Jon Phonics vinyl

Over the past 18 months his recently minted label, Astral Black, has been building a reputation as a platform for forward thinking producers in the burgeoning experimental hip hop and new wave grime scenes. The likes of Jaisu, Inkke and Opal Block have all contributed to the labels hand screen printed cassette series and there are some seriously heavy 12's planned for 2014. Packed out club residencies in both Glasgow & London are a testament to how this label has grown. The future's looking bright for his own productions too - although 2014 has already seen Phonics deliver critically acclaimed releases such as the R&B tinged 'Domino Effect' EP with vocalist Tabanca on Push & Run, teaming up with one of the most prolific lyricists in the UK, Jam Baxter, to break down the walls of hip hop perception with their 'Fresh Flesh' EP on High Focus and painting the town Neon with his instrumental 'White Neckle' EP for First Word. 2014 isn't over yet, still to come might be his most accomplished work yet - a 3 track single, 'Elevations' for Alex Nut's HoTep label (due for release this October) see's Phonics take his beat work closer to the realms of Free Jazz and a collaboration with UK house darling, Pedestrian (set for release on James Zabiela's 'Born Electric' label) could still be the crossover hit of the year. Never one to rest on his laurels, Phonics looks set to take his experiments in sound to a larger audience throughout 2014 and beyond.