Nick Foster, who records and releases music under the name 17Four, is stepping into a new chapter of his career with the upcoming release of his album “The Smith Releases,” arriving Friday, October 9. Based in East Los Angeles and Downey, California, Foster has spent years working behind the scenes as a producer and engineer before deciding to bring his own music to the forefront.
The name 17Four comes from the 170 BPM foundation of drum and bass, a genre that has remained at the center of Foster’s musical identity. While drum and bass provides the foundation, his music does not remain confined to a single style. His tracks can incorporate reggae influences, industrial sounds and rock elements, all connected by the kick-and-bass combination that first drew him to the genre.
Foster traces that connection back to when he was twelve years old and heard Pendulum’s “La Tarantula” on an iPod Nano. He describes the experience as life-changing, saying the song set the direction for everything he has done since.
His influences extend across several generations of electronic music. Pendulum, The Prodigy, Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Camo & Krooked and Avicii have all played important roles in shaping his musical perspective. Those influences are also reflected in “The Smith Releases,” which Foster describes as a tribute to the artists who helped shape him.
Before releasing music under his own name, Foster spent much of his career behind the boards. He has produced and engineered more than 100 songs for over 50 artists, with his work appearing in small-market commercials and low-budget independent films. During those years, his own catalog remained largely unreleased.
Foster says restrictive contracts and low-profile industry associations also kept him working behind the scenes. With those commitments now complete, he is releasing music on his own terms.
The new album is both a personal release and a tribute to the music that inspired him. Foster particularly highlights Avicii, Tiësto’s In Search of Sunrise series, Pendulum, The Prodigy, Camo & Krooked and Above & Beyond among the influences present throughout the record. Foster is also open about his use of AI for editing and backup vocals, describing it as another production tool while emphasizing that the creative vision and arrangements remain his own.
With “The Smith Releases,” 17Four is finally bringing years of experience, influences and unreleased work into the spotlight, inviting listeners to discover the music that has been building behind the boards for years.
