Frequency of the Week No. 6: Defunk
–Written by Kevin Madert
Once in a while an artist comes along that captures you attention and refuses to relinquish it. Defunk – a native of Calgary and the topic of this week’s FotW – fits that description like a snug sweater. His arsenal of production tools is formidable even by 2015 standards and he possesses a unique dedication to re-imagining the music of yesteryear from a modern-day perspective. With the word “genre” nowhere in his vocabulary, Defunk is a multifaceted producer poised to carve out a serious niche for himself in the world of electronic music.
I wonder if Chubby Checker ever tried doing The Twist in double-time
The Defunk project is only three and a half years old, yet in that time the voracious producer has released two full-lengths (Welcome To Groove City and Back To The Funk, with a third, Delights, out soon), several EPs, and a slew of remixes and reworks. He’s also compiled several mixes, focusing on everything from heavy glitch-hop to upbeat swing-house. Upon even closer examination, you’ll find little things in all these releases that set him apart from the like-minded pack. “Rendez Vous” features a meandering brass section and keys that wouldn’t be out of place soundtracking a burlesque performance. Disco reigns supreme on “Glam Sauce.” “All That Jazz” manages to turn a sultry soul intro into a rollicking drum ‘n’ bass track – no easy feat. And no matter the song, you can be sure Defunk’s signature synths and basslines will bubble and bounce atop a variety of beats. Even though there are some pretty disparate styles at play throughout his catalog, these nuances remain largely unchanged.
Techy trap meets fiery hip-hop courtesy of South African MC Jam Jarr
That’s all part of the plan, according to the man himself. “I get tired of the same old sounds and beats,” he says in the description for one of his Soundcloud mixes, “and so to challenge myself, and the ears of all my fans, I try to push my music in directions I’d like to explore while still maintaining elements of the sounds people love.” So although it would be technically accurate to describe his music as “influenced by Pretty Lights,” or “reminiscent of Gramatik,” that’s only part of the picture. In reality, Defunk is the rare artist who manages not only to meld his myriad influences in seamless fashion, but transcends them to formulate an ever-evolving sound all his own – one packed with wonky wobbles, rock-oriented riffs, and cleverly curated samples that bridge the divide between past and present.
A spell indeed
While it’s unfortunate Defunk isn’t currently a staple in every forward-thinking bass music fan’s library, it’s a safe bet that’s about to change. He just accepted a booking to play Rowdytown IV, opening for Big Gigantic at their yearly event at Red Rocks in Colorado. He’s a finalist in a contest held by The Untz to perform at seven major music festivals this summer (you can vote for him here). Defunk is on his way up (deservedly so) and we can’t wait to hear what’s next.
Connect with Defunk (Official Site | Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp)
*Image credit: Defunk