Meet the artist: Chris Minerall
by 6 July 2026
SAY HELLO TO CHRIS MINERALL
We have known Chris Minerall for a while now and have followed his musical development closely over the past two years. We have seen how he refined his sound and waited until he felt ready for the next step in his musical career. We are therefore incredibly happy that that moment has arrived and that we have the honor of releasing his Nucleation EP.
And by refined, we do not mean polished; no, quite the opposite. His sound is characterized by its raw, uncompromising nature, and that is exactly what we at MEUK Records stand for.
From organic field recordings to driving mechanical percussion, Chris Minerall incorporates it all into his own unique style. He tells us more about it in this interview, in which we start at the beginning of his musical journey and end with his upcoming release on our label.
Can you take us back to your early connection with music?
Being raised in a musical family, I started playing the drums at the age of seven. Back then, I mainly played genres like rock, jazz, and funk. After moving abroad at the age of fourteen, I gradually drifted away from music and didn’t really pursue it anymore.
During the years that I wasn’t making music, my brother and I both developed a deep love for techno. And when I was 22 (in 2022), he introduced me to Ableton and his MIDI controller. A few weeks later, I got one myself. The knobs, the lights, and the playful way of creating and jamming immediately reconnected me with my inner child. It gave me a sense of joy that I hadn’t experienced since I stopped drumming.
That same year, I decided that committing my life to music was something I had to do. So I took a leap of faith: I quit my studies and switched to the electronic music bachelor’s degree at the conservatory in Haarlem, and I’ve never felt more inspired or fulfilled.
What pulled you toward techno as your main direction?
As a kid, my MP3 player was mainly filled with artists like Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, Kool & the Gang, Modjo, Marvin Gaye, and so on. Later, that shifted toward more modern dance music. When I started producing, I mainly listened to house and techno, which naturally became my main sources of inspiration.
Over the years, I developed a strong preference for groove-driven music, so techno felt like a natural choice. It also appealed to me because of its abstract and sometimes confrontational nature, its constant drive. And the fact that the genre exists as a form of contemporary art.
Beyond the genre itself, what does techno represent for you?
For me, techno is pure, raw expression. It’s a sonic landscape that challenges the mainstream and represents the underrepresented.
It feels like a cultural necessity – a space for equality, community, continuity, and artistic freedom, where people can come together and express themselves without boundaries.
How would you translate that vision into your own sound?
I like to compare my music to chemical and geological processes, such as the formation of crystals and gemstones. It contains rough elements and chaotically ordered patterns, but also has a clear and repetitive foundation. It is raw, unpolished, rich in texture, and not meant to be perfect or polished.
In more concrete terms, I would describe my sound as a mix of hypnotic, raw, and hard groove techno, inspired by the ’90s and 2000s.
How has playing out, both DJ and hybrid, influenced your development?
Being a resident DJ at a community-based, music-first organization like Turbine has really given me more confidence behind the decks. Gaining experience with a local crowd and being part of a diverse team working across different art forms inspires and motivates me a lot.
I recently played my first hybrid live set there, which wasn’t something I expected to do anytime soon. Having a space to experiment like that is truly priceless. As a result, I’m now slowly building a complete live setup. It’s far from finished, but I’m starting to fall more and more in love with the idea of playing live.
What does your creative process look like when you start building a track?
My current weapons of choice are Ableton, Native instruments Maschine+, and a small field recorder. Sometimes I go outside to record sounds that I can use as textures or transform into something else. I usually work in session view or on the Maschine. That jamming approach makes the process feel much more natural and intuitive to me.
What made MEUK Records feel like the right fit for your music?
There are several reasons. First of all, it felt like a natural match because of the “community first” mentality. No ‘catch & release’, like many labels tend to do nowadays.
They are open-minded and honest, and they really put in the extra effort when it comes to guidance and release strategy. They genuinely try to understand your vision.
The friendliness and professionalism of the team also mean a lot to me. And lastly, I really connect with the label’s sound: a strong blend of old-school techno with a futuristic edge, without compromise.
Let’s talk about your upcoming EP, what defines this release for you?
With the Nucleation EP, I wanted to capture the initial stage of shaping my current sound. Much like the formation of crystals, this project emerged from a series of defining moments throughout my years as a producer. It’s a translation of different inspirations and themes that came together unexpectedly, forming something organic.
This release isn’t meant to be polished or perfect. Instead, it exists as something raw and natural, waiting to be discovered and appreciated by those who connect with it.
Nucleation EP
TRACKLIST
1. Nucleation
2. Metastable Tool
3. Chrystal Lattice
4. Supersaturated
Release date: 21 July 2026
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