The third release on Dubrunner's Menace label finds the soundsystem stalwart continuing to refine his distinctively modern club twist on dub sensibilities. Drawing elements of techno, trance, amapiano and dubstep into his lean and mean digi-dub workouts, Blackheart arrives as a laser-focused selection pitched at forward-facing DJs working the dance at peak time.

For all the weight powering the likes of 'Protocol', Dubrunner's distinctive style is rooted in minimalism. The tangible breathing room in the mix leaves plenty of space for every subtle synth flourish and spring reverb splash to shine while maintaining a seductive tension throughout, all the better to hold the dancefloor energy on a tight leash.

There's an even stronger sense of pressure bubbling under the surface on 'Blackheart' thanks to the looming low-end which purrs away underneath the crooked-but-driving drums, leaving the lead lines to add an emotive flourish as a foil to the introspective dub chords which shimmer through the track's latter stages.

'Bad Mind' is a precision-sculpted throw down shaped out by delicate percussive intrigue and snaking groove, leaning further into a dub techno palette to set the mood and offset by flickers of auto tuned vocals that nod to amapiano.

To round the EP off without easing up on sheer soundsystem impact, 'Night Shift' carries some of Dubrunner's most assured production work to date. The ramp up for the drop is undeniable, letting the bass snarl and the drums roll without losing that sharply-rendered restraint we've come to expect from one of the most inventive producers in the broad expanse of contemporary bass music. 

Dubrunner - Protocol

music is fun.

next up: 
09.26 kilowatt (san francisco)

2025:
08.27 teddies @ 4:30 & a (black rock city)
07.25 kilowatt (san francisco)
04.26 kilowatt (san francisco)
01.14 museum of modern art (san francisco) 

2024:
12.31  white burgundy b2b blackbrook @ private party (san francisco)
10.12  private gala @ château de béhoust (béhoust, france)
08.27  teddies @ burning man (black rock city) 
03.01  lost church (san francisco)

💜 @birdcageradio
💜 @lacremerieradio
💜 @strandedfm

Local Menace
@menace_intl

*b3b Yushh & Breaka // Brushhrunner
** b3b Katiusha & Breaka

⩵« 2025 »⩵
24/1  Brushhrunner* ⥰ Strange Brew, Bristol
24/1  Dubrunner ⥰ Noods Radio
7/2  Brushhrunner* ⥰ Ormside Projects, London
21/2 Duty Free Merger ⥰ Ohm, Berlin
28/2  Dubrunner ⥰ Noods Radio
14/3  Acid Dub Studies ⥰ Jazz Cafe, London
21/3  FUEGO w/ Protoje ⥰ Razzmatazz, Barcelona
28/3  Dubrunner ⥰ Noods Radio
28/3  Palestin3 Fundraiser ⥰ The Cause, London
12/4  SXSE x RSD25 ⥰ The Bear London
3/5  Percolate x LNS* ⥰ Colour Factory, London
23/5  Punani & Friends ⥰ THF/Torhaus, Berlin
30/5  FUEGO* ⥰ Razzmatazz, Barcelona
29/6  ⥰ Fusion Festival, Berlin
3/7  NLDC ⥰ Cu Dalston, London
24/7  Outlook Festival* ⥰ Tisno, Croatia
28/7  Outlook Festival ⥰ Tisno, Croatia
8/8  WubWub ⥰ THF Radio, Berlin
9/8  WubWub ⥰ Fitzroy, Berlin
30/8  Buss ⥰ Carpet Shop, London
6/9  Strøm Festival ⥰ Fredens Eng, Copenhagen

⩵« 2024 »⩵
13/1  Dubrunner ⥰ SWU FM
23/1  Tañ & Dubrunner ⥰ Rinse FM
23/2  Boiler Room ⥰ Beaverworks, Leeds
12/3  Dubrunner ⥰ Void Radio
29/3  FUEGO ⥰ Razzmatazz, Barcelona
18/4  No Edits ⥰ Carpet Shop, London
10/5  Cutting Hair ⥰ West Harlem, Kyoto
17/5  Star Festival ⥰ Fuminnomori Hiyoshi, Kyoto
19/5  Dubrunner & Moova ⥰ SWU FM
24/5  Dubrunner ⥰ Wild Pearl Radio
24/5  ⥰ Off Track, Singapore
25/5  NESC ⥰ Tuff Club, Singapore
1/6  Dubrunner  ⥰ TSUNAGU Studio, Tokyo
1/6  Zudub 頭バー ⥰ ZUBAR Shibuya, Tokyo
27/6  Querfeld ⥰ Fusion Festival, Berlin
30/6  Räuberhöhle** ⥰ Fusion Festival, Berlin
16/8  REEF ⥰ Berghain, Berlin
25/8  Pelican Dub ⥰  Secret Location, Amsterdam
14/9  Sudan Fundraiser* ⥰ Ormside, London
4/10  10 Years of Sinai ⥰ FOLD, London
11/10  Dubrunner ⥰ The Lot Radio
12/10  Dubrunner ⥰ Mansions, NYC
13/10  Effervescent ⥰ Bossa Nova, NYC
30/11  Kiss The Ring ⥰ Hifi, Leeds

