Jam Thieves

Jam Thieves makes drum and bass with the essentials pushed firmly to the front: kick, snare and a bassline you should be able to feel in the room. The Brazilian project began as a duo and became a solo act in 2020, keeping its name and the funk running through its stripped-back productions.

The Minimal Funk Project on Playaz Recordings helped establish the sound in 2016. Later releases reached labels including Hospital Records, RAM Records and Souped Up Records, while the first solo album, Blue House Album, arrived on Dispatch Recordings in 2022.

The album began as two EPs before Ant TC1 suggested bringing them together. Collaborations with Magenta, Bennie and NC-17 joined tracks written alone, giving the record variation without losing its focus on rollers. The titles drew on films, documentaries and the world around its creator during a difficult period in Brazil.

Despite the name, Jam Thieves has nothing to do with stealing preserves. “Jam” refers to the improvisation of back-to-back DJ sessions, while the second half draws on the language and experiences of his neighbourhood. That sense of making serious music without taking every detail too seriously suits a catalogue built around rhythm, restraint and the impact of a well-finished bassline.