Until now, Mexico’s contributions to Jungle Drum & Bass may have been overshadowed by its neighbours to the north and south, but the country is home to a compact but enthusiastic Central American scene.
Two of Mexico’s key players filled us in on this growing movement…
Rainforest
Are there any differences and/or similarities in terms of sound when you move between your monikers Rainforest and Bwoykah?
Originally I started the Rainforest project focused on the atmospheric side of dnb / jungle, but as time went by the sound and technique evolved and this took me to explore new sounds, especially the ruffneck stuff. Bwoykah is keen into the darker, murky and halftime side of jungle music. Similarities might be found in both projects.
Who are other musicians, family, or other figures that are sources of inspiration for your music?
I take inspiration from almost everything that surrounds me. And in matters of music I love heavy rock / metal stuff and hardcore. Hip hop, jazz and progressive stuff is great too. Faith No More takes the 1st place in my top 3 favorite bands.
You have released on many great labels, what are some labels you’d like to release on in the future, and are there any producers you’d like to collaborate with on music?
Any label that values and reciprocates the time, energy and resources I put in my craft, I’m interested, especially if it’s a physical release. I’m honored that I’m already collaborating with people I admire and that has inspired me to evolve my sound. I’ve collaborated with Homemade Weapons, Heatwave, David Louis and there’s some plans going on with Jem One.
Find Rainforest on: Instagram, Soundcloud
Mukiyare
Tell our All Crews Readers about your label, Vacuo Recordings…
Vacuo Recordings arose from the need to have complete control over my music while also being able to offer an honest space for other artists to showcase their work. I think that Mexico needed a record label dedicated to publishing the old jungle sound of the 90s, and that’s exactly what we’ve been working on up until now.
Tell us about the origins of your alias, Mukiyare?
Mukiyare comes from the language of a native Mexican people called Huicholes. It represents their concept of death.
I’ve always been a great admirer of these people, and it was very important to me to have deep roots from the beginning of my project, which is why I decided to link it to an ancient culture native to my country.
What is the Jungle Drum & Bass scene like in Mexico at the moment?
The Jungle Drum & Bass scene in Mexico is small but very real, events generally don’t exceed 100 or 200 people, although there are exceptions, but there are many people really interested in the music at heart and that makes them consistent, and at the same time gives it a solidity that has remained over time. For 25 years I have been dedicated to spreading the Jungle/Drum and Bass sound in my country, there are many people here who have remained faithful to the sound over time.
Find Mukiyare on: Instagram, Soundcloud
