Dro Carey revives Braincamp Rec as fully-fledged label

Gadigal Land/Sydney-originating producer Dro Carey, like many other artists, is no stranger to releasing his work via Bandcamp. Unlike some others, however, for some time Carey's Bandcamp was more of a blog-like home for his early releases, such as 'Shrapnel Maestro' and 'Vital Trails', rather than his own personal account.

Overnight, the producer, real name Eugene Ward, has relaunched that Bandcamp as a fully-fledged label that will now also release work by other artists, Braincamp Rec.

The label launches officially with a single of Ward's own making, 'Stockhausen Alarm', featuring a remix by none other than DJ Plead.

With a release via Muloobinba/Newcastle-born label Steel City Dance Discs fresh in his memory, 'Stockhausen Alarm' sees Ward return to a more bleary approach to such a cross-genre experiment. Elements of acid, electro, contemporary orchestral music and disconcerting ambience meet a driving set of sleigh bells, for what is a very demanding and engaging 150BPM workout.

DJ Plead's remix, in proper form, tightens Ward's production into an equally energetic and hypnotic alternative. The artist, known far and wide for his approach to percussion, brings an element of subtlety to his remix that highlights many aspects in isolation and showcases just how much of the kitchen sink Carey threw in.

Plead and Dro have a long history together, having bonded as fellows during a very formative time for their city's bass scene, characterised by producers like Cliques, Big Ever (Cop Envy), and Cassius Select (Lavurn). On this 'relaunch' of Braincamp Rec, their enduring kinship feels like a third dimension to what is an already impressive and exciting moment.

For Carey specifically, the revival of Braincamp Rec follows eight years of exclusivity with Mushroom Group, and the conclusion of 15 years of representation by local touring and management company Astral People, the latter of which culminated in his recent playing of Astral's 14th birthday celebrations.

This new move for Carey, though he admits, comes from a merger of the Bandcamp platform's own name and his high school Tumblr, 'Brain So Soft', has a renewed meaning.

"Now I look at it through the lens of bisexual men and art, and a kind of reclaimed lameness to be honest," he shared. "This idea of a smart or nerdy camp, something overthought and how that therefore isn’t camp… Sontag defined camp as a seriousness that fails, and whereas this is like camp that fails, where you don’t have an in-group to share in the language of irony with… it’s really to support any artists like that. Outsiders where something about their taste and voice has thrown, irritated or alienated others – whether that be scenes of bros or serious experimental artists."

Braincamp's Bandcamp already features releases from a variety of Ward's aliases, with a 'pay what you want' offering across many of them, which continues to raise money for the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

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Jack Colquhoun is Mixmag ANZ's Managing Editor, find him on Instagram.