1 More Mix 102: Bunkle

A live recorded journey of experimentation...

The latest 1 More Mix is special, and it comes courtesy of Brighton’s very own, Bunkle.

Top selector, experimental producer, label manager, Bass Bin owner. These are just a few of the many strings to Bunkle’s bow, one thing is for sure, he has come a long way since attending the squats and raves which inspired his next moves into the scene.

With many releases on his own imprint, Wonkay Records, Bunkle’s most recent solo project was his track Feral, part Wonkay’s latest VA, HATARI, which dropped in June and includes artists like Seppa, Confusion, Mahsiv, Naga, Ki ZEN, Scheme Boy, A\D|D/L, Aytch, MacheeeN Boi, Ars Dada and Joro Dudovski.

This brings us nicely onto this truly special mix, why is it special you ask? This mix was recorded live at Bunkle’s most recent performance where he shared the decks with some major names like Audio, Prolix and The Upbeats at Blackout Music’s recent event in collaboration with Basskonection at Volks Nightclub in Brighton.

The mix below is a journey of experimentation, thundering tunes, and pure chaos. Really showcasing the harder side of Bunkle’s selections…

In the discussion below, Bunkle talks about his mixing style, what’s to come for himself and Wonkay, his thoughts on drum & bass at the moment, and much more. So hold on tight and be prepared to be taken on a bombarding Bunkle journey…

What a joyously thumping ride of a mix that was, is this a typical Bunkle mix?

Pretty much! I always build into intensity but this time I wanted to go back to just pushing that experimental stripped back Neuro vibe in the beginning where as normally I build from rollers into chaos. I love chaos!

How was it spinning the same decks with some of Blackout’s heaviest hitters in Brighton?

So much fun, though it was hard not to drop any Audio or Prolix tracks! Having such a heavy lineup gave me a lot of freedom for expression. Going heavy was just not a problem. The Volks has been a regular spot for me over the years and Basskonnection always put on a good show.

How did your journey into music begin?

Raves and squats in London from 1999 which lead me to promoting various raves (some more legal than others) and eventually club nights while playing and producing along the way. Rave culture and free parties have always been a big motivator for my music.

Who are some of your musical inspirations and why?

The last couple of years has to be Phace, his variation of tracks is inspiring! I LOVE distortion, Thou and Primitive Man are big influences for me even though they are not drum & bass but their textures and massive intensity always catch me.

How are things going over at Wonkay?

Really good! We rebranded and switched our mission statement to “Fast or Filthy” in January pushing 160+ bass music with the last few releases since then focusing on drum & bass. The pickup has been good with our US audience and growing more within the UK and Europe. Being “pay as you feel” and having a full-time job it’s a real labour of love and a team effort with a solid crew and like-minded artists.

What are your thoughts on drum & bass in general at the moment?

It’s a mixed bag for me at the moment. I’ve always had a lot of respect for artists pushing boundaries and I struggle with a lot of genres that don’t seem to progress. There is a lot of sick music out there but it feels like you really have to dig to find the gems. Music is really personal and I get why people like certain subgenres but they are not for me. I’ve been going deeper and deeper into experimentation so I’m pretty biased at the moment.

What’s coming up for Bunkle and Wonkay in the near future?

I’ve been working on a bunch of new tracks, even some industrial techno but my main drive is heavy experimental drum and bass. I’m planning on writing more with Joro Dudovski and also finishing off a couple of other tracks for other labels. More with Wonk#ay of course! We’ve had a little break after our last compilation HATARI (Dangerous) for the summer season, but I’m already talking to a few artists, getting ready to hit a busy release schedule soon!

Is there anybody you’d like to shout out?

Yeah a big shout out to my Wonkay crew (Seppa and Hakon), all the Wonkay Fam, Jerome, James for the years working with Noisily Festival (Tree House), our The Bass Bin crew, everyone that’s shown support and the ravers. Obviously a shout out to 1 More Thing!

Where would you like to see yourself and the label in a few years time?

Both the label and myself have been going for a long time and we have accomplished a lot over the years including US shows, UK and European festival bookings. With some recent festival politics we have reassessed our position and are fully driven to keep pushing experimental bass music through the label for many more years. Our mission is to keep growing the platform for helping artists gain much needed exposure and watch them progress! That is what’s most important. We’ve had a few artists that have first released with us that have gone off to do great things. I love watching how well people can do!

Bunkle: Facebook > Instagram 

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