René LaVice

René LaVice (born 31 May 1990) is a Canadian-born producer, DJ and singer best known for work in drum and bass. Born in Toronto and active across the UK scene (London listed as a base), his discography includes the LP Insidious (2013) and the single “The Calling” (featuring Ivy Mairi), which entered the UK Singles Chart and received BBC Radio 1 support. He has produced official remixes for Nero, Wilkinson and A-Trak, was signed to RAM Records and later launched his own imprint, DeVice. LaVice took over BBC Radio 1’s Drum & Bass show in November 2017 and presented his final programme on 29 August 2022.

LaVice’s entry onto the wider drum and bass radar is anchored to the 2013 album Insidious and subsequent singles and remixes. Insidious established him as a producer working with vocal-led material and club-ready production, while “The Calling” (ft. Ivy Mairi) pushed him into UK national radio rotation. His official remix credits for established names such as Nero, Wilkinson and A-Trak further tied him into the U.K. drum and bass network and international electronic circuits.

As a producer LaVice’s sound places emphasis on clear vocal arrangements and polished low-end. Tracks from Insidious and “The Calling” show layered vocals sitting above tight drum programming and defined sub-bass — arrangements built for both radio play and sound-system impact. His remixes for Nero and Wilkinson demonstrate a command of melodic liquid elements alongside heavier bass weight, and his work for A-Trak shows an ability to rework crossover or bass-oriented source material into drum and bass tempos. Production techniques you can hear across his releases include concise drum editing for punch and clarity, stacked pads or synth layers around vocal hooks, and sub-focused bass design that keeps kick-and-sub separation intact.

Behind the decks LaVice combined DJing and production perspectives while hosting BBC Radio 1’s Drum & Bass show. In that role (Nov 2017–29 Aug 2022) he curated new releases, championed remixes and presented mixes to a national audience — a platform that amplified both his own releases and other producers tied to RAM Records and independent labels. His label association with RAM Records put him on the same roster historically associated with high-profile DnB output, and the later creation of DeVice gave him an outlet under his own imprint for directing releases and artist collaborations.

Specific career highlights: the 2013 album Insidious; the single “The Calling” (ft. Ivy Mairi) which charted in the UK and gained BBC Radio 1 backing; official remixes for Nero, Wilkinson and A-Trak; a period signed to RAM Records; the launch of his imprint DeVice; and his tenure as BBC Radio 1’s Drum & Bass host from November 2017 until 29 August 2022. These entries form the documented milestones of his recorded output and public contributions to the scene.

Concrete connections in his catalogue include the Ivy Mairi collaboration on “The Calling” and official remix commissions for Nero, Wilkinson and A-Trak; those credits map the artists and labels he has worked alongside rather than speculative influences. Public biographical records focus on those releases, his RAM Records signing, the DeVice imprint and his BBC Radio 1 role as the primary verified points in his career.

LaVice’s recorded legacy therefore centers on Insidious (2013), the charting single “The Calling” (ft. Ivy Mairi), official remixes for Nero, Wilkinson and A-Trak, a period on RAM Records, the founding of DeVice, and his BBC Radio 1 Drum & Bass residency from November 2017 to 29 August 2022.