Wilkinsons NIRVA Show and Infinity Album Highlight Live-Focused Production and Novation Gear

On 8 November 2025, British drum‑and‑bass producer Mark Wilkinson lit up Alexandra Palace with his most ambitious live show yet, NIRVA. The 10,000‑attendee gathering ran hand‑in‑hand with the launch of his fifth studio album, Infinity, which hit streaming services in March 2026.

The idea for NIRVA germinated amid a whirlwind of personal and professional change—house moves, a studio relocation, and the construction of a new live‑performance infrastructure. Wilkinson has said that crafting Infinity in that chaotic environment sharpened the album’s emphasis on tension, dynamics, and inter‑track flow. The record also boasts collaborations with Kaskade, Camo & Crooked, and vocalists Julia Church, Ilira, iiola, and Emily Makis.

Speaking with MusicTech, Wilkinson revealed that the live show shaped the album’s sonic identity more than the album shaped the show. He explained that staging a massive performance demanded an acute awareness of space and emotion, elevating the role of quieter passages to match the impact of the drops. “On stage, the quiet moments become just as important because they make the bigger moments feel even bigger,” he said.

At the heart of NIRVA’s production lies Ableton Live, the platform Wilkinson uses to launch stems, sections, and transitions on the fly while tweaking effects and stretching passages in real time. Novation gear—particularly the Bass Station—offers tactile control that turns into muscle memory, letting him concentrate on the show instead of wrestling with menus.

The Novation Bass Station has become a staple in Wilkinson’s arsenal. He calls its character timeless and lauds its immediacy, noting that it slices cleanly through a mix whether delivering a bassline, a lead, or subtle texture. The instrument’s instant responsiveness, he added, fuels inspiration and shortens the programming process.

Asked about gear upgrades, Wilkinson urged producers to focus on mastering a single reliable controller and synthesizer. He warned that piling on plugins or pricey hardware can actually impede workflow. “People often think another plugin or another expensive bit of hardware is going to unlock something, but it’s usually the opposite,” he said.

Wilkinson also spoke about embracing imperfections. He argued that the pursuit of technical perfection can distract from emotional resonance, and that many hit tracks thrive on deliberate flaws that add personality.

Looking forward, Wilkinson intends to resume studio work once touring winds down. He stresses that experimenting with new processes outweighs buying additional gear. “Changing the process usually has a much bigger impact than buying another piece of equipment,” he said.

The NIRVA spectacle and Infinity underscore Wilkinson’s transition from DJ sets to fully staged performances, a shift that has expanded his creative palette and spotlighted hardware such as Novation’s Bass Station in both live and studio settings.

Infinity streams across major platforms and has been issued on vinyl by Sleepless Music. Wilkinson’s focus on space, emotion, and pragmatic gear choices provides a concrete guide for producers aiming to convert studio output into engaging live presentations.

Today, Wilkinson remains on the road with the NIRVA concept while developing new material that will likely weave in the insights gained from his recent live‑centric production.