Krust

Regarded as one of jungle’s original pioneers, Kirk Thompson (aka DJ Krust) needed an escape from the pressures of fame following the success of his second album Hidden Knowledge (2006). Following a period of self-analysis, the once member of Mercury Prize-winning Reprazent turned his back on music to focus on developing the creative minds consultancy Disruptive Patterns.

Thompson wouldn’t dip his toe in musical waters again until 2017, relaunching his Full Cycle label and collaborating with Bristol-based DnB producer Om Unit for the single Constructive Ambiguity. However, it was only after being commissioned to work on a library sampler that the producer’s creativity was fully re-energised. Rebranded as ‘Krust’, Thompson’s new album The Edge of Everything takes jungle into an entirely new dimension.

What had you been up to between the release of Hidden Knowledge and your new album The Edge of Everything?

“After it was a very stressful period in my life. I’ve been living as Krust since the age of 14, invented this guy and it served me well. The whole idea of being a creator, artist, DJ, and then a producer, unwound naturally, so when I got to 37 it was like, OK, what now? I didn’t even know who I was to be honest. Everyone talks about having a breakdown or mid-life crisis, but for me it was more of a breakthrough. Krust was my protection – the mask I wore to hide Kirk Thompson from the world. I ran with that for 17 years but.”