Out of the UK rave and breakbeat scenes in the early ‘90s rose jungle, a new form of edgy, boundary-pushing dance music. Linked with England’s sound system culture, jungle featured sampling technology paired with a fresh bold approach that combined sped-up breakbeats with deep basslines, vocals and melodies inspired by (or even sampled from) dub, reggae, hip-hop and soul. The result was the birth of a vibrant underground movement that continues to endure today.
Propelled by innovators such as Roni Size, Goldie and LTJ Bukem, this hard-hitting style quickly evolved into closely linked genres like drum and bass (DnB), paving the way for further offshoots including UK garage, grime, and, later, dubstep. Music journalist Simon Reynolds coined the phrase “hardcore continuum” to reflect the continuity and cohesion between these various forms of dance music and their respective lineages, which all emerged out of the British rave scene in the early ‘90s.
Landmark tracks like 1994’s “Original Nuttah” by UK Apache and ShyFX captured the essence of jungle, fusing reggae and hip-hop over a manic beat. That track helped popularize the underground genre, earning a silver certification in the UK. Other formative, influential tracks include Goldie’s “Terminator,” M-Beat’s “Incredible” featuring General Levy, and Origin Unknown’s “Valley of Shadows,” the latter of which featured haunting voices sampled from an episode of a BBC documentary about out-of-body experiences. That track, which fused darkcore with jungle, remains highly influential decades later.
By the mid-’90s, Roni Size & Reprazent had taken jungle/DnB to unprecedented heights with their debut album, ‘New Forms,’ which was crowned with the Mercury Prize for Album of the Year in 1997. ‘New Forms’ followed the success of Goldie’s 1995 classic, the aptly titled ‘Timeless.’ The charismatic DJ, producer and Metalheadz boss helped raise the genre’s profile with this critically acclaimed album, which peaked at No. 7 on the UK album chart.
In the late 1990s and 2000s, the genre and its associated scenes continued to morph and change, with subgenres like liquid DnB and neurofunk entering the spotlight. With no shortage of cutting-edge DJs and producers pushing forward, artists such as Pendulum, Sub Focus, High Contrast and Calibre were among those carrying the torch through the Aughts, while labels like Hospital and RAM provided a playground for innovation. In the years that followed, jungle and DnB would begin to appear in dance and pop songs via artists such as Rudimental, a practice that continues through the present day with chart-toppers like Pinkpantheress, Jorja Smith and Charli XCX.
While jungle has seen its peaks and valleys, one constant is the dance music underground, which has always embraced the movement. DJs and producers like Tim Reaper, who runs the Future Retro London label, has been a key figure, injecting fresh energy into the scene. English producer, DJ, singer and songwriter Nia Archives – who came up in a musical family listening to Goldie, Roni Size and ShyFX – has made a name for herself as a leader in the space via her remixes and energetic DJ sets, including appearances at Lollapalooza 2024 in Chicago. With her turbo-charged take on the genre, trailblazing electronic artist [IVY] has been a creative force in the UK DnB scene, performing at festivals and major events around the world including ADE, EDC Las Vegas and Boomtown. As the beloved genre’s next era continues to proliferate on SoundCloud and beyond, we’ve compiled a collection of jungle/DnB tracks by a range of artists carrying this underground style forward.
LISTEN TO THE JUNGLE/DnB's NEW ERA PLAYLIST ON SOUNDCLOUD NOW
[IVY], “Cruisin”
Jasmin Bernard, the rising force on the drum and bass scene better known as [IVY], injects a hyperpop aesthetic into classic DnB aesthetics on the infectious “Crusin”
Nia Archives, “F.A.M.I.L.Y”
The ever-buzzing English DJ, singer and songwriter fuses DnB with Brit-pop influences on “F.A.M.I.L.Y,” a bass-heavy introspective bop from her acclaimed debut album, ‘Silence Is Loud’
Charlotte Plank, “Rage”
British-Australian artist Charlotte Plank was raised by parents who met in the ‘90’s rave scene. Known for her collaborations with Rudimental, Plank is gearing up for an explosive year, hitting the ground with latest drum ‘n bass-infused heater, “Rage.”
ATMOS and Jakes, “Hypnosis”
Hailing from Antwerp, Belgium, electronic producer Atmos – whose obsession with DnB and rave culture goes back to being a young teenager – links with Bristol’s Jakes, fusing classic jungle ethos with a modern twist on this 2024 banger
Waypoint, “Done With You” feat. Mila Falls
Jacob Donoghue who is professionally known as Waypoint has been a rising force on the scene. The Norwich, England DJ/producer brings the manic DnB signature into a hook-laden chorus courtesy of fellow Norwich artist – singer MIla Falls
Skin On Skin, “Burn Dem Bridges” (Nia Archives Edit)
The Australia-based producer built a bridge between drill and techno for this white-hot track from 2022.
Vitesse X, “Ricochet”
There’s a lot of air beneath this ethereal jungle track from a native New Yorker who thinks of herself as a retro-futurist.
Tim Reaper & Kloke, “Flow State”
The producer Tim Reaper discovered classic jungle from a school assignment in media studies. Now he’s at the forefront of bringing that beat back
TMSV, “Number 1”
From the Netherlands, TMSV has been bringing classic jungle and DnB to festival stages for over a decade
Passing Currents, “IUDICIUM”
Atmospheric recent track from this electronic music exemplar, who hails from Belfast.
Fracture, “Booyaka Style”
Heavy kicks and whooshing synths from UK DJ and label owner Charlie Fieber, a.k.a. Fracture.
Fred again…, “leavemealone” (Nia Archives Remix)
The Grammy nominee created this track with a Baby Keem sample, with help from Four Tet and Skrillex.
Nia Archives, “Baianá”
The fast-rising producer from Leeds sampled a traditional Brazilian choir for this Amazon/jungle mashup.
Nectax, “Voychek” (DJ Sofa 93 Remix)
The lead track from the producer’s latest EP is built on the classic drum sample known as the “Amen break”.
Eusebeia & The Drizzle, “FR008”
Borrowing the name from Greek philosophy, the English producer Eusebeia teams here with the mystery DJ The Drizzle for Future Retro London.
TMSV, “Hyperdrive”
Aptly titled beats-driven track from the Dutch producer born Tomas Roels, who rocks those sample packs.
Lone, “Visited By Astronauts” (SHERELLE Had A Groove Remix)
When she remixed this track in ‘22, the DJ Sherelle said she wanted to give Lone’s song “a space age, footwork jungle twist”
Nia Archives, “Conveniency”
After collecting a bagful of awards in the UK, London’s Dehaney Nia Lishahn Hunt dropped her first single of ‘23
Nia Archives, “Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall” (Mall Grab Headbanger Remix)
More lo-fi, melody-driven jungle from the DJ sensation
Mixtress, “Blinded By The Lights 23” (Mixtress x Pete Cannon)
20 years after The Streets’ classic “Blinded By the Lights,” the Mixtress pushes the tempo on this remix
Nectax, “Playtime Is Over” (Dwarde Remix)
Dwarde takes a break from his frequent partnerships with Tim Reaper on this breakneck remix of the title track to Nectax’s new EP
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