After dedicating the last few years to their 4/4 alias Black Noise, collaborating with labels such as Southern Fried and Wearhouse Music, Aquasky is returning to their foundational roots. Their history traces back to the nascent days of the Acid House era, and their career has evolved alongside this scene, encompassing acid, jungle, drum and bass, breakbeat, and various forms of bass music. The trio is re-engaging with the passions that have long united them.
It has been 18 years since the Bournemouth trio—Brent Newitt, Dave Wallace, and Kieron Bailey—released their debut on the esteemed Moving Shadow label. Over the years, Aquasky has made significant contributions to the drum and bass genre, recording for prominent labels such as Reinforced, Good Looking, Hospital, and R&S. Their liquid vibes received support from influential figures like Fabio and LTJ Bukem, leading to a contract with major label Polydor, which produced their album ‘Orange Dust’ in 1997. A few years later, they returned to Moving Shadow, releasing a series of 12” singles as well as two albums, ‘Bodyshock’ in 1999 and ‘Aftershock’ in 2000.
In 2001, the group ventured into a different genre with their disco/Latin house album ‘TwentyTwelve’ under the alias Tenth and Parker, released through Mr. Bongo/Disorient. This album featured guest artists from various decades and an array of remixes, including contributions from King Britt.
As the millennium progressed, Aquasky's musical focus shifted from drum and bass to the emerging Nuskool Breaks scene. However, the trio found this sound too subdued for their tastes and, from 1999 to 2001, rebranded their style into a more energetic bass-heavy sound, which DJ Mag recognized in 2002 as ‘Bassline Breaks.’ This sub-genre gained traction, attracting numerous producers and allowing the trio to tour extensively, showcasing their latest musical creations.
The apex of this period was marked by the release of ‘Teamplayers’ in 2006, an album featuring collaborations with 30 different artists, resulting in one of the most memorable breakbeat albums of recent years.
Between 2007 and 2008, influenced by the cut-up house scene, Aquasky developed a sound that merged their breakbeat roots with 4/4 rhythms. This exploration led to the creation of their alias, Black Noise, under which they signed with Fatboy Slim's Southern Fried Records and remixed tracks for artists such as Crookers, Wiley, Diplo, Sidney Samson, Don Diablo, and Engine Earz.
In 2010, Aquasky marked their 15th anniversary as a production and DJ collective, choosing to revisit their energetic roots with a mix of breakbeat, drum and bass, and other styles that resonate with ravers. This celebration of rave culture culminated in the release of their seventh artist album, ‘Raise the Devil’ in November 2011. This album featured collaborations with The Ragga Twins, Tenor Fly, Daddy Freddy, Acafool, Deja, Bex Riley, Rosin Brophy, and Diane Charlamagne, as well as sessions with breakbeat legends PYRAMID and The Engine Earz Experiment.
In early 2012, Aquasky continued the momentum established by ‘Raise the Devil,’ releasing exclusive remix packages in Australia through Kid Kenobi's Klub Kids label, with the first single, “You Take Me There,” reaching the Top 10 of the ARIA charts. They also worked on remixes with the Russian production duo The DamnBell Doors and HeavyFeet.
Adding to their extensive portfolio, Aquasky founded Passenger Records in 1997 to facilitate the release of their music. Over the years, the label has expanded significantly, featuring a diverse range of artists and becoming particularly recognized for its contributions to the Breakbeat scene, including the genre ‘Bassline Breaks,’ which the trio helped create while recording for Botchit & Scarper in 2000.
Recently, Aquasky has invested considerable effort into their sample label, in collaboration with Loopmasters, a leading provider of sample content. Now in its second year, “Monster Sounds” has established a strong presence, delivering high-quality sample packs aimed at producers across various genres.
In addition to their work with Loopmasters, the trio operates a successful publishing company under the Bucks Music Group called Skyhigh Music. This venture promotes and licenses their music and the work of other artists aligned with the Skyhigh brand, focusing on placements in film, television, and video games, achieving success in these areas. Skyhigh Music is also connected with Pusher Music and Hit The Ground Running in Los Angeles.
As of 2014, Aquasky continues to record, remix, and manage their diverse musical ventures while performing globally as DJs. What began as a weekend project in a bedroom has evolved into a 20-year career, with no signs of slowing down.
