Dutch producer and North Quarter founder Lenzman dies
The independent label owner, who prioritised sonic diversity over commercial sales, leaves a gap in Europe's electronic music economy.
Dutch drum and bass producer Lenzman has died. He passed away on Saturday after living with cancer for over three years. His wife Ashanti and daughters Riva and Nya confirmed the news.
Born Teije van Vlie, Lenzman built a notable presence in Europe's independent music sector through The North Quarter. Founded in 2016, the label became a vital platform for artists including FD, Note, Fox and Objectiv.
Lenzman was explicit that his approach to the label prioritised artistic merit over immediate commercial returns. "If I discover someone new, the most important thing for me isn’t if they already have a fanbase or if the music is gonna sell loads of units," he told DJ Mag in 2023. "It’s more, is the sound bringing something different to the table?"
This ethos established The North Quarter as a distinct entity within a crowded electronic music market. "When I first got into jungle and drum & bass, it was really varied," he said in the same interview. "I like the idea of representing that and also being able to surprise people with the music that we release."
Lenzman revealed a kidney cancer diagnosis in January 2023, later explaining that the disease had spread and was incurable. Despite this, he remained prolific, stating that music "helped him stay positive" as he underwent treatment and became less able to perform.
His recent output included ‘We Blessy’ on 1985 Music and two tracks made with regular collaborator Redeyes. Those tracks are expected to form part of a collaborative LP on The North Quarter later this year.
The industry response to his illness highlighted his standing in the sector. A June fundraising event for his family at London club Phonox featured sets from DJ Flight, LSB, Workforce and GLXY. "Much of my life’s work was there in Phonox," Lenzman wrote afterwards.
Tributes following his passing came from across the electronic music community. Metalheadz founder Goldie wrote that Lenzman was "one of the kindest and most beautiful people you could ever meet" and a "massive part of the Metalheadz family."
