Midweek Mantra Mix 016: Defunk vibrates Shambhala to a higher plane

Wednesday is humpday, which not only marks the halfway point between the work week and the coveted weekend, but also Conscious Electronic’s Midweek Mantra Mix (M3). We’ve been scouring the web’s most enlightening bass music mixes that align with our vision, to provide “a conscious way to consume dance music.” M3 spotlights both veteran and up-and-coming bass music artists whose music seeks to raise the vibrations of their collective listener base.

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Deep in the heart of Shambhala music festival in British Columbia, Canada, there stands a seven-story structure, awe-inspiring and mystical in its construction. According to Shambhala’s website, when dancing beneath this temple, known as the Pagoda, festivalgoers can connect with their truest selves. The legendary festival in the forest is renowned for getting incredible performances from some of the world’s premier producers.

Canadian producer Defunk‘s effort at the Pagoda in 2018 is no exception. Filled with originals, remixes and some carefully-selected underground tunes, this mix is action-packed from start to finish. Known for combining live instrumentation with funk, jazz and soul to produce a unique spin on bass music, he’s been tearing up festivals for some time now, most recently performing at Electric Forest. However, his approach on putting together this set was unique.

I took this opportunity to, in a way, reinvent my approach when writing my set. I leaned less on popular remixes and acapellas, and more on underground electronic music I enjoy. I took it as an opportunity to test out tons of music I have been quietly working on and all my favorite new edits.

He combines a love for multiple genres of music with his own live instrumentation, remixing and editing where appropriate, while leaving other tracks intact. Defunk’s excitement is palpable as he mashes, whips and flips an incredible number of tracks into this hour-long mix. This unbridled enthusiasm for all things dance, bass, and funk, plus the magical setting of Shambhala’s legendary Pagoda stage, make this mix a clear fit for this week’s MMM.