For the first time in more than a decade, Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) presents a solo album – 100% Tiki. 

Over his 30-plus year career, St. Hilaire has become one of dance music’s quietly legendary figures. Born and raised in the Caribbean island Dominica, he moved to Berlin in 1994 and has lent both his voice and his musicianship to some of the most iconic electronic music from the German capital – and beyond. Renowned for his collaborations with Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus (AKA Rhythm & Sound), he has also appeared on records with Deadbeat, Rhauder, Larry Heard aka Mr. Fingers and Stereotyp (G-Stone Recordings), amongst others. 

However, few know the extent of St. Hilaire’s compositional and technical mastery. From his home studio in Kreuzberg, which includes an extensive collection of vintage hardware, self-built instruments and notebooks scribbled with endless lyrics, he has created a vast archive of material spanning ambient dub, avant-jazz, lush techno and lovers rock. 

Tikiman Vol. 1 is a heady, downtempo tour de force of patois metaphors on education, displacement and personal vs. global histories, as is evident on slippy album opener “Bedroom in My Bag”: Mister, mister / Where are you going? / I’m heading for a faraway land / What are you having in the bag in your hand? / Help us to understand / He said, I’ve got my bedroom in my bag. 

Overall, the album’s lyrics reflect on life between Berlin and Dominica, specifically St. Hilaire’s hometown of Grand Bay, where he has worked with various musicians famous for the island’s different genres of carnival music. St. Hilaire himself always favoured the island’s more “discrete” music, developing a sonic synergy between two different geographical strains of groove and minimalism, and combining them with foundational Caribbean mixing techniques, which provide the basis for his songwriting and distinct baritone. 

Tikiman Vol.1 offers a rare insight into St. Hilaire’s complex artistry, from the eyes-down grooves of “Little Way” and the guitar-heavy digi dancehall experiment “Keep Safe,” to the subtle hypnosis of “Ten to One” and the softly crashing synth waves of closer “Three and a Half”, evoking not only beaches but also coasts and borders. It’s a fitting expression of both the breadth of St. Hilaire’s work, as well as his history as one of the few black, Berlin-based artists who, despite remaining largely overlooked, has influenced the city’s electronic music culture since its beginnings. 

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Kynant Records was founded in 2015 by Richard Akingbehin, a British-Nigerian radio programmer (Refuge Worldwide), music writer and DJ. Originally specialising in deep techno and featuring artists such as Cio D’Or, Terrence Dixon and Donato Dozzy, Kynant has since launched a sub-label Kynant EX which focuses on ambient, dub and experimental electronics. 

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Distributed by N.E.W.S 
Mastered by Stefan Betke 
Artwork by Grant Gibson 

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Supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.

Buy vinyl & digital

KYN EX 003 Paul St. Hilaire - Tikiman Vol. 1

Twenty years after its original release, Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) & René Löwe’s eternal classic Faith is being reissued for the first time, giving new life and the first digital release to one of the most beloved dub techno 12”s of all time.

Available on 12” vinyl and digital from May 10, 2024.

A Faith (Vox Mix) 8:56
B Faith (No Vox Mix) 8:35

Written & produced by Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe.
Distributed by N.E.W.S. Mastered by Moritz von Oswald.
Artwork by Grant Gibson.
Originally released by False Tuned (2003).

KYN EX 004 Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe - Faith

.VRIL’s first EP for Kynant Records explores his trademark style of euphoric dub techno, whilst also diving deeper with spoken-word pieces in collaboration with two critical thinkers in the world of soundsystem culture and experimental music: Edward George and Isis Semaj-Hall AKA Riddim Writer. Acclaimed Dutch techno artist Steve Rachmad also dons his Parallel 9 alias for a remix.

