Buku stopped by to chat about New Year’s resolutions and his upcoming tour dates while giving insight into the ideation of his latest EP, The Unraveled Essence.
Pittsburgh native Buku has been serving up bass-heavy bangers since his debut in 2013. Collaborating with everyone from space bass producer LSDREAM to Wreckno, SoDown, and Defunk, the innovative artist has amassed millions of streams while receiving support from some of the largest players in the scene. He has continuously pushed boundaries by creating masterful soundscapes with a heavy emphasis on percussion, as his passion for sound design is evident through each release.
With over a decade of tunes under his belt, Buku has put forth his new body of work, The Unraveled Essence. His first release with Of The Trees‘ Memory Palace label, the six-track EP reflects his personal and musical past, present, and future.
As we caught up with Buku, we had a chance to delve into The Unraveled Essence and what’s to come in 2025. Listen to his new EP on Spotify for an otherworldly listening experience, and keep reading for an exclusive look into the mind of this electronic visionary.
Stream Buku – The Unraveled Essence on Spotify
Hey Buku! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. Your breakout song “Front to Back” from 2016 played a key role in your initial success. In what ways have you grown as an artist since the iconic release?
Yo! Thanks for having me. 2016 sounds like it was a LIFETIME ago at this point, my goodness! So much has changed since then. As an artist, I think I’ve grown so much. I think the eternal artist struggle is learning to follow your artist intuition while being able to detach yourself from the art for the sake of objectivity in judgment. I’ve made huge strides towards this since then – making better decisions with the technical and creative aspects. Ultimately working towards better art.
The Unraveled Essence EP will be your first release with Of The Tree’s label, Memory Palace. How did the collaboration between you come about?
Tyler (Of The Trees) was one of my initial friends within the music industry. We’ve known each other for a LONG time now, and we’ve been through the gauntlet together in that time. Throughout our friendship, music has obviously been the centerpiece between us. As I was putting together this catalog of music, I knew there were some bits & pieces that he would enjoy, so I would send them through on occasion. The first of which was the EP’s closing track “The First.” He absolutely loved it and told me that Memory Palace could be its/my home if I wanted. From there, I continued working on a body of work for an EP, and here we are today.
Your latest body of work features six distinct tracks. How did you maintain a cohesive sound while also showcasing your stylistic range?
Stylistic cohesion is such a mysterious thing. It’s not necessarily something that I do intentionally. However, there are definitely reasons that I can pinpoint, and mostly, it just comes down to method and approach. I have particular sensibilities when it comes to the technical aspect and mixdowns so sonically, it’ll feel familiar within a body of work. Then, I also have similar sensibilities and approaches to songwriting, so the sequencing/patterns will also feel familiar. I have a pretty wide range of musical influences, and I also have a long history of writing music. Thankfully, the two come together into something that sounds and feels like me!
The bass-driven trap banger “TWM” has appeared in performances from numerous peers, including Levity and Tape B. What made you decide for this specific track to be released as the lead single?
It honestly just seemed like the obvious choice! Another part of that decision was Tyler (Of The Trees) playing it at Red Rocks. Originally, that track actually wasn’t on the EP at all! I sent that track around to a bunch of my friends, and it started getting a bunch of spins. Then Tyler played it, and it was one of those “Oh, this HAS to go on the EP” decisions.
On “Time,” you had the opportunity to work with singer-songwriter Jessy Covets. What does your creative process look like when working with a vocalist versus working solo?
It’s definitely a different workflow than solo work, but I absolutely love it. Music production is the business of nitpicking insanely small details within your tracks, but bringing in someone else drastically changes your perspective. It allows me to zoom out and better understand the track as a whole. On another note, I really love working with a vocalist who can take the reigns with melody and song structure, which Jessy does SO well. Writing an instrumental can already be creatively depleting, and having a fresh set of ears and brain is so valuable.
The culminating track, entitled “The First,” rises and falls in intensity, creating tension and contrast throughout its five-minute runtime. How does your degree in music technology influence your creative process when producing captivating soundscapes?
The most valuable part of my education is my formal training in music theory. Pretty much all of my sound design was self-taught, but everything always ties back to a firm understanding of music theory. The tension described comes from the contrasts in dynamics throughout the piece. Knowing when/how to build energy and, most importantly, when to back off.
You’ve recently announced your winter/spring tour dates. Which venue or show are you most excited about, and why?
There are quite a few that I’m particularly excited about! If I had to pick one, I think I’d have to go with Columbus at Otherworld. It’s a venue that I’ve been dying to see for years now, and I’m so stoked to finally get in there.
Finally, as we are on the precipice of 2025, what is your New Year’s resolution?
I absolutely CRUSHED my New Year’s resolution for 2024, so I’m gonna keep it funky and consistent for 2025. I’m going to continue my ongoing mission of cutting alcohol out of my life (except for the special occasion). Having a sober approach to 2024 was one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, and the benefits have been huge. My personal, business, physical, and mental well-being has never been better, and I plan on continuing and collecting my roses.
