Phunckateck Communications

Founded in 1996 by San Francisco natives UFO! (Edwin Garro) and Noel Stiers, Phunckateck Communications (Phunckateck for short) is a collective of Drum and Bass producers and DJs, most of which reside in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas of California, although a few other members exist elsewhere. Since its inception, the collective has grown to include more than 20 associates across the United States and abroad.
In mid 2000, a Phunckateck Communications Tour was organized by Neil Shield (formerly of Universal Music Group) to promote the music being created and the DJs/producers responsible. Over the next year the tour touched down in major cities throughout the U.S. and featured various members of the collective.
In the 2001 documentary film [http://concentricbeats.com/thesis.php "Concentric Beats: U.S. Jungle/Drum’n’Bass Culture, 1994-2001"], Phunckateck Communications was highlighted and many of its members were featured in live interviews.
Significance and Influence
While members of Phuncketeck are still active today, the groups heyday was around the turn of the century circa 1997-2001. The sound the Phunckateck crew created was significantly different from the sound of English producers in the genre: the San Francisco influence brought a much grittier but warmer vibe to the music. When the earliest members first got involved with the genre, Jungle and Drum and Bass was virtually unheard of in the US.

"When I started playing d&b in 1994 San Francisco did not have a scene at all," claims Juju. "There were just a handful of people who were responsible for getting the scene started..."

"...there were hardly any domestic labels doing it and it didn't seem like anyone was really interested." E-Sassin - URB Magazine "B-Sides", June 1999 by Zeke Margolis

Together the crew followed a cohesive vision to change the face of the San Francisco (and American) dance music scene. An article of the SF scene and Phunckteck themselves in a 2004 issue of the UK Drum and Bass magazine Knowledge Magazine () elaborated.

Created by UFO!, Noel and Abstract but gradually growing to incorporate local luminaries like Juju, Jason Mouse, Sage, Echo, E-Sassin, Subcode and Hive, Phunckateck was a collective, a sound system, a force to be reckoned with. The crew established a club night , which is now fondly remembered as one of the highlights of the local scene.

Their presence in the genre has helped shape American producers and DJs into a reputable locale for producers.

"When it comes to drum n' bass, the U.S. has traditionally followed in the footsteps of the U.K.," says Juju of Phunckateck. "We're still greatly influenced by the drum n' bass coming out of the U.K., but there is a core of U.S. producers that has upped its production standards to such a level that there can no longer be this us-versus-them static." Billboard Magazine "West Coast Spin", July 22, 2000 by Amanda Nowinski
"I'm more interested in the U.S. developing its own steps to a new style." UFO! - The Stranger "The Electronic Beat", January 23, 2003 by Nicolae White
"We're doing more edgy, aggressive sounds, as opposed to what's being made on the East Coast." E-Sassin - Billboard Magazine "West Coast Spin", July 22, 2000 by Amanda Nowinski
"Phunckateck was extremely inspirational to American drum & bass due to its boundary pushing production and DJing..." - DJ Hive

Members
Original Members:
UFO! (Edwin Garro)
Noel Stiers
Early Members:
DJ Abstract (Alex Posell)
Juju (Neil Zarama)
Mehdi
Jason Mouse
Sage (Laura Totten)
Echo (Chris Stanley)
E-Sassin (Eric Hull)
SubCode (Mike Jett)
Pieter K
Later Members:
Calibre (Ireland)
Hive (Michael Petrie)
Teebee (Norway) At one time rumored, although the track Teebee vs. Phunckateck - Eklectikon implies he was just a good friend
John Tejada
Important Events
*Eklektic (SF)
*Phuturo (formerly Phuncktion) @ The Top, SF
*Konkrete Jungle @ Spaceland, LA
Affiliated/Associated Record Labels
*Green Label
*Phunckateck Communcations
*Phunckateck Recordings
*Phuturo
*Phylum Recordings
*Pneuma Recordings
*Sound Sphere
*Thermal Recordings
*Violence Recordings
*Vortex
Releases (as a collective)
<u>Phunckateck Communications Label</u>
PTC-1600 UFO! / Echo - "Release The Techno / All Together" (12")
PTC-1601 Chimera (2) / E-Sassin - "Neolights / Nightstalker" (12")
PTC-1602 Pieter K / DJ Abstract & Juju - "Traffic / Resist" (12")
PTC-1603 2 Cities - "Tech Has Taken Over Me / City Mission" (12")
PTC-1604 Sekret Agents / Jason Mouse - "The Verse / Talk" (12")

<u>Other Appearances</u>
Dieselboy - "The Descent" (Phunckateck VIP) Appearing on Dieselboy's mix CD "The 6ixth Session", this track was produced by E-Sassin and UFO!
Teebee vs. Phunckateck - "Eclectikon" This collaboration between the Norwegian DJ/Producer and members of Phunckateck was slated for release on but for reasons unknown it was never released.
See also
Phylum Recordings
Violence Recordings
Phunckateck on Discogs
Phunckateck Communications Discography

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