Meraki
Meraki are two of the most sought-after names currently coming through from the South East. Startling drum & bass audiences with their slick selection, high energy mixing style and seamless back to backs the pair have set themselves out amongst tides of newcomers currently fighting for the spotlight. Having previously played separately through their Laya and Ember aliases, eight years prior to them eventually joining forces, they’ve since grown to be a staple on line-ups across the UK.
Whilst Kim’s background started fourteen years ago at university as part of the Lincoln underground, where she poured over the latest releases during her DJ sets, Emily’s journey started a little later. Nevertheless, after crossing paths and realising their potential as they played house parties together it was in 2018 that Meraki decided to merge their talents. With a shared love for drum & bass which transcended subgenres, it was the perfect foundation for them to build on a burgeoning career. One which would later lead them to Brighton venues such as Volks, The Arch and Concorde2. It was also a town they’d later learn to call home, becoming frequent faces at Levela’s esteemed Multi Function nights, where they incidentally played their first back-to-back set together within a club setting. From here, their fate was sealed.
Whether it’s the dark bassline growlers they tend to draw for or the vocal led rollers, Meraki have proven their knowledge of the genre through their selections. Being welcomed into the fold of mainstay drum & bass labels such as Ram Records, V Recordings, Born on Road and Dread Recordings, they’ve become a fan favourite, with their debut RamLive performance racking up tens of thousands of plays. Since then, Meraki have supported an array of pivotal DJs, including Roni Size, DJ Marky, Andy C, Benny L, Voltage, Serum, Bryan Gee and Noisia, demonstrating how they’ve come under the radar of tastemakers from across the scene.
With their monthly radio show ‘The Dnb 360 with Meraki’ on Trickstar radio, as well as a host of their own music productions currently in the works, Meraki are a driving force within the new breed of drum & bass currently breaking new ground. Pre-lockdown the duo was due to play throughout Europe, most notably in Paris and Belgium, but having worked to continue establishing themselves despite the current limitations over the past twelve months, they’ve proven their built for success. 2021 is just another year for Meraki to capitalise on their accomplishments and it’s another step forward in their rise to notoriety.
