INTERVIEW: Experimental Electronic music from mkDUBBY

Based in Sydney, Australia, mkDUBBY is part of an exciting wave of independent producers exploring the fringes of the electronic music map. Working from his own creative environment on Bidjigal Land in the Eora Nation, he forges soundscapes that dissolve lines between electronic experimentation and live instrumentation to create intoxicating musical cocktails.

His work draws energy from a hybrid of influences, folding together elements of trip hop, dub, jazz, ambient music and electronic stylings into a constantly shifting sonic sphere. His productions are delicately constructed with a combination of modular systems, analogue synthesisers, drum machines, field recordings and live instrumentation; among the tools shaping his sonic world are instruments like the ARP 2600, Moog Mother 32, Moog DFAM, Roland TR-8 and Waldorf Blofeld, along with the RD-6 and Deepmind 12D.

Alongside these electronic components sits another distinctive voice in his music and ever-present instrument in his sonic adventure, the alto saxophone, often performed on a Yanagisawa model. In March 2022 he unveiled his highly original artistic vision with the debut mkDUBBY single “Resonance,” followed up the next year with his sophomore track “Whisker Wobble” and his debut EP, Daylight Sessions.

Now, following his 2024 EP, Solumbra, mkDUBBY returns with a new single titled “Coming Undone,” a track that marks a notable shift in tone. Recorded and produced at his own Heritage Studios, the release moves away from the more relaxed downtempo moods that characterised earlier work and ventures into darker and more experimental areas. Pairing a rhythmic dub framework with the more reflective vibe of spoken word, the track thematically explore themes surrounding structural decay, the experience of social isolation in the modern world and the possibility of personal liberation emerging from those pressures.

With deep, rumbling basslines and warbling vocal fragments drifting through the soundscape, around them, synths buzz with spacious texture, occasionally giving way to delicate piano and string tones that soften the edges of the track. It’s a wholly absorbing slice of avant-garde dub music that rolls with laid back trip hop energy and echoes of acid jazz-inflected instrumentation which ripples throughout the immersive track.

Alongside the single, mkDUBBY has also created an official music video that reflects the track’s experimental character. Produced independently, the visual component was constructed using live studio greenscreen techniques combined with digital animation to form imagery that mirrors the song’s theme by translating the spoken word context into a lo-fi cinematic experience. It’s an epic new release that sees mkDUBBY continue to uncover more unexplored zones of electronic music while maintaining a personal and engaging creative voice.

We caught up with mkDUBBY to find out more about his musical journey so far, his new single “Coming Undone” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with mkDUBBY below.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

Busking as a seven-year-old on the alto sax with a mate on tuba, playing Christmas bangers at the local marketplace. It was my first taste of how music connects with people in a public space.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from?

I’m driven by artists who master sonic space. Aphex Twin and John Coltrane are foundational for me, especially in how they craft immersive, meditative atmospheres.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

In the “unplanned” sounds—city ambient noise, the rhythm of a walk through Sydney, or field recordings from a campfire.

Which artists have you been listening to most recently?

I’ve been diving back into Pat Metheny and some classic 80s soft rock—looking at how they use space and melody to create a “vibe.”

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

It’s been a natural progression of stripping things back. I started with broad electronic experiments and moved into crafting downtempo chill-hop instrumentals, focusing on dusty, atmospheric beats. Lately, the biggest shift has been moving beyond the instrumental; I’ve finally found my voice and a clear lyrical intention, blending those mellow foundations with spoken word

What was your highlight of 2025?

Honestly, just having pure fun in the studio. It was a year of total creative freedom, experimenting without pressure to evolve this new sound into what it is today.

How did you find making your new single “Coming Undone”?

It was a cathartic process. I wanted to capture the texture of things falling apart—using organic sounds and a driving rhythm to ground that “messy” emotional state.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

That there’s strength in vulnerability. “Coming undone” isn’t just a breaking point; it’s the necessary start of rebuilding something new.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

A sense of immersion. I want them to get lost in the layers and come out feeling a little more reflective and centred.

What do you love about the Sydney music scene?

The resilience. There’s a real community here in the DIY spaces and small bars that stays true to its own vibe regardless of what’s trending.

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

The most rewarding “performances” lately have been the closed-door sessions where the music starts to breathe. I’m looking forward to translating that energy to the stage soon.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

An intimate, dimly lit small bar where the bass can settle into the room and the spoken word really has space to breathe.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

Nala Sinephro or Adrian Sherwood. Nala’s use of frequency and harp is incredible, and Sherwood is the absolute master of dub production—mixing those worlds would be a dream.

Who would be 3 artists to headline your dream festival? And where would it be?

Tame Impala, Daft Punk, and Sly & the Family Stone. It would have to be an open-air stage on the Sydney Harbour at midnight.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

Don’t rush the “polish.” Find your own specific sound-print first. It’s a marathon, so make sure you’re creating music that you actually enjoy listening to yourself. Keep learning and creating everyday. Find the time to be the real you and not the you that you think people want to hear.

Finally, what do you have lined up next?

Up next up is another single featuring spoken word over a more upbeat psy-chill atmosphere. All of this is building toward live gigs at the end of 2026, where I’ll be performing as a trio doing electronic house dub poetry at small venues and bars.

Listen to Coming Undone below