TuneLab
Funk Bast*rd DJ set // Keep Hush live w/ Darker Than Wax
For a soulful, head-nodding session that feels like flipping through a beloved record collection, Funk Bast*rd’s Keep Hush live set with Darker Than Wax is pure curation gold. The vibe is a warm, analog-feeling space where the sound system is tuned for richness, not loudness, and every track tells a story. This is R&B, soul, and hip-hop beats at their most eclectic, averaging 126 BPM but spanning from 91 to 176 BPM. Harmonically, it’s centered on 12A, with touches of 3A and 7A for soulful warmth and complexity.
The energy balance—47% lows, 49% mids, 4% highs—creates a balanced, mid-forward sound where vocals and melodies take center stage, supported by a gentle low-end pulse. The mixing is smooth and narrative-driven, letting tracks breathe and connect emotionally. As crate diggers, Bast*rd unearths gems. Thundercat’s ‘Show You the Way’ opens with its smooth, yacht-rock homage, setting a lush tone.
Bahamadia’s ‘Uknowhowwedu’ is a hip-hop classic for the heads, while El Michels Affair’s ‘Tearz’ with Lee Fields adds live-band soul. Wayne Snow & Max Graef’s ‘Rosie’ remix and Lido Pimienta’s ‘Camellando’ bring global flavors, and AbJo’s ‘#CaixaGang’ offers Brazilian rhythm. The lengthy ‘Aburoy’ by TEK.LUN is a journey in itself, and Monica’s ‘So Gone’ closes with pure R&B nostalgia. The peak moment might be the heartfelt ‘Tearz’, but the journey is about the flow: from the opening smoothness of ‘Show You the Way’, through the soulful peak of ‘Uknowhowwedu’ or ‘Tearz’, and out on the bittersweet ‘So Gone’.