Forest Drive West

About

East Londoner Joe Baker produces atmospheric techno and jungle as Forest Drive West. His techno tracks are stripped-down and hypnotic, while his jungle is heavier and explosive, but all of his work explores complex, inventive rhythms. Much of it has appeared on <a href="spotify:artist:0UrA452V5vJpCW5ezx0YMP">Peverelist</a>'s <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Livity+Sound%22">Livity Sound</a> label, including his 2018 full-length debut, Apparitions. Joe Baker began making music around the beginning of the 2000s, when he was a teenager attending jungle clubs in Brighton. He made tracks strictly as a hobby, recording whenever he had spare time, for well over a decade. Along with Kenneth Scott, he formed the duo <a href="spotify:artist:4QSXjJ2De1EisIuT7drY2l">Moniker</a>, and the two began releasing deep tech-house tracks in 2013. However, it wasn't until 2016 that Baker became interested in releasing his music. Initially, he was going to self-release tracks on a label called Forest Drive West, but the name ended up becoming his recording moniker. He passed off some tracks to <a href="spotify:artist:0UrA452V5vJpCW5ezx0YMP">Peverelist</a>, and the 12" single "System" appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Livity+Sound%22">Livity Sound</a> shortly afterward. Rupture London began issuing Baