Mark Ernestus founded the legendary Hard Wax Record Store, which in 1989 laid the foundation for Berlin’s electronic club music scene. He played a key role in establishing the Berlin-Detroit nexus, and started creating music as one half of Basic Channel (aka Maurizio), with its deep, immeasurably influential hybrid of dub and techno.
As Rhythm & Sound, the duo refined this signature sound alongside a range of vocalists — most extensively Tikiman (aka Paul St. Hilaire), besides reggae legends like Cornel Campbell, Jennifer Lara, Willi Williams, Sugar Minott, Bullwackie and more.
Mark has remixed Tony Allen, Tortoise, Friedman/Liebezeit, Konono No. 1., Equiknoxx and others, and co-hosts the Wax Treatment events in Berlin with the mighty jamaican style Killasan sound system, he runs the Dug Out label — with Mark Ainley from Honest Jon’s in London — dedicated to lost reggae killers (following on from the Basic Replay imprint).
In 2011, he began collaborating with some of the Senegal’s top percussionists, musicians and singers resulting in “Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force” (initially under “Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri) — releasing on his own Ndagga label.
Ernestus’ sets feature dub and reggae, mostly instrumental, from heavyweight roots to hardcore modern dancehall instrumentals.
