The farewell to a key figure in drum & bass
Dutch producer and DJ Teije van Vliet, professionally recognized in the electronic industry as Lenzman, passed away on July 11, 2026, at the age of 47. The official confirmation was issued on July 12 via his Instagram account through a statement signed by his wife, Ashanti, and his two daughters, Riva and Nya. The death occurred as a consequence of kidney cancer diagnosed in January 2023, a condition that led to incurable metastasis.
For three and a half years he fought with such strength, courage, and love. He showed us what true strength means, and I will always be proud to have walked this life by his side.
— Ashanti van Vliet (Official statement on Instagram)
Clinical chronology and support from The North Quarter label
Van Vliet's medical history included the removal of a kidney weeks after his initial diagnosis. Throughout the last three years, the artist underwent multiple interventions, including emergency brain surgeries after losing consciousness at his home, as well as radiotherapy sessions after suffering severe neurological complications. At the beginning of 2026, the record label he founded himself, The North Quarter, issued a statement informing of the definitive cessation of oncological treatments due to the terminal phase of the disease.
Despite his state of health, Lenzman kept his production facet active. According to reports from his inner circle, the artist continued working on studio material, highlighting the development of a collaborative album titled 'Out The Dance' with producer Redeyes. Simultaneously, the international 170 BPM community organized various charity events to financially support his family. Notable are the evenings held at the Phonox club in London and the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam, which featured the altruistic participation of artists such as DJ Flight, LSB, Workforce, and GLXY.
Structural impact on liquid funk culture
Born in Amsterdam, Lenzman structured a sonic identity based on the fusion of broken drum & bass rhythms with harmonic progressions typical of soul, jazz, and 90s hip-hop. His consolidation in the global industry came hand in hand with Metalheadz, the record institution directed by Goldie, where he released his debut album 'Looking At The Stars' in 2014 and his subsequent work 'Bobby' in 2019.
- Founding of The North Quarter in 2016, operating as a central platform for the liquid and soulful drum & bass sound.
- Award for 'Best Remix' at the Drum & Bass Arena Awards 2016 for his work on the track 'Still Standing' by the duo Children of Zeus.
- Release of high-impact LPs in the clubbing circuit, including 'Earth Tones' (2017) and 'A Little While Longer' (2021).
The news has generated a massive institutional response in the electronic scene. Pioneers like Goldie have issued public statements underlining that van Vliet had integrated himself as a fundamental pillar of the Metalheadz family. Lenzman's trajectory establishes a technical and aesthetic precedent in contemporary music production, setting a quality standard in the more melodic side of bass music.
