Meet the artist: MAWARI
by 9 February 2026
SAY HELLO TO MAWARI
We were immediately captivated when we heard MAWARI’s music for the first time. To our ears, it sounds like the ultimate hypnotic groove. It has depth, it has groove, it has soul. His use of analogue hardware even gives it a touch of old-school flair. We couldn’t have been happier when it turned out that MAWARI himself also thought his music was a good match with our label, which resulted in his upcoming release: the Withheld EP.
There is a certain mystery surrounding MAWARI, but that didn’t stop him from giving you a glimpse into his musical mindset in this interview. As MAWARI himself puts it, he explores the space between emotion and structure when creating his music. And that exploration is certainly evident on the Withheld EP, where he combines dark, atmospheric techno with detail, groove, and emotion. Besides his thoughts on his upcoming release, we also talked about his musical background, his hardware-focused workflow, and his take on techno in general.
From what moment did music become more than just something to listen to, but something to do?
The reason I started producing comes from realizing how music could draw out emotions. That realization sparked my curiosity to create sounds myself at a young age. Instead of just listening, I became fascinated by how those feelings could be generated through sound.
That’s how I started mixing with vinyl — mainly soul and funk. From there, I gradually moved into house and other forms of electronic music. I was also intrigued by the way hip-hop producers sampled and shaped sound. So I began making beats on an MPC, and that physical, tactile way of working made me fall in love with hardware. Over the years, my setup grew into a mix of drum machines, modular gear, and analog effects.
At what point did electronic music — and techno in particular — become central to your journey?
I gradually moved from soul, funk, and hip-hop into house and electronic music. That flow naturally led me towards techno. At first, I was drawn to tracks with strong melodies, but over time I became more interested in rhythm and structure. I think that shift is what truly connected me to techno.
What attracted me most — and still does — are the minimal structures and repetition. Even with just a few elements, you can express endless variations through texture and balance. For me, it’s about how something so reduced can still evolve infinitely.
What does the concept of techno mean to you? And how do you translate that vision into your creative process?
To me, techno is about structure and transformation within repetition. By looping the same patterns, your perception of time and space starts to distort — and within that distortion, depth appears.
I see techno as an experiment in construction: how far you can stretch and shape a simple structure until it becomes something profound. I’m still exploring my own sound, and right now I’m enjoying that process of shaping it. I think that constant state of evolution — not knowing exactly where it’s heading — is part of what keeps me inspired.
Can you take us inside your creative process — how does shaping sound look in practice for you?
The core of my production process is working with hardware. I’ve been doing it for a long time — it has always been the foundation of how I create. Recently, I started running hardware sounds through vintage mixers and outboard gear to add texture. Then I resample them using both hardware and software effects, spending a lot of time on sound design.
I use vintage mixers from TASCAM and BOSS, which really changed how I shape texture and space. They bring a kind of warmth and saturation that I can’t get from modern gear. My favorite outboard piece is the Overstayer Modular Channel — it gives me a lot of flexibility and character when shaping tone.
My whole workflow revolves around creating subtle movement through modulation and building depth through these tactile processes.
Your workflow sounds very hands-on and detail-oriented. Has that made your learning process challenging?
I’ve learned most of my production techniques by myself — experimenting, failing, and refining. These days, I also find a lot of useful insights from online masterclasses and YouTube. Recently, I started taking lessons from a trusted instructor in Japan, focusing mainly on mixing. That has really helped me refine how I approach sound.
All that experimenting and refining slowly led to a moment where my music felt ready to share. My first release happened quite naturally — a label found one of my tracks on SoundCloud and reached out to me. That became my first opportunity to put my music out into the world.
When it comes to releasing, what do you find important in a label — and what makes MEUK Records a good fit?
I really appreciated it when Denn Punk reached out to me. I value people who recognize my work and vision. That kind of genuine connection — built on mutual respect — is important to me.
I want to create music that resonates with people on that level and leaves something meaningful behind. MEUK Records shares that mindset — authentic, independent, and focused on the essence of the sound rather than the surface. So for me, it felt like the right home for this release.
Let’s talk about your upcoming EP — what story or emotion runs through the release as a whole?
Like all of my creative work, the Withheld EP emerged from a process of sculpting texture and movement through hardware — searching for warmth, space, and emotional depth within sound.
The track “Herone” was built around random modular beats as a central motif. To match the grainy, noise-like movement of those patterns, I intentionally made the kick sound lo-fi. “Trevorn” is based on loops performed with the Buchla Music Easel — shifted in time, reversed, and layered to create evolving motion.
For “Orren” and “Withheld”, I used the AD100 delay to shape a distinctive spatial atmosphere. They share a similar tone, but in “Withheld” the layered analogue and digital synth textures came together perfectly. It’s the one I personally connect with the most.
Each track represents a different facet of my process — from randomness and imperfection to control and balance. Together, they reflect my ongoing search for that space between emotion and structure.
Withheld EP
TRACKLIST
1. Wittheld
2. Trevorn
3. Orren
4. Herone
Release date: 24 February 2026
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