⩵« 2023 »⩵
5/1  Dubrunner & Sourpuss ⥰ Netil Radio
21/4  Jamz Supernova Pres. ⥰ Village Underground, London
29/4  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Fitzroy, Berlin
6/5  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wire, Leeds
26/5  Project 6 Festival ⥰ Brockwell Park, London
26/5  Brushhrunner* ⥰ The Love Inn, Bristol
10/6  Philo & Dubrunner ⥰ Callshop Radio, Köln
31/7  Outlook Festival ⥰ Tisno, Croatia
12/8  23 Degrees ⥰ Colour Factory, London
18/8  Iota Festival ⥰ Ile D'oleron, France
26/8  Baihui presents ⥰ Jar, Xi’an
29/8  Future Bounce Takeover ⥰ Rinse FM
2/9  ⥰ Qiao! Festival, Chengdu
3/9  ⥰ Tag, Chengdu
8/9  ⥰ Pools, Dali
15/9  Organic ⥰ Hum, Guiyang
16/9  Toybox ⥰ DaDa, Kunming
20/9  Tatami ⥰ Wigwam, Beijing
22/9  DCYY ⥰ Wigwam, Beijing
23/9  Bouncy Bouncy ⥰ Elevator, Shanghai
30/9  Floating ⥰ Loopy, Hangzhou
7/10  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wire, Leeds
18/10  Tryptch ⥰ Wire, Leeds
9/11  Acid Finky & Dubrunner ⥰ THF Radio
11/11  Reef Afters ⥰ OXI Club, Berlin
11/11  Dubrunner ⥰ SWU FM

⩵« 2022 »⩵
5/2  Stretchy x Keep Hush ⥰ Sheaf St, Leeds
28/7  Outlook Festival ⥰ Tisno, Croatia
20/8  Dubrunner ⥰ Worldwide FM
29/8  Leeds Festival ⥰ Leeds
3/9  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Dalston Den, London
10/10  Dubrunner ⥰ Radio Raheem
2/11  Dubrunner ⥰ HÖR
16/12  Jay Carder & Dubrunner ⥰ Rinse FM

⩵« 2021 »⩵
2/2  Scuffed Recs ⥰ Reprezent Radio
10/3  Zoe P & Dubrunner ⥰ Noods Radio
16/4  Tañ & Dubrunner ⥰ Sable Radio
28/5  Manami & Dubrunner ⥰ Worldwide FM
29/7  Keep Hush ⥰ Old Red Bus Station, Leeds
29/8  NS: Goldie ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
11/9  Outlook Festival ⥰ Tisno, Croatia
17/9  Scuffed Recs ⥰ Reprezent Radio
17/9  FABRICLIVE ⥰ Fabric, London
1/10  Subdub ⥰ Beaverworks, Leeds
16/10  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wire, Leeds
13/11  NS: Adaptations ⥰ Belgrave, Leeds
11/12  ⥰ Wire, Leeds

⩵« 2020 »⩵
10/1  Scuffed Recs ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
27/2  Deep Fry ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
11/3  SWTCH ⥰ Distrikt, Leeds
17/10  Tribe Records ⥰ Freedom Mills, Leeds

⩵« 2019 »⩵
2/2  NS ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
15/2  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
15/3  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Assembly House, Leeds
27/4  Stretchy x Crispy ⥰ The Fenton, Leeds
24/5  World Island Festival ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
6/6  Salemango Festival ⥰ HPBC, Leeds
27/9  NS: David Rodigan ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
29/11  Crispy Aromatic ⥰ Blueberry Hill, Leeds
30/11  ⥰ Wire, Leeds
7/12  NS: LTJ Bukem ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
13/12  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Sheaf St, Leeds

⩵« 2018 »⩵
2/2  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
25/2  Repulsive Wax Club ⥰ Belgrave, Leeds
16/3  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
1/4  Repulsive Wax Club ⥰ Belgrave, Leeds
30/5  Flux ⥰ Beaverworks, Leeds
6/6  Salemango Festival ⥰ HPBC, Leeds
29/9  NS: Call Super ⥰ Headrow, Leeds
5/10  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
16/11  Stretchy Dance Supply ⥰ Wharf Chambers, Leeds
8/12  Cabin Fever ⥰ Grow, London

kinda mad u no