Fonia Session 35 – Funk Bast*rd (Darker Than Wax)

Earning praises from a worldwide range of selectors that include the likes of Dam-Funk, Tama Sumo, San-Soda, Mike Huckaby, Jamie XX and others … Dean aka the Funk Bast*rd – one half of the Cosa nostra duo and co-founder of Singapore-based label Darker Than Wax – has been tirelessly pushing and promoting an alternative expression of leftfield music through his widely eclectic and genre-bending sets. It’s no surprise then that he has played alongside some of the world’s finest like Kyle Hall, Lefto, Recloose, Gerd Janson, Basic Soul Unit, Linkwood, Norman Jay, Krystal Klear, Tiger and Woods, Seven David Jnr and most notably, warmed up for Four Tet and and and … His sets have also taken him around the world, playing most recently in New York, Brazil, Switzerland, Paris, London and Shanghai, just to name a few. On the festival side, Cosa Nostra was one of the few chosen outfits to have played in the Singapore edition of Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival consecutively for two years. Ventures into production with partner saxophonist / producer Kaye as Cosa Nostra have been very fruitful, with a few strong remixes for different labels under their belt. Incidentally, their remix for Kira Neris’s Judy in June on French label Faces Records has earned strong praises from selectors like Lefto and clinched the top seller’s spot on Bagpak music. Most recently, they have released their two part House ep on Darker Than Wax, which have been gaining notoriety among those in the know. The Funk Bast*rd always has something in the box that surprises. Just open those ears.