Kontra-Musik is an independent electronic music label founded by Ulf Eriksson back in 2002. Since the first release in 2006, the label has grown to become a globally well-established and respected entity. Some artists connected to the label are Mokira, Marcel Dettmann, Kondens, Luke Hess, Jason Fine and Jonsson/Alter. Kontra-Musik, appointed “Label of the month” by Resident Advisor is looking to release music with a personality rather than following the varying trends of the music industry.
Jonsson / Alter
Jonsson and Alter met in Gothenburg, Sweden, years ago. In 2010 they found themselves being neighbors in Berlin, Neue Köln. One day Jonsson went over to Alter, checking out some abandoned synthesizers Alter found in the streets. A jam session started that has not yet ended. Jonsson has a long history of record making and is the musician behind projects like Porn Sword Tobacco, Stress Assassin and Gunnar Jonsson. His track Morgonånga was voted one of the best tracks of 2010 by MNML SSGS and the track Massagerutin 1 still blow minds. Alter also has long release history, with records out on record labels such as Minus, Gigolo and Room With A View. Recently Joel had a minor hit with the track I Feel You, out on Bass Culture.
Jonsson / Alter were nominated for the Best Dance act 2011 by Swedish national Radio P3.
Mokira aka Andreas Tilliander
Mokira is the first and main alias for the Swedish producer Andreas Tilliander. When conceived in the nineties, it was all about noise and sound rather than anything else. In 2000 Mokira released its debut on Germanys prestigious label Raster-Noton. The album, entitled Cliphop, helped defining the clicks genre and Tilliander started performing live all over the world.
The music was rhythmical with sparse minimalism and glitch grooves. After releasing an album the next year on Mille Plateaux, Mokira changed it’s focus for the third album, released in 2003 on Type Records. The Type album was without percussion and the music was all about huge pads and analog delays. Nowadays the music of Mokira may be described as a mixture of those two style. Somewhat rhythmical and with layers of dirty echoing sounds recorded mainly on vintage gear. Electronic kraut, harsh ambient, and the deepest dub.
Kondens aka Tilliander & Stefan Thor
Both Andreas Tilliander and Stefan Thor have been making electronic music since the eighties, but it’s not until 2010 with Kondens that the two finally meet as a duo. As a duo they make playful, techy dubstep with a twist. The bass eaches deep below into dark abysses of sound, while the beautiful harmonies always stay on the surface of the tracks.
Since the nineties, Tilliander and Thor has been putting out records on genre defining labels such as Mille Plateaux/Force Inc, Raster-Noton, Echocord, Mitek and Type Records. Stylewise the music has sometimes been deep techno, other times it’s about ambient noise, or simply put, electronica. Always with the biggest love for dub and tape delays.
Ulf Eriksson
Ulf Eriksson is the founder of Kontra-Musik. Ulf has made sure that Kontra-Musik has become a well-known and respected name within international techno circles with substantial catalogue of techno-, house and dubstep vinyls. His dj-set is a reflection of the label output, blending styles with ease and perfection, something he has proven in clubs and festivals around the world.
