Image courtesy of the label.
On the heels of his April 25 Behemoth EP release for the Berlin label SPE:C, Bristol artist Jack Wallis a.k.a. Decka has shared an exclusive mix with THUMP to showcase the sound he's been making his own. The 23-year-old producer describes his style as a cross between industrial techno and the steely, "rolling percussive" music heard in U.K. clubs. On this mix, he has crafted an hour of artfully deployed industrial and dub sounds with escalating drums and sometimes frenzied feedback and synths. In addition to sending bodies thrashing in the club, the mix is a great listen on your headphones if you're looking for the mental fuel to crank something out.The three-track Behemoth is just Decka's third record in three years, but he told us over email that more is on the horizon. The young DJ recently made his Berlin debut at Griessmuehle alongside Objekt, Courtesy and SPE:C label head Darwin.Have a listen to the mix below, and read more about Decka's "rave ready" record, his inspiration for the mix, and what's coming out of the U.K. right now.
Decka: I guess meaning you could play the three tracks at different times of the night. "Contrivance" is a good opener but I do find myself closing some sets with it. "Xempa" and "Behemoth" seem to be the ones to play a bit later in the evening when the right mood is set. The mix is like that, condensed into an hour.Can you tell us a bit about what went into making this mix? Anything you're particularly into right now that ended up in here?
I tried to include a mixture of new, unreleased and a couple of past time favourites. Most other mixes I have done I have just gone straight for new and unreleased tracks. I have really enjoyed going back through all my Shifted records hence why I included a track from his 'The Cold Light' EP. One of my favourites by him.Congrats on your Berlin debut at Griessmuehle. Did you play your new original material? How did the audience respond?
Thank you! I played couple tracks from the previous SPE:C releases; "Xempa" and "003." I did play a new, unreleased track that I have also included in the mix for you guys called "Loose Faith." Audience actually responded very well! Not just German but crowds in Europe are different. Theres a different kind of energy in the room and of course the parties go on for much longer.What attracts you to the industrial sound that's become your signature? Do you take inspiration from the outside world, or does it really come from within?
I take a lot of inspiration from music that I used to listen to when growing up. Just before I started to get into techno, I listened to a lot of hardcore and metal music. From that, industrial techno was always going to be my thing. However, from growing up in Bristol I got heavily into the clean, dark, rolling percussive music as I heard it a lot when going clubbing—Peverelist, Pinch, Asusu. This has a big influence on my music too. My own sound is a hybrid of these two sounds.What's exciting to you about the UK scene right now?
Techno seems to be at a high point at the moment. Not in Bristol but there are some really awesome lineups all across the country happening, more young producers popping up which is great to see. The UK scene is always exciting. Its very quick to change and what is popular is constantly evolving. I am personally not always a fan of this but it keeps the scene interesting. Theres always a big variety of what you can go out and see in the UK which is great if you fancy a change.Now that your EP is out in the world, what's next for Decka?
I might take a week off and go fishing. Nah. I am going to try to gig more and look for the next release of course! I don't tend to release a lot, only three records in the past three years but I would like to release some more as I am currently sitting on a lot of unreleased bits!
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THUMP: Your EP was described as an ode to all hours of the rave. What did you mean by that? And does this mix have a similar unifying theme?
Decka: I guess meaning you could play the three tracks at different times of the night. "Contrivance" is a good opener but I do find myself closing some sets with it. "Xempa" and "Behemoth" seem to be the ones to play a bit later in the evening when the right mood is set. The mix is like that, condensed into an hour.Can you tell us a bit about what went into making this mix? Anything you're particularly into right now that ended up in here?
I tried to include a mixture of new, unreleased and a couple of past time favourites. Most other mixes I have done I have just gone straight for new and unreleased tracks. I have really enjoyed going back through all my Shifted records hence why I included a track from his 'The Cold Light' EP. One of my favourites by him.Congrats on your Berlin debut at Griessmuehle. Did you play your new original material? How did the audience respond?
Thank you! I played couple tracks from the previous SPE:C releases; "Xempa" and "003." I did play a new, unreleased track that I have also included in the mix for you guys called "Loose Faith." Audience actually responded very well! Not just German but crowds in Europe are different. Theres a different kind of energy in the room and of course the parties go on for much longer.What attracts you to the industrial sound that's become your signature? Do you take inspiration from the outside world, or does it really come from within?
I take a lot of inspiration from music that I used to listen to when growing up. Just before I started to get into techno, I listened to a lot of hardcore and metal music. From that, industrial techno was always going to be my thing. However, from growing up in Bristol I got heavily into the clean, dark, rolling percussive music as I heard it a lot when going clubbing—Peverelist, Pinch, Asusu. This has a big influence on my music too. My own sound is a hybrid of these two sounds.What's exciting to you about the UK scene right now?
Techno seems to be at a high point at the moment. Not in Bristol but there are some really awesome lineups all across the country happening, more young producers popping up which is great to see. The UK scene is always exciting. Its very quick to change and what is popular is constantly evolving. I am personally not always a fan of this but it keeps the scene interesting. Theres always a big variety of what you can go out and see in the UK which is great if you fancy a change.Now that your EP is out in the world, what's next for Decka?
I might take a week off and go fishing. Nah. I am going to try to gig more and look for the next release of course! I don't tend to release a lot, only three records in the past three years but I would like to release some more as I am currently sitting on a lot of unreleased bits!