitled simply The Mutant Remix and released on the Rollers Instinct record label in 1995 is said to be one of...

, Dom & Roland

Dom & Roland

Dom & Roland is the alias of British drum and bass producer Dominic Angus. The addition of "Roland" in the artist name refers to his Roland sampler. In 1996 he was signed to Moving Shadow recordings, and his tracks were oriented towards the dark hardstep genre. He has released records on other...

, Fierce, and his brother Matrix

Matrix (artist)

Jamie Quinn, better known as Matrix, is a London based drum and bass producer and DJ.He started his musical career as one half of drum and bass duo Turbosound, who signed to DJ SS's F Project Records label, an offshoot of Formation Records....

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