Join us for a rare extended DJ set from Mark Ernestus on June 8th at an OPEN AIR venue alongside Foreigner and Arthur.

A quiet, but towering figure in contemporary electronic music, Mark Ernestus is the man behind a number of immeasurably influential projects including the foundational record shop Hard Wax, the pioneering dub techno outfits Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Rhythm & Sound, the Senegalese mbalax group Ndagga Rhythm Force, and, more recently, one of the best new clubs in Europe, Open Ground. Over the past three decades, his work has built pathways between music communities in Berlin, Detroit, Kingston, and beyond, and, in many ways, has permanently altered the fabric of the global musical landscape.

In a 2010 interview with The Wire, Ernestus recalls: “When I first got involved with producing. I remember thinking for myself, what is it are you trying to achieve? Because you definitely don’t want your face or your name all over the place. And you’re shy, you’d rather be invisible. I realized that I really loved the idea to have my genetic code in the genetic code of music. That would be a huge goal, that would be the biggest achievement in a way.”

Ernestus continues to push his sound forward today… Earlier this month, he released Khadim, the first Ndagga Rhythm Force album in nearly a decade. Drawing from years of live performances around the world, the release presents a new transformation in the group’s modern take on Senegal’s ancient musical traditions centered around their live configuration of two sabar drummers alongside vocalist Mbene Diatta Seck and Ernestus at the controls and his signature Prophet-5.

On Sunday, June 8th In Sheep’s Clothing will collaborate with In Between and Interval Agency to present a rare Los Angeles set from Mark Ernestus at an Open Air venue in downtown Los Angeles. The appearance will be Ernestus’ first performance in Los Angeles since his 2019 set at Dub Club alongside Sister Nancy. Don’t miss it…

Tickets are available now via Resident Advisor: https://ra.co/events/2165921

In anticipation of the event, we’re sharing an introduction / deep dive into some of our favorite Mark Ernestus productions and recordings from across the decades.

Carhartt WIP Radio Mix with Tikiman (2012)

A rare DJ recording from Ernestus, this session showcases Mark’s immense skill as a selector flowing through heavy versions and deep cuts with longtime collaborator Paul St. Hilaire (AKA Tikiman) on the microphone. This is probably the closest online preview of what to expect on June 8th, though the upcoming set is sure to be wildly different and filled with surprises from Mark’s deep record bag.

Rhythm & Sound with Willi Williams – See Mi Yah (2005)

From the masterpiece fourth LP of Rhythm & Sound’s “Burial Mix” series featuring a collection of one-rhythm tracks with Jamaican legends Sugar Minott and Willi Williams along with Berlin-based Paul St. Hilaire, Ras Perez, Koki, Ras Donovan, Rod Of Iron, and others.

Rhythm & Sound – Mango Drive (2001)

A perfect mixture of dub and techno, “Mango Drive” is Rhythm & Sounds’ hypnotic and minimal take on Chosen Brothers’s late 70’s Wackies classic “Mango Walk.” Like many Ernestus productions, the track functions equally as well on the dance floor as it does in a home listening environment. One commenter writes: “During the last 20 years Ive been using this track always when I needed to buy new headphones, speakers or audio gear. If it pass the Mango Drive test is good to go.”

Basic Channel – Quadrant Dub II (1994)

Drifting Prophet-5 chords and ghostly vocal sample cruise along a minimal drum machine groove on this Basic Channel classic. Over 20-minutes long and still you won’t ever want it to end…

Quadrant – Hyperism (2004)

Released under Quadrant, one of the many aliases of Mark Ernestus and Moritz Von Oswald, “Hyperism” is one of the best examples of the duo’s signature blend of Detroit techno futurism with German minimalism. Originally released on Carl Craig’s Planet E!

Mark Ernestus meets BBC (2011)

The opening track of Honest John’s now classic 2011 Shangaan Shake remix compilation, “Mark Ernestus meets BBC” sees the dub techno pioneer exploring African rhythms with his signature minimal dubwise approach. This release seems to have set the stage for his later Ndagga project, collaborating directly with Senagelse musicians.

Tony Allen – Moyege (Mark’s Disco Dub) – 2006

A rare disco outing for Ernestus, this percussion-driven dub strips down Tony Allen’s original to its bare essentials in true dubwise version fashion. Subtly trippy and grooving, Ernestus’ mastery behind the boards shows that less is quite often more…

Tortoise – Gigantes (Version by Mark Ernestus) – 2009

Chicago-based post-rock band Tortoise called upon just two producers for their remix 12″ following the release of Beacons of Ancestorship: Mark Ernestus and EYE from the legendary Japanese experimental noise rock band Boredoms. Ernestus’ take leans into the drums and percussion while drawing out the full dramatic response of the rumbling, bass-heavy synthesizers with echo.

Mark Ernestus presents Jeri-Jeri – Bamba (2013)

The 4th Ndagga release, “Bamba” is a relentlessly swinging mbalax track with a powerful drum kit groove alongside layers of Senegalese talking drum, melodic guitars, and pulsing DX7 keyboards. While the rhythmic content here is clearly incredibly complex, it’s surprisingly easy to fall into a deep, eyes closed swinging motion while listening… Serious groove !!

Ndagga Rhythm Force – Lambi Ji (2015)

Ndagga Rhythm Force’s 2015 debut album Yermande was a clear evolution of the group’s sound. “This time around I was better able to specify what I wanted right from the initial recording sessions in Dakar,” says Ernestus, “… I took more freedom in reducing and editing audio tracks, changing MIDI data, replacing synth sounds and introducing electronic drum samples.”

Mark Ernestus Versus Obadikah – April (2016)

Lagos, Nigeria-based brass band, Obadikah is a group of seven old friends who gather to play in churches of Logos’ Ikeja and Isale Eko districts. Released on Honest John’s, Mark Ernestus Versus Obadikah sends the band’s grooves into psychedelic four-to-the-floor territory with swirling brass.