KEMAL Joins S14
Announcement 2/6.
Every movement, every scene, has its founders & pioneers – Artists who captured lightning in a bottle and changed the course of the culture with every new release. Konflict are without question one such act. The studio union of Kemal & Rob data is one revered to the highest level. Tearing, brutal techno-inspired Drum & Bass that not only sounded like it was from the future, but has continued to inspire us, here in the future, with countless artists citing them as their key influence. Kemal & Rob were amongst a core-handful of names, that together, laid the foundation for neurofunk and techstep as we know it today.
Based in late 90’s Glasgow, techno was the predominant music of the time and it’s here where the infusion came from in Konflict. They took what they were hearing and forged it into something that wasn’t being heard, amongst the movement of what Ed Rush & Optical, Matrix, Dom, Trace & Bad Company were doing. In 2000 the omnipotent, MESSIAH was born, soon to become omnipresent as arguably the most rewound D&B track of all time; sets were started & ended with it and clubs destroyed all around the globe. As a duo, their catalogue was possibly not as big as everyone had hoped, but sometimes bodies of work are best left concentrated, potent and defined. But there are perhaps still many more remixes, collaborations and features than you might realise (see playlist for a taste) …
For a while there were excited whispers around the camp fire of a return of Kemal, who had (until this time) been somewhat of mythical entity to many. These whispers indeed turned out to be true, and sure enough we began to see more from the mighty Kemal once again. He has been remixing, collaborating and working on new music, as well as being welcomed whole-heartedly back to the DJ circuit. What an amazing thing!
Parallel to music, Kemal is a forest guide up in beautiful Scotland, being deeply involved within the consciousness movement of Forest Bathing. An immersive way for any person, but especially artists, to get their ‘downloads’. This season is about much more than the technicals of production, we are focused on connecting you to minds who just go that bit deeper ~ and encourage you to do the same. If this season is about #bringingbackthejourney then who better could we have? His music has always been pure journey, and he himself has been on a path so unique. We are beyond delighted, appreciative and excited to have Kemal with us for Season 14 and cannot wait for what’s ahead!
(His samples for this new season are going to be something very special indeed… keep it locked for a video shortly revealing a bit more about that and more from Kemal himself…)
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