Bart Skils x SUDO x Drunken Kong – Sakura [Drumcode]

Drumcode stalwart Bart Skils drops two exciting debut collaborations with both SUDO and Drunken Kong, for Japanese techno infused ‘Sakura’ EP.

As a crucial Drumcode Records crew member, Dutch producer Bart Skils is world-revered for his best-selling powerhouse techno releases like ‘Roll The Dice’ and his mesmerising sets. But he likes to pay it forward too, finding and nurturing new talent for Adam Beyer’s label, hence SUDO’s (Japanese brothers Isao & Takashi) hugely successful recent Drumcode debut EP ‘Real World’. Skils collabs with SUDO on ‘Nexus’, and with Drunken Kong (‘Dee’ Singh & DJ Kyoko) on ‘Set It Right’, who are globally respected Tokyo techno maestros, WOMB residents, and Beatport chart regulars, who had their Drumcode debut in 2023 with ‘I Want To See’ EP.

‘This year I wanted to focus on a few special collab tracks. Both Dee’s and Isao’s other releases I’ve been playing a lot in my sets and it got me thinking a combination of our sounds could kickstart something big. Both tracks came out amazing. The one with Dee leans more into a phat building groove and the Isao track gets the psychedelic rolling with some fantastic synth work. Very excited to get these out!’-–Bart Skils

Bart Skils x SUDO – ‘Nexus’ is a solid wall of fast, come-at-you techno, joined by melodic, almost chime-sounding short synth chords creating a spacey feel and dominating the main breakdown before a dangerously entrancing drop.

‘We’ve respected Bart for a long time, so were so excited to collaborate and release this special track. ‘Nexus’ is inspired by nostalgia but with modern and energetic essence.’– SUDO

Bart Skils x Drunken Kong – ‘Set It Right’ lightens without softening its sternly bounding techno, with a resonant echoing vocal title-riff and portentous, even minatory, synth chords setting the nerves tingling – and another epic drop for the EP.

‘We have always loved Bart`s music so when the idea of a collaboration came, we were very excited. For ‘Set It Right’, we focused on making a big groove while keeping things simple but effective. We are very happy with how the track came out!’– Drunken Kong