Black Sun Empire

Based in Utrecht in the Netherlands, Black Sun Empire brings together producers René Verdult, Micha Heyboer and Milan Heyboer around a dark, precise approach to drum and bass. Active since the late 1990s, the trio has developed a sound marked by neurofunk and techstep, featuring fast rhythms, carefully crafted basslines and an often cinematic atmosphere. After several maxis on specialised labels, Black Sun Empire launched its own imprint, Black Sun Empire Recordings, in the early 2000s, followed by the events and label project Blackout Music NL, which helped structure part of the European neurofunk scene. The albums “Driving Insane” (2004), “Cruel & Unusual” (2005), “Endangered Species” (2007), “Lights and Wires” (2010), “From the Shadows” (2012) and “The Wrong Room” (2017) trace Black Sun Empire’s evolution, ranging from club-ready tracks to more melodic or atmospheric pieces. Over the years they have collaborated with producers such as Noisia and State of Mind and toured extensively in clubs and festivals, particularly within the drum and bass networks of the UK, continental Europe and New Zealand, remaining centred on a live, dancefloor-oriented format and a cohesive aesthetic around electronic bass music.