Written & Produced by .VRIL 
Additional Production on B2 by Steve Rachmad 
Vocals on A3 by Edward George 
Vocals on B3 by Isis Semaj-Hall 
Artwork by Irakli Kedia, Layout by Grant Gibson 
Distributed by N.E.W.S

KYN020 VRIL - Crystal Cell Energy

Legendary dub techno artist Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) announces new collaborative album, marking 10 years of Kynant Records. 

Building on the success of Paul St. Hilaire’s landmark solo album for Kynant in 2023, w/ The Producers switches up the formula to pair St. Hilaire with a different producer on each track. Referencing fellow dub techno pioneers Mark Ernestus & Moritz von Oswald’s acclaimed album w/ The Artists as Rhythm & Sound, St. Hilaire flips the concept to feature as the lone vocalist.

Over the album’s nine tracks, St. Hilaire offers a range of conscious song-writing and headtop musings, such as the spoken-word dread of “What’s This” or the sparse call-to-action of “Send Them On”. w/ The Producers is yet another essential record in St. Hilaire’s unmatched discography.

The album marks 10 years of Kynant Records, with label owner Richard Akingbehin curating an eclectic but sonically connected group of producers. These include luminaries such as Digital Mystikz boss and dubstep trailblazer Mala, or the elusive Chain Reaction artist Shinichi Atobe. They sit alongside some of the most exciting names in recent electronic music - Batu, Gavsborg, Azu Tiwaline, Priori, Cousin, Russell E.L. Butler, Aurora Halal and DJ G - all of whom bring different elements of dub techno into their productions.

w/ The Producers finds Kynant Records bridging the original voice of dub techno with the genre’s new wave. It’s a statement of intent from the label, which began 10 years ago with deep, hypnotic techno and has veered gradually towards more dubwise sounds.

Mastered by Stefan Betke
Artwork by Grant Gibson
Distributed by N.E.W.S 

KYNEXOO5 Paul St. Hilaire - w/ The Producers

All releases are mastered by Neel @ EnissLab Studio. Available on vinyl and digitally. Distributed by N.E.W.S. Artwork by Christopher Honeywell.

Bandcamp

Releases 001 -

Following a remix on Kynant in 2018, IORI returns with the kaleidoscopic ‘Andromeda’, phasing DJ ammo in ‘Transit’ and ultra-deep sonics in ‘Under The Water’. Fellow Tokyo-based artist Wata Igarashi delivers a remix in his unique, mind-bending style.

Available on 12” vinyl and digital from May 14, 2021.

A1 Andromeda 
A2 Transit
B1 Under The Water
B2 Under The Water (Wata Igarashi Remix)

Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci (aka Neel) @ EnissLab Studios, Rome.
Artwork by Christopher Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

B2 IORI - Under The Water (Wata Igarashi Remix)

The inimitable Mike Parker makes his full EP debut on Kynant with four cuts of his signature, modular techno hypnosis. 

Available on 12” vinyl and digital from September 17, 2021.

A1 Heat Inducer 
A2 Bleepazoid (Part 1)
B1 Bleepazoid (Part 2)
B2 Kinetic Statues

Mastered by Giuseppe Tillieci (aka Neel) @ EnissLab Studios, Rome.
Artwork by Christopher Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

B2 Mike Parker - Kinetic Statues

B1 Mike Parker - Bleepazoid (Part 2)

A1 Mike Parker - Heat Inducer

D1 Paul St. Hilaire - In Door

B2 Paul St. Hilaire - The Weather Man

B1 Paul St. Hilaire - Bright One

A3 Paul St. Hilaire - Keep Safe

A2 Paul St. Hilaire - Little Way

A1 Paul St. Hilaire - Bed Room In My Bag

Twenty years after its original release, Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) & René Löwe’s eternal classic Faith is being reissued for the first time, giving new life and the first digital release to one of the most beloved dub techno 12”s of all time.

Available on 12” vinyl and digital from May 10, 2024.

A Faith (Vox Mix) 8:56
B Faith (No Vox Mix) 8:35

Written & produced by Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe.
Mastered by Moritz von Oswald. Distributed by N.E.W.S.
Artwork by Grant Gibson.
Originally released by False Tuned (2003).

B Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe - Faith (No Vox Mix)

A Paul St. Hilaire & René Löwe - Faith (Vox Mix)

.VRIL’s first EP for Kynant Records explores his trademark style of euphoric dub techno, whilst also diving deeper with spoken-word pieces in collaboration with two critical thinkers in the world of soundsystem culture and experimental music: Edward George and Isis Semaj-Hall AKA Riddim Writer. Acclaimed Dutch techno artist Steve Rachmad also dons his Parallel 9 alias for a remix. 

Written & Produced by .VRIL
Additional Production on B2 by Steve Rachmad
Vocals on A3 by Edward George
Vocals on B3 by Isis Semaj-Hall
Artwork by Irakli Kedia, Layout by Grant Gibson 
Distributed by N.E.W.S

B1 VRIL - Tasche Voller Regen

A2 VRIL - Bruch Im Nullpunkt

B3 VRIL - Shifting (ft. Riddim Writer)

A1 VRIL - Crystal Cell Energy

A3 VRIL - Secondary Devices (ft. Edward George)

B2 VRIL - Bruch Im Nullpunkt (Parallel 9 Remix by Steve Rachmad)

A2 Paul St. Hilaire, Aurora Halal & DJ G - Mary Jane Greenfield

A1 Paul St. Hilaire & Mala - Like It's Always Been

A3 Paul St. Hilaire & Cousin - Back Inna Business

D1 Paul St. Hilaire & Gavsborg - Confidential

B1 Paul St. Hilaire & Priori - Send Them On

C1 Paul St. Hilaire & Batu - Free Your Mind

B2 Paul St. Hilaire & Shinichi Atobe - Time to Wake Up

D2 Paul St. Hilaire & Russell E.L. Butler - What's This

C2 Paul St. Hilaire & Azu Tiwaline - Let The Night Start

Max Durante - Black Light EP
KYN001 

Mastered by Neel @ EnissLab Studios, Rome
Release date: 06/11/15, 180g vinyl + digital
Artwork by Chris Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

--

Kynant Records looks first to a techno veteran in Max Durante.

Max has been active for over 25 years and is regarded as one of the pioneers of Italian techno and electro. Having recently joined the ranks of Adam X’s Sonic Groove imprint, Max continues to command a strong presence in the wider techno scene.

His first offering on Kynant is ‘Black Light’, a four-track EP of deep and physical, avant-garde techno. The A-side begins with the swung drums, drone and perc of ‘Black Light’ and continues the distorted, broken-beat theme with ‘Solar Request’. On the flip, ‘Biocentrism’ is more direct with its bleeps, sharp high-end percussion and weighty 4x4 kick. The master of hypnotic techno Donato Dozzy provides a remix of ‘Biocentrism’, looping the feedback into a powerful groove for the DJs.

B2 Max Durante - Biocentrism (Donato Dozzy Remix)

Max Durante - Black Light EP
KYN001

Mastered by Neel @ EnissLab Studios, Rome
Release date: 06/11/15, 180g vinyl + digital
Artwork by Chris Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

--

Kynant Records looks first to a techno veteran in Max Durante.

Max has been active for over 25 years and is regarded as one of the pioneers of Italian techno and electro. Having recently joined the ranks of Adam X’s Sonic Groove imprint, Max continues to command a strong presence in the wider techno scene.

His first offering on Kynant is ‘Black Light’, a four-track EP of deep and physical, avant-garde techno. The A-side begins with the swung drums, drone and perc of ‘Black Light’ and continues the distorted, broken-beat theme with ‘Solar Request’. On the flip, ‘Biocentrism’ is more direct with its bleeps, sharp high-end percussion and weighty 4x4 kick. The master of hypnotic techno Donato Dozzy provides a remix of ‘Biocentrism’, looping the feedback into a powerful groove for the DJs.

B1 Max Durante - Biocentrism

A2 Max Durante - Solar Request

Max Durante - Black Light EP
KYN001

Mastered by Neel @ EnissLab Studios, Rome
Release date: 06/11/15, 180g vinyl + digital
Artwork by Chris Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

--

Kynant Records looks first to a techno veteran in Max Durante.

Max has been active for over 25 years and is regarded as one of the pioneers of Italian techno and electro. Having recently joined the ranks of Adam X’s Sonic Groove imprint, Max continues to command a strong presence in the wider techno scene.

His first offering on Kynant is ‘Black Light’, a four-track EP of deep and physical, avant-garde techno. The A-side begins with the swung drums, drone and perc of ‘Black Light’ and continues the distorted, broken-beat theme with ‘Solar Request’. On the flip, ‘Biocentrism’ is more direct with its bleeps, sharp high-end percussion and weighty 4x4 kick. The master of hypnotic techno Donato Dozzy provides a remix of ‘Biocentrism’, looping the feedback into a powerful groove for the DJs.


A1 Max Durante - Black Light

Black Sand - Desert Island EP
KYN002

Mastered by Neel @ EnissLab Studios, Rome
Release date: 18/12/15, 180g vinyl + digital
Artwork by Christopher Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

--

Black Sand is a new collaboration combining techno sounds old and new.

The duo consists of Max Durante (who produced the first Kynant record) and fellow-Italian, DJ Datch. Their ‘Desert Island EP’ is heavy on drum machines and classic styling but produced with modern design.

'Abyss’ and 'Black Sea' begin the record with restraint, building a groove out of tense layers of underwater atmosphere and a tough low-end.  The B-Side pushes the sound harder; the creeping drone of 'Dead Sea' is tailored for DJs to gradually build a room's energy, whilst 'High Tide' is peak-time material noticeably inspired by the 90s.


A1 Black Sand - Abyss

The first Various Artists release on Kynant, ‘K.Y. Spaceʼ. Mike Parkerʼs unmistakable modulations and the broken-beat, UK techno of Forest Drive West share the A-side. Korridorʼs ultra-deep sonic exploration leads into fellow Swedish artist Fjäder crafting a downtempo beat in her signature ambient style.  

Mastered by Neel
Release date: 12/04/19, 12" vinyl + digital
Artwork by Christopher Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

B1 Korridor - Array

A1 Mike Parker - Novus Wave

The second Various Artists EP on Kynant is the spiralling techno of LADA (the duo of Dasha Rush & Lars Hemmerling), atmospheric acid from the anonymous MA, Andreas Tilliander and Svreca in a fierce collaboration and a fresh, hybrid sound from Agonis.

Mastered by Neel
Release date: 28/02/20, 12" vinyl + digital
Artwork by Christopher Honeywell
Distributed by N.E.W.S.

B2 Agonis - Giant Hadron Collider

A1 LADA (Dasha Rush & Lars Hemmerling) - Kalter

Record label lovingly operated by @richard-akingbehin.

Agonis, Aurora Halal, Azu Tiwaline, Batu, Black Sand, Cio D'Or, Cousin, DJ G, Donato Dozzy, Echologist, Edward George, Fjäder, Forest Drive West, Gavsborg, Iori, Korridor, LADA (Dasha Rush & Lars Hemmerling), Max Durante, Michał Wolski, MA, Mala, Mike Parker, NikNak, O Yuki Conjugate, Pangaea, Parallel 9, Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman), Priori, René Löwe, Riddim Writer, Russell E.L. Butler, Shinichi Atobe, Steven Porter, Tensal, Terrence Dixon, Tilliander : Svreca, TM404 & Echologist, Vohkinne, VRIL, Wata Igarashi

Kynant EX: a sub-label for non-dancefloor focused releases.

Distributed by N.E.W.S.

Kynant Records

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