Leon Smart, known in the clubs and across the airwaves as Scratchclart or Scratcha DVA, began his musical journey in the underground scene of East London in the late 1990s. From pirate radio transmissions of jungle, drum and bass, and grime, Scratchclart has emerged as an essential voice and curator within a rapidly evolving musical landscape. Don't miss your chance to experience Scratchclart in Bucharest as aim+wall presents the bass pioneer at Control Cub on March 20.
Coming up alongside grime pioneer Terror Danjah in crews like Reckless and Aftershock, he quickly became a familiar voice to London's bassheads, especially through his charismatic hosting of the legendary "Grimey Breakfast Show" on Rinse FM. Scratcha’s irreverent banter and sharp ear made him more of a trusted curator, introducing audiences to the sounds that would soon dominate UK club culture.
In 2012, he dropped his debut album, Pretty Ugly, on Hyperdub. The album solidified his reputation as an experimentalist who couldn’t be boxed into a single genre. This style-smashing record was a melting pot of wonky beats, funky rhythms, and soul-tinged vocals from Fatima and Zaki Ibrahim. EPs like The Fly Juice and The Jelly Roll showcased a deeper dive into leftfield territory, positioning Scratchclart as one of Hyperdub’s most adventurous artists.
Scratchclart’s connection to radio has remained strong. His tenure at Rinse and later Radar Radio, alongside stints co-hosting Hyperdub’s monthly slots with Kode9, kept his pulse firmly on emerging trends. His magnetic presence even landed him regular spots on NTS.
Perhaps the most defining shift in Scratchclart’s career came from immersion in South African club music. Trips to Durban sparked a fascination with gqom’s hypnotic drums and Amapiano’s jazzy swing. From 2018 onwards, he channelled these influences through his DRMTRK series, collaborating directly with key Durban producers like Griffit Vigo and Citizen Boy.
Complementing these club-driven projects, his Allyallrecords EP (2016) is a playground for more conceptual work. This continued with The Interlude trilogy—Interludes, Intro’s, and Outro’s (2020)—showing a playful, experimental side. Drawing from voicemails and album skits, these albums offered quirky vignettes that resonated well beyond the dancefloor.
Scratchclart’s Afrotek EP in 2021 returned him to Hyperdub, serving up another potent fusion of grime, gqom, amapiano, and UK funky. Tracks featuring Mez, 3LON, and MA1 merged disparate scenes and sounds into club-ready anthems. On February 14, 2025, Scratchclat released his latest EP, Valentine Rose Vol. 1.
As a DJ, Scratchclart’s sets have become legendary, electrifying crowds at Sónar in Barcelona, Unsound in Kraków, and No Bounds in Sheffield. His FACT mix, Resident Advisor podcast, and BBC Essential Mix reveal his mastery of seamless transitions and unexpected sonic turns.
True to his collaborative spirit, Scratchclart consistently pushes community and mentorship, urging peers and upcoming producers to revisit and digitize their lost classics. He’s never stopped experimenting, producing tracks with grime legends like Wiley and Flowdan, UK funky staples Cooly G and Roska, and South African stars like DJ Lag.
Scratchclart remains iconic because he refuses to stand still. More than two decades deep, still blending beats and breaking rules, his story embodies the restless spirit and boundless creativity at the heart of global-minded electronic music culture.
