Former

Former is the stage name of Jasper Scholma, a producer and DJ from Groningen, Netherlands, working in bass music, drum & bass and drumstep. His catalog includes releases on VISION and Division Recordings, and he runs his own label, spiritmech.

Public accounts of Scholma’s earliest entry into the scene are limited. What is documented: he releases under the Former alias and has positioned his output across dark electronica, breaks, drum & bass and drumstep formats. He has both produced original material and created remixes and collaborations for other artists listed on labels and release credits.

Former’s recorded work is commonly described as dark and weight-forward. Across releases (including the spiritmech debut single “Ascension,” released June 28, 2023) he emphasises low-frequency sub-bass, tight break edits and layered atmospherics. Production traits you can hear on those releases include processed breakbeats and chopped percussion, dense low-end design, and textural synth beds that sit behind the drum programming. In drumstep and drum & bass contexts his arrangements favour punctuated snare work and bass patches tailored to translation on club systems.

Career specifics: Former has released on VISION and Division Recordings and launched his own imprint spiritmech with the single “Ascension” (28 June 2023). He has remixed and collaborated with artists such as Noisia and Posij, and he has contributed artwork for label releases, combining visual design with his music output. In 2025 he formed the duo project ring noord with Nik Roos (Sleepnet); ring noord is credited as a distinct joint project in his documented activity. As a DJ he presents his producer material alongside break-led and bass-driven selections, bringing his studio emphasis on sub-bass and edited breaks into a live-mixing context.

Connections and collaborations that appear in public credits include Noisia and Posij (remixes/collaborations) and Nik Roos (Sleepnet) as the co‑member of ring noord. His visual contributions to label artwork are also listed on release notes alongside his production credits. His spiritmech label and the ring noord duo are the clearest markers of his current creative activity.