Music Essentials: Kingdom (Fade to Mind/Night Slugs)

Heading alternative dance label Fade to Mind with equal compatibility to its brother label Night Slugs, Kingdom had done a solid job transcending UK bred sounds — garage, grime, bassline — associated to the London-based collective onto the compasses of the Los Angeles music landscape. Stretching the label to a series of club nights, cooperative music projects, visual art and apparel, Fade to Mind helms a cohort of young creatives with a keen ear for melding R&B and far-out vocals with darker musical genres like jungle and crunk. Hence, the label’s onslaught to the niche listeners of such melange of genres are always unfaltering, as each release pushes boundaries with experimental undertones, while still managing to hold close nostalgic pop elements that other indie labels have stubbornly forgone. To a certain extent, Kingdom’s work ethics is reflected in his Music Essentials. While headphones, laptop, USB drives and cables are obligatory to any contemporary DJ, Kingdom’s affinity for a fresh streetwear getup can be seen in the Nike Air Foamposite Pro and Hood By Air string bag he chooses to pair with his Fade to Mind snapback. Staying in tune with the ins and outs of contemporary pop culture, Kingdom holds a hip-hop zine close, while RAW rolling papers nod at other inspirational pastimes. Kingdom’s Vertical XL EP is now available in digital and 12” from the Fade to Mind online store.

Photo Credit: Theonepointeight