Disaffected are a duo from Bristol that are making the journey across the globe to join us as we enter the New Year. We caught up with them via the world wide web to find out more about what makes them tick.

While we love writing an intro for the amazing artists who decide to play at Twisted, these guy’s provided us with such amazing answers you just need to hear it from them:

Disaffected is a project born from a desire to channel raw emotion through rave music. The name nods to the disaffected youth of the late-80s to mid-90s UK rave era – people who turned to sound systems and warehouse floors as a way to process everything that society wasn’t giving them space to feel.

Why we do this is simple: rave music has always been a place where fear, frustration, joy and hope can coexist. We want to keep that flame alive - somewhere people can confront difficult emotions together and walk away feeling more connected, more empowered.

How would you describe your sound at the moment and what are you excited to bring all the way down here?

Right now our sound sits somewhere combining the emotional intensity of that early 90s lineage with some of the more modern, deep and experimental tones. We're always trying to capture that tension between melancholy and euphoria, between catharsis and chaos. For this tour, we’re bringing a bag full of gritty dubs and emotional weapons we’ve been crafting specifically for dance floors we haven’t touched yet. There’s something exciting about tailoring energy for a place we’ve never been – the unknown pushes us to take risks.

Can you speak to your experience on taking the UK flavour around the globe?

Bristol has a very specific DNA. Whenever we travel, that flavour comes with us whether we intend it or not – it’s in the rhythms, the swing, the attitude, the refusal to sanitise things. What’s been beautiful in our time is seeing how global crowds respond to it. People connect to UK club music because it feels honest and alive.

Bootleg culture and dubs seem central to your craft - do you have a favourite you’ve ever made? Can we look forward to any massive new dubs during this tour?

As crowd favourite, the Topper Top bootleg can’t go unmentioned here of course. It was one of those moments where the edit just clicked and suddenly had this life of its own. Otherwise, a very special mention to our bootleg of The Rhythm of the Night – It was made at a very special, formative time in our journey, where the dream about “what could be” was just beginning to spark – and although some of the mixing is a bit dodgy, the vibes certainly aren’t!

And yes – absolutely expect new dubs! We’ve been quietly building a stack since our original heyday, and there are a few we’re purposely holding back from releasing into the big wide world until we touch down in NZ.

This tour will be your NZ debut—what have you heard about our country and our music scene?

At a baseline, we know that the energy New Zealand is unmatched – crowds that genuinely care. What’s most interesting to us is that, from what we’ve heard, the NZ scene sounds like it’s in an exciting exploration phase. Whilst being inspired by the UK scene, it sounds like NZ absolutely has the willingness, curiosity and passion to write its own story. The opportunity to come over and co-write that story and potentially help shape the future of the underground in New Zealand is something we are absolutely not taking for granted – it is an absolute honour.

What was your first soundsystem experience?

It’s hard to pinpoint a true first because those early years in the rave scene were a beautiful blur, but an honourable early memory is the Scummerset free party. It was unreal – multiple stages that were practically festival-level (there were fire cannons ffs!).

The whole thing took place in an abandoned RAF airfield, which only added to the sense of total lawless magic. What’s stayed with us the most is the journey in: trekking through a freezing, pitch-black field, unsure if we were even heading in the right direction, and then gradually seeing lights shimmer in the distance. With every step, the bass got clearer, the colours brighter, and that feeling of hope and anticipation just kept building. That sense of discovery still inspires the way we approach everything today.

Do you have a favourite break?

Absolutely – “Funky Bassy” from the Luke Vibert breaks pack is a firm favourite. It’s got this wonderfully crisp, clean character with transients that just pop in the most satisfying way. What we love about it is how incredibly versatile it is; it slots effortlessly into almost any context you need it for.

What attracted you to come all the way to Aotearoa for your New Year’s?

We’ve always believed that every piece of land carries its own spirit – a kind of subtle frequency that shapes how you move, feel, and create while you're there. Aotearoa seems absolutely divine. There’s a depth, a purity, an almost ancient air to it. We can’t wait to become one with the place as we celebrate the New Year. It feels like the perfect environment to begin a new cycle.

Regarding Twisted itself, what we have heard paints a pretty magical picture. A DIY, non-commercial ethos is something we really admire: the community-driven energy, the immersive art, the wild visual environments, the creativity everywhere you look. And of course, that connection to Aotearoa’s bush doof culture! There’s something special about starting a new year somewhere that values rave culture, community and proper outdoor energy all in one go – so it felt like an absolute no-brainer to head down after our set at Matakanarama Festival!

Any adventure plans while you're here aside from Twisted and other gigs?

We’re kicking things off up north at Matakanarama on the 31st, which we’re really excited for (love to Rob, Finn, Scott and Mike!). After Twisted, we’re taking a little adventure down to Christchurch. Since this adventure will be after back-to-back festival shows, the plan is to slow down for a moment, soak up some nature, meet some locals, and just tune into the quieter side of the South Island!

What are you most looking forward to about Twisted?

The unknown. New year energy. A crowd experiencing us for the first time. Being in a beautiful space where people come ready to release, ready to feel something. Twisted seems like the kind of festival where people don’t hold back. That’s exactly the environment that inspires us.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s welcomed us into this scene from afar, and we can’t wait to share this moment with you all. Bring your energy, your emotion, your willingness to lose yourself – and we’ll meet you there.