3 Artists from the British Label Ninja Tune

This is quite sudden, but have you heard of the record label Ninja Tune? Ninja Tune is an independent record label based in London that was founded in 1990 by Matt Black and Jonathan More of Coldcut. When they came to Japan, they saw a magazine article about ninjas and were inspired to name their label Ninja Tune. Their genre is club music, but there are many artists who have experience in a wide range of music fields. This time, I would like to introduce three groups of musicians from Ninja Tune.

1. Coldcut

“Paid In Full (Seven Minutes Of Madness - The Coldcut Remix)”

You can’t miss this duo who are also the founders of Ninja Tune. They are said to be the leading musicians in the British sampling music industry. This tune above was a huge impact that has still been talked about as the origin of the hip hop remix. At that time, the megamix that used only music source was popular, but Coldcut established a cutup (collage) method that also used talking voice and sound effects.

2. The Cinematic Orchestra

“To Build A Home”

The Cinematic Orchestra is a group of artists formed by Jason Swinscoe in 1999. As the name suggests, they create a sound like film music due to the fusion of jazz and hardcore punk elements and experimental rhythm. The tune I picked for here is the timeless masterpiece “To Build A Home”. This song features vocals and piano by Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson. It begins with looped piano chords, then the strings join in the middle to add thickness to the sound of the tune. As of 2021, this song has become so popular that it has been played more than 330 million times on Spotify.

3. Bonobo

“Black Sands”

Bonobo is a leading British electronic music producer with his style based on the UK breakbeat. His stage name Bonobo is taken from a species of chimpanzee, the bonobo. His instrumental composition and arranging abilities are amazing, and his excellent beat programming is also a must-listen. Bonobo made his worldwide break with the song “Black Sands” released in 2010, and now he is extremely popular across genres and nations.

What do you think? Before ending this article, I would like to introduce you to a nice pair of headphones that will make you want to listen to more pieces from Ninja Tune.

AIAIAI / TMA-2 Ninja Tune Edition Wireless Headphones

The TMA-2 Ninja Tune Edition wireless headphones are a dream collaboration between the brand AIAIAI, who specializes in the development of high-quality headphones, and the popular London based record label Ninja Tune! The speaker unit, ear pads, cable, and bag are all customized to Ninja Tune’s specifications so hip headphones will definitely be a fan favorite!
The speaker unit, which is made from materials from recycled vinyls, is not only eco-friendly, but also has a luxurious look. It is also nice that it produces a clear sound. I thought it would be a hassle because the wireless headphones have to be charged, but that’s definitely not the case for this Ninja Tune Edition because it runs continuously for up to 20 hours! Even when you go out all day, you can enjoy listening to music until well into the night. Two types of ear pads are included, so it’s nice to change them according to your mood and taste. Since the TMA-2 are modular headphones, these allow you to replace the parts, so you can use them for a long time. Another appealing point is the fact that these are also SDGs conscious.