Mark Ernestus

Mark Ernestus

Mark Ernestus is a German electronic music producer, DJ and label owner, born in 1963. He is the founder of the Hard Wax record store in Berlin, which opens in 1989 and helps lay the groundwork for the city’s electronic club music scene. He also plays an important role in linking Berlin and Detroit through his work in techno and dub techno.

Basic Channel, Maurizio and Rhythm & Sound

Ernestus begins making music as one half of Basic Channel, also known as Maurizio, where he helps develop a highly influential blend of dub and techno. He is also part of Rhythm & Sound with Moritz von Oswald. Under that name, the pair works with a number of vocalists, most notably Tikiman, also known as Paul St. Hilaire. Other vocal collaborators include Cornell Campbell, Jennifer Lara, Willi Williams and Sugar Minott.

Labels and studio work

In the mid-1990s, Ernestus and his collaborators set up Dubplates & Mastering, a mastering and vinyl cutting studio. From there, they also begin a programme of dub and reggae reissues from the Bronx-based Wackies label. Ernestus runs the Dug Out label with Mark Ainley of Honest Jon’s in London, focusing on older reggae recordings. This follows the Basic Replay imprint. He is also associated with the labels Basic Channel, Chain Reaction and Burial Mix.

DJ work and collaborations

Ernestus co-hosts the monthly Wax Treatment club nights in Berlin. His DJ sets draw on dub and reggae, especially instrumental music ranging from roots and steppers to digital and minimal styles, and can also include mbalax and other West African dance music. He usually performs with Tikiman on microphone duties, using live effects and treatment in a dub style.

He also remixes Tony Allen, Tortoise, Burnt Friedman & Jaki Liebezeit, and Konono Nº1. Other projects associated with him include Radiance, Quadrant and the Round One, Round Two, Round Three, Round Four and Round Five series, as well as Cyrus and Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force.