Pioneer dark drum and bass label Est. 1993
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Optical is owner of Virus Recordings, Music Producer and DJ from England.
Bookings: UK/ROW: mark@esp-agency.com
USA: saleem@amodeagency.com

This page is dedicated to my sons: Aidan and Solomon, they are the inspiration for everything I do in life now.

"He is best known for his work with Ed Rush, fellow head of the Virus Recordings label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk sound. His first single for Metalheadz, 'To Shape the Future'/'Raging Calm' (1997) and his collaborative material with Ed Rush, such as the Wormhole, album (1998) were archetypal developments in the style. The duo followed this debut album with The Creeps (2000) and The Original Doctor Shade (2003), as well as countless singles and remixes. More recently, the duo have returned to form with their (2009) LP 'Travel The Galaxy' containing the modern classic 'Chubrub' and 'No Cure' LP in 2015."

"He also notably did all of the engineering and production work for Grooverider's album Mysteries of Funk, and work on Goldie's 'Saturns Return' LP. In addition, he has produced solo for many labels including Virus, Metalheadz, Prototype, 31 Records, Metro and released in collaboration with many artists, including Ed Rush, Trace, Dom and Roland, Fierce, and his brother Matrix. The first Optical release was in 1996."

"Matt Quinn's savage dance floor productions as Optical (for, among many others, Groove's own label Prototype) have earned him a place in drum'n'bass's premier division.”

"Optical's pure, unchallenged talent shines through on his solo tunes, showcasing an artist well ahead of his time. No doubt the modern sounds of the likes of D-Bridge, Instra:mental and the rest of the minimalist dark revival heads, draw heavy influence not only from Optical himself, but from his inspirations in Jazz, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. His ability to blend Jazz, Funk and futuristic, technical soundscapes is masterful. From his early work on Metalheadz and Prototype Recordings to his collaborative work on Virus Recordings and the classic Mysteries of Funk (Grooverider's landmark LP), Optical can perhaps qualify as one of the most underrated musicians of the modern era. His mind has crafted sounds which were never before heard, moods which were completely original, and his vision of the future, although ultimately dark and disjointed, is beautifully vivid and addictive. Its a world he pulls you into with each and every track and only a handful of artists can begin to dream of being this successful in their work."

Virus Recordings has become a DnB scene favourite and continues to release the ultimate in DnB vibes, with artists like C4C, Audio, Optiv & BTK, The Upbeats, Noisia, Gridlok, Ram Trilogy, Matrix, Rymetyme, Sonic & Silver, Pendulum, Mefjus,  InsideInfo

Bookings: North America:  saleem @ amodeagency.com  | ROW mark@esp-agency.com

Demo's can be dropped through the Demo Drop on the Blackout page

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Traditionally Austria has been the birthplace of many a musical genius; Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Strauss, the list goes on. And while it’s undoubtedly too high an honour to compare anyone to such luminaries, Markus Wagner certainly displays a massive amount of his own musical promise. Instead of choosing the traditional instruments, Markus - better known in certain circles as Krooked – has taken up the CPU orchestra, learning the craft of creating tracks synthetically from scratch.

It’s easy to see he’s got a talent for it too; before he’s even hit his twenties Krooked has signed tracks to such renowned labels as Renegade Hardware and Viper, with D&B legends like Grooverider supporting his music. Deeply involved in Austria’s infamous Urban Art Forms festival, Krooked is also a talented DJ in his own right, spinning his own inimitable blend of dancefloor destroying bass bombs to hordes of clamouring crowds.

Alongside production partner Camo, Krooked has quickly made a massive impact on the drum & bass scene, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Blending electro and trance influences with a versatile and futuristic style, Krooked’s beats are in high demand, and he currently has remixes and collaborations lined up with Future Prophecies, Aphrodite, Mutated Forms, ShockOne, Subsonik and plenty more of the hottest names on the circuit.

Look out for Krooked tracks dropping on Viper, Sudden Def, Renegade Hardware, Urban Takeover, Berzerk and many other high calibre labels soon.

DISCOGRAPHY:
Basswerk >> BWCD04 >> Krooked >> Wayfinder (Proktah Remix) >> 2008
Basswerk >> BWCD04 >> Camo & Krooked >> Play It >> 2008
Basswerk >> BW30 >> Camo & Krooked >> Play It >> 2008
BIOS Recordings>> BIOSCD001 >> Bmk, Coda & Krooked >> Hush >> 2008
BIOS Recordings>> BIOS004 >> Bmk, Coda & Krooked >> Hush >> 2008
Berzerk >> BEZ003 >> Camo & Krooked >> Strength Is Irrelevant >> 2008
Berzerk >> BEZ005 >> Camo & Krooked >> No Nerds Needed >> 2008
Berzerk >> BEZ005 >> Future Prophecies vs. Camo & Krooked >> Blackmail >> 2008
Dirty Habit >> DH002 >> Krooked >> Serious Sound >> 2008
Dirty Habit >> DH003 >> Krooked & Rob.stp >> Feelings >> 2008
Dirty Habit >> DH003 >> Camo & Krooked >> Lost Out There >> 2008
Dirty Habit >> DH004 >> Camo & Krooked >> No More Running >> 2008
Finn People >> FINN015 >> Camo & Krooked >> Shut your Eyes >> 2008
Finn People >> FINN015 >> Camo & Krooked >> The Access >> 2008
H-A-B Records >> HAB017 >> Camo & Krooked >> Blow >> 2009
H-A-B Records >> HAB017 >> Camo & Krooked >> Blow (Shock One Remix) >> 2009
Mainframe Recordings >> MFR001 >> Camo & Krooked >> It Has Begun >> 2008
Mainframe Recordings >> MFR002 >> Camo & Krooked >> Vision >> 2008
Mainframe Recordings >> MFR003 >> Camo & Krooked >> Fatman >> 2009
Mainframe Recordings >> MFR004 >> Camo & Krooked >> Dakota >> 2009
Nasca >> NASCA001 >> Body & Soul vs. Camo & Krooked >> Change The Course >> 2008
Renegade Hardware >> HWARELP03 >> Camo & Krooked >> Sacrilege >> 2008
Renegade Hardware >> HWARECD03 >> Camo & Krooked >> Sacrilege >> 2008
Sudden Def >> SDR12034 >> Camo & Krooked >> You Don't Know What Love Is >> 2008
Sudden Def >> SDRDIG01 >> Krooked >> Be With Me (Subsonik feat. Essence Rmx) >> 2008
Viper Recordings >> VIPERVIP006 >> Camo & Krooked >> Fear >> 2009
Viper Recordings >> VIPERVIP006 >> Camo & Krooked >> Get Funky >> 2009

FORTHCOMING RELEASES:
Audio Porn >> Camo & Krooked >> Histoy of the Future
Beta Recordings >> John B >> Numbers (Camo & Krooked Remix)
Beta Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Mindset
Beta Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Skyline
Beta Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Turn up the Music
Mainframe Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Vampires
Mainframe Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> LIQUID FILES ALBUM
Urban Takeover >> Camo & Krooked >> Final Destination
Urban Takeover >> Camo & Krooked >> Selecta
Uprising >> Camo & Krooked >> Global Warming
Uprising >> Camo & Krooked >> No Soul
Viper Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Looking Back
Viper Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Heretic
Viper Recordings >> Camo & Krooked >> Ready For This
Viper Recordings >> Krooked & Body&Soul >> The Reward

Krooked is following