Mark Ernestus

Biography

Mark Ernestus is the founder of the legendary record shop Hard Wax, which became one of the cornerstones of Berlin’s electro music scene in 1989. It was one of the first to create a musical link between Berlin and Detroit. As one half of the duo Basic Channel (alias Maurizio) he began to produce music himself – and in doing so created his deep, influential mixture of dub and techno. Later renamed Rhythm & Sound, the duo refined its unmistakable style by means of singers like Tikiman (alias Paul St. Hilaire) as well as reggae legends, including Cornel Campbell, Jennifer Lara, Willi Williams and Sugar Minott. In the 1990s Basic Channel established the mastering and vinyl editing studio Dubplates & Mastering and launched the label Chain Reaction, which brought out a series of dub and reggae albums that had originally been released on Wackies in the Bronx. In recent years Ernestus has produced remix versions of pieces by Tony Allen, Tortoise, Friedman/Liebe¬zeit, Konono No. 1, Shangaan Electro, Equiknoxx and many other artists. He is the co-organiser of Wax Treatment Events in Berlin and runs the label Dug Out with Mark Ainley from Honest Jon’s Label in London. Together they trace the forgotten figures of Killer Reggae. Since 2011 he has been working with some of the best drummers, musicians and singers from Senegal, with whom he founded the group “Mark Ernestus’ Ndagga Rhythm Force” (originally “Mark Ernestus presents ¬Jeri-Jeri”). They publish music on their own label Ndagga.