For years, Nick Foster poured his production skills into recordings made for other performers. The artist known as 17Four is now bringing his own work forward with The Smith Releases, a deeply personal EP scheduled for Friday, October 9, 2026.
The project transforms a lifetime of musical admiration into a fast-moving collection shaped by drum and bass, rock, reggae, industrial textures, and electronic emotion.
The Beat That Changed Everything
Foster was only 12 when he encountered the song that would redirect his life. While listening through an iPod Nano during his school years, he discovered “La Tarantula” by Pendulum. The experience gave him an immediate connection to drum and bass.
The speed was thrilling. Heavy basslines created a physical response, while the detailed production opened his imagination to the possibilities of electronic music. Foster carried that feeling into every stage of his creative development.
His performing name comes directly from the genre’s rhythmic identity. The name 17Four refers to the 170 BPM tempo that powers much of drum and bass. It represents the pulse behind his work and the musical culture that encouraged him to become a producer.
Foster continues to chase the excitement of that first discovery whenever he begins a new track. His productions maintain a strong rhythmic core while traveling through a wide selection of sounds. Reggae and dancehall elements can bring warmth and swing. Industrial influences add tension, while guitar-driven energy gives certain recordings a sharp rock character.
Modern jungle, Skrillex, and The Prodigy have also helped shape his understanding of movement and intensity. His approach gives listeners something familiar to hold onto as each track enters its own musical environment.
That range reflects Foster’s personality as a listener. He has never experienced electronic music through one narrow category. His creative instincts were formed by artists who expanded genres, connected unexpected sounds, and built emotional experiences through production.
A Producer Finally Claims His Own Moment
Long before placing his name at the front of a release, Foster developed his abilities through the work of other musicians. He has produced and engineered more than 100 songs for over 50 artists, gaining practical knowledge through recording, arranging, mixing, and solving problems inside the studio.
Some of that work reached small-market commercials and low-budget independent films. Creating music for visual settings strengthened his sense of pacing and atmosphere. It also taught him to recognize how a carefully selected sound can change the emotional direction of an entire scene.
Those years were valuable, though his personal catalog remained waiting in folders. Restrictive contracts and quiet industry affiliations kept Foster focused on professional assignments. He continued building his experience and refining the music he hoped to release when the timing became right.
That time has arrived. With his previous commitments complete, Foster is entering an independent period defined by artistic ownership and regular releases. He plans to share new music every week, giving his audience an ongoing view of his growth.
The Smith Releases serves as a tribute to the musicians who made that journey possible. Pendulum gave Foster his defining spark. The Prodigy demonstrated the force of electronic performance, and Camo & Krooked revealed the remarkable flexibility of drum and bass. Above & Beyond showed how melody could carry emotional weight.
Tiësto’s In Search of Sunrise series also became an important reference point. Avicii holds a particularly personal place in Foster’s story because the celebrated artist was a close friend of one of his childhood friends. Foster remembers Avicii as an extraordinary talent whose music continues to inspire creators and fans.
About the Artist
Nick Foster, professionally known as 17Four, is an electronic artist, producer, and engineer from Downey in East Los Angeles, California. His music begins with drum and bass before expanding into reggae, dancehall, industrial, jungle, rock, and melodic electronic territory.
Across his career, Foster has produced and engineered over 100 songs for more than 50 artists. He currently reaches over 4,200 monthly Spotify listeners and is preparing to build his independent catalog through frequent new releases.
Foster uses artificial intelligence for selected editing tasks and backup vocals, and he discusses that process openly. He views AI as a studio tool comparable to EQ, stem work, and other modern production resources. The concepts, arrangements, and creative direction belong to him.
A New Chapter at Full Speed
The Smith Releases gives Foster the opportunity to share the music he has spent years preparing. It carries the influence of his heroes, the knowledge gained from a substantial production career, and the excitement he felt when drum and bass first entered his world.
When the EP arrives on October 9, listeners will meet an artist ready to move forward with complete creative purpose. For anyone whose life has been redirected by a single unforgettable song, 17Four’s journey may feel instantly familiar.
Knowledge grows when shared. Please Pass it on!
Discover more from Paxjones
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.