Sunken Sun founder Tulshi first started DJing at free parties in Scotland before spending years honing his craft in some of the world’s top recording studios in the USA and UK. A return to the decks was inevitable though and as such his productions have become more dance floor focussed and igniting the industry at present.
Having shunned the fast fashion-like sounds of ego driven commercial music he turns inwards as he pushes and explores the deep, bubbling dubby side of hypnotic techno, minimal and deep house. With his home in Ibiza and his own digital imprint Sunken Sun his label pays homage to the intrepid musical explorers who came before, whilst consistently trying to push the frontiers of underground electronica. Below Tulshi shares a little more about his history and sound as he starts his journey to the forefront of the scene.
Introduce Tulshi in one paragraph. We really want to know where you came from and what makes you tick.
Tulshi (real name. Jonno Rogers) started his musical career DJing at free raves (e.g. Minival) and clubs (Origin, Jungle Nation) in the North of Scotland before heading to the US where he studied Recording Arts at Full Sail University. His background working in some of the worlds best studios (Jungle City / Subway / Crosby Collective) informed his creative decisions and honed his production and mixing abilities. These formative years also inspired his work ethic which culminated in him opening his own facility, Moonwake Studio in London. It was here that, whilst recording and working with the likes of Soumik Datta, Steve James and Farafi, Jonno developed his sound, returning to his roots as a DJ and reigniting his passion for electronic music production inspired by the likes of LTJ Bukem, Trenemoller, Fingers in the Noise, Prem Joshua as well as Ricardo Villalobos, Perlon, Atjazz, Yagya etc.
Its in the cracks between genres where Tulshi finds home. His sound grows from the gaps between, Organic, Progressive, IDM, Minimal, and Downtempo. Its’s in pushing the sonic boundaries and exploring sounds that brings Tulshi to life and it is why, whether downtempo or house based, you’ll always be able to recognise his sound.
Tell us about Sunken Sun. Be as bold as you like we’d love to hear your vision.
Sunken Sun is a label that specializes in the deep and hypnotic side of electronic music. From downtempo, experimental electronica to hypnotic dancefloor grooves, Sunken Sun aims to provide sonics for those moments when one wants to be lost in sound.
What’s some of the standout moments and memories over the past few years?
Realizing an EP with Farafi who are so inspiring to work with and having one of our tracks featured on Buddha Bar.
Being signed by (in the works) Atjazz.
Working with Sarod master Soumik Datta and seeing the track Jangal come to life with the most moving video to match.
Recording Bernhard Schimpelsberger and seeing the way he works with new techniques and instruments inspired to no end.
Playing with the Minival crew in Dalston having seen how far they’ve come since the Aberdeen beach raves.
Obviously it’s all about the music for you, what inspires you to create new sounds and push forward both innovative and underground vibes?
Nostalgia and finding ways of bottling it. For me so many sounds are rooted in memories, reminding me of times in the past or places I’ve been. Sometimes sounds can even be nostalgic to me because I remember the way I discovered that sound, or the time I heard it first. And so finding ways of folding those memories, those sounds into my current material is what really drives me forward. Because in that way, I hope to tap in to the shared collective memory of all those who hear my music and so bring us together.
A great example of that is glitch percussion, which on the surface can seem really trivial or simple, perhaps even dated. But Ill never forget hearing the stuttering clicks and pops on trentemoller records, or hearing BT do it on his early work, or the finesse with which fingers in the noise pull it off. This sound reminds me of so many good moments and finding a way to fold that in to my current sound gives me great joy. I’ll never tire of making grrrrs, zips and brrrrps lol.
Name five of your favourite songs from past to present and why.
1. Darbari NYC (Diamond Turban Remix) / Tangerine Thumri (Orange Turban Mix) – Prem Joshua and Maneesh de Moor
– Hard to pick just one track from this classic album. To me these are as good as it gets when it comes to downtempo, fusion style music. Also it’s one of my wife’s favourite tunes and reminds us of India.
2. Plenitude – Fingers in the Noise
– Just beautifully melancholic, so synthetic and machine driven, yet so emotional and sensitively executed. You can tell every sound was painstakingly placed and it just whisks you away like nothing else.
3. Sleepygirl 2 – Yagya
– I know that Yagya is inspired by the cold Icelandic landscapes but to me this dub techno sound will always make me think of what it’s like swimming under water. It’s the sound of the deep blue, of snorkelling in the summer in Ibiza, taking deep dives and exploring the underwater world.
4. Kids Play – Stimming Remix – Ian Pooley
-Kids play which samples Juanita Rogers, A teenage Letter of Promises is just one of the most sublime and sweetest of tracks and Stimming’s remix takes it to another level of melancholy haha. A real tear jerker this one!
5. Everywhere you Go – Villalobos Celestial Voice Amnesia Resurrection Mix
– At 28 minutes in length, it borders on being a modern electronic Sonata. Simple, haunting and yet profound the track captures so well, those strange, between world moments, you sometimes find yourself in at the end of a long dancefloor session. A reminder to always make the best of every moment.
6. BONUS TUNE!
Acid Mating Call – m.O.N.R.O.E & Adisyn. – Sorry just couldn’t leave this one off the list. Out on Atish and Mark Slee’s incredible, genre-blurring Manjumasi label, Acid Mating call is just the most sublime, trippy organic yet synthetic track ever. Supremely funky, yet that modulated lead is just the most mind bending synth sound I think I’ve ever heard, and the way it comes in and out of the track…. pure bliss!
If you could remix anyone who would it be?
Would have to be something from Rhythm and Sound. Besides being a massive fan of everything that Moritz Von Oswold has ever done, I think that Cornell Campbell’s vocals are some of the most unique and beautiful. King in my Empire is a bit of an anthem for me.
What inspires you about electronic music and what’s your Ibiza connection?
Exploring new boundaries, pushing the sonic limits with synths and glitch makes me a very happy dude, and Ibiza is just the most inspiring and electrifying place as a producer. In particular the quiet in the winter, and the scenery when there’s a crisp air fuels the imagination to no end. My wife brough us here on our honeymoon, intent on selling the island to me. It worked. A handful of trips later and we decided to make our home here.
Describe your creative A&R process when you find a new artist and what goes into developing and working with them.
I go with the flow, I don’t force things, I either have to love the music or the person to consider putting it out. This is something I don’t want to force, it should happen organically in it’s own time. The music will find me if it’s meant to be.
Your work ethic seems relentless, how do you stay on top of having a family, running a label and pushing your own solo career?
Routine, patience, careful planning using every moment of the day, staying healthy and setting boundaries and a LOVE for all them.
Outside of music, what instantly inspires you?
Water!!! Swimming, and floating in the endlessness, feeling weightless.
Being a father, and watching my little guy experience things for the first time, but most of all learning everyday from everything.
What’s your next release and describe the sound.
My next release is my Vessel EP.
Vayu – Air
Auroura – Dawn
Soma – Intoxicating Nectar
Three techy ethereal tracks that carry the listener away and provide a rhythm to lose oneself in. The synths, wispy, translucent and surreal dart around and evade. I designed these tracks purely for the dancefloor, with a slight south American influence, they blur the lines between genres of house music.
Support Tulshi on Social Media
Support Sunken Sun Records on Social Media
