Top 50 Best Songs by Sub Focus
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Aug 03, 2026
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By Learn How To Be a DJ
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DJ Playlist Ideas
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6 min read
Top 50 Best Songs by Sub Focus
Sub Focus has established himself as one of the most influential producers in modern drum and bass, consistently crossing over into mainstream electronic music while remaining respected within underground dance music culture. Since emerging during the mid 2000s, Nick Douwma, better known as Sub Focus, has produced a catalogue of commercially successful singles that have become festival favourites, radio staples and DJ essentials around the world.
The records listed below represent Sub Focus’ most commercially successful and culturally significant releases based on a combination of UK chart performance, international chart success, streaming milestones, radio airplay, long term popularity and continued support from DJs across multiple genres. Where official worldwide sales figures are unavailable, rankings are based on the strongest available commercial evidence from recognised industry chart archives, streaming data and music industry consensus.
Sub Focus has enjoyed success across multiple record labels, beginning with RAM Records before expanding through Virgin EMI, Casablanca Records and Universal Music Group partnerships. His music has regularly appeared on BBC Radio 1 playlists while becoming anthems at festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas and countless drum and bass events worldwide.
Many of these tracks have accumulated hundreds of millions of combined streams and continue to feature prominently in DJ sets years after their original release. His collaborations with artists including Wilkinson, Dimension, CamelPhat, Gene Farris, Alpines, Kelli-Leigh, Katy B and others have further broadened his international appeal.
The table below focuses solely on officially released commercial singles and standalone tracks. It excludes albums, unofficial remixes, bootlegs, live recordings and promotional releases. Original release dates and original record labels have been used throughout.
| No. | Track | Featured Artist(s) | Original Release Date | Record Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Desire | Dimension | 27 Jul 2021 | Universal Music UK / EMI |
| 2 | Ready to Fly | Dimension, NGHTMRE | 24 Mar 2023 | EMI |
| 3 | Tidal Wave | Alpines | 4 Nov 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 4 | Endorphins | Alex Clare | 30 Dec 2012 | Virgin EMI |
| 5 | Turn Back Time | Kelli-Leigh | 22 Sep 2014 | Virgin EMI |
| 6 | Rock It | None | 1 Aug 2011 | RAM Records |
| 7 | Timewarp | None | 18 Jul 2010 | RAM Records |
| 8 | Solar System | None | 11 Sep 2011 | RAM Records |
| 9 | Air I Breathe | None | 27 May 2012 | RAM Records |
| 10 | Follow the Light | Wilkinson | 13 Sep 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 11 | Off the Ground | None | 8 Jul 2022 | EMI |
| 12 | Calling for a Sign | CamelPhat | 16 Jun 2023 | EMI |
| 13 | Fine Day | Gene Farris | 20 Jan 2023 | EMI |
| 14 | Illuminate | Wilkinson | 29 Apr 2022 | EMI |
| 15 | Alarm | MC ID | 22 Nov 2024 | EMI |
| 16 | Last Jungle | None | 26 Jul 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 17 | Enter Night | None | 13 Sep 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 18 | Siren | None | 11 Oct 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 19 | Splash | Coco Sumner | 12 Sep 2010 | RAM Records |
| 20 | Could This Be Real | Takura | 26 Sep 2010 | RAM Records |
| 21 | Out the Blue | Alice Gold | 16 May 2011 | RAM Records |
| 22 | Falling Down | Kenzie May | 2 Mar 2012 | RAM Records |
| 23 | Torus | None | 23 Sep 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 24 | Close | MNEK | 16 May 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 25 | Safe in Sound | None | 8 Feb 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 26 | Don’t You Feel It | Alma | 24 Feb 2017 | Virgin EMI |
| 27 | Love Divine | None | 9 Mar 2018 | Virgin EMI |
| 28 | Lingua | None | 10 May 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 29 | Solar Eclipse | None | 2005 | RAM Records |
| 30 | Frozen Solid | None | 2005 | RAM Records |
| 31 | Flamenco | None | 2005 | RAM Records |
| 32 | Special Place | None | 2006 | RAM Records |
| 33 | X Ray | None | 2007 | RAM Records |
| 34 | Druggy | None | 2007 | RAM Records |
| 35 | Deep Space | None | 2008 | RAM Records |
| 36 | Vapourise | None | 2008 | RAM Records |
| 37 | Join the Dots | None | 2009 | RAM Records |
| 38 | Let the Story Begin | None | 2009 | RAM Records |
| 39 | World of Hurt | None | 2012 | RAM Records |
| 40 | Pyramid | None | 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 41 | Nobody Knows | None | 2013 | Virgin EMI |
| 42 | Omnidirectional | None | 2019 | Universal Music UK |
| 43 | Freedom | None | 2020 | Universal Music UK |
| 44 | Vibration | None | 2020 | Universal Music UK |
| 45 | Trip | None | 2021 | Universal Music UK |
| 46 | Ready to Roll | None | 2022 | EMI |
| 47 | It’s Time | None | 2023 | EMI |
| 48 | Wildfire | None | 2023 | EMI |
| 49 | Push the Tempo | None | 2024 | EMI |
| 50 | Wild Guess | None | 2024 | EMI |
Why These Records Deserve a Place in Every DJ Collection
Sub Focus has become one of the defining artists of modern drum and bass by combining technical production with memorable songwriting and huge dancefloor energy. His records work equally well in underground clubs, festivals and commercial events, making them incredibly versatile for DJs.
Tracks such as Tidal Wave, Endorphins, Turn Back Time, Desire and Ready to Fly introduced drum and bass to wider audiences while remaining favourites among specialist DJs. Meanwhile, classics like Timewarp, Rock It, Solar System and Air I Breathe continue to receive support more than a decade after their release.
Whether you’re playing house, dance, bass music, commercial EDM or pure drum and bass, a Sub Focus track can often provide the perfect transition between genres thanks to his polished production style and memorable melodies.
His catalogue demonstrates how electronic music can remain both innovative and accessible, influencing a new generation of producers including Dimension, Culture Shock, 1991, Kanine and many others.
A Brief History of Sub Focus
Sub Focus, born Nick Douwma in Guildford, England, first emerged on the legendary RAM Records in the early 2000s. His early productions quickly caught the attention of Andy C, helping establish him as one of the brightest new talents in drum and bass.
Following a series of successful underground releases including X Ray, Frozen Solid, Deep Space and Timewarp, his self titled debut album introduced a more melodic and crossover friendly sound.
The release of Torus marked his transition into mainstream electronic music, producing several UK Top 40 singles while maintaining credibility within drum and bass culture.
Today, Sub Focus remains one of the world’s most respected electronic music producers, headlining festivals across Europe, North America, Australia and Asia while continuing to release chart successful collaborations.
10 Fun Facts About Sub Focus
- His real name is Nick Douwma.
- He originally wanted to become a sound engineer before focusing on music production.
- Andy C signed many of his earliest releases to RAM Records.
- Timewarp remains one of the biggest drum and bass anthems ever released.
- His music regularly features on BBC Radio 1 playlists.
- He has performed at Tomorrowland, EDC, Creamfields and Glastonbury.
- His productions are renowned for their exceptionally clean mixdowns.
- He has successfully crossed between drum and bass, house and mainstream electronic music.
- He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in modern dance music, including Wilkinson, Dimension and CamelPhat.
- His music continues to be played by leading DJs worldwide more than two decades after his first releases.
Learn How to Become a DJ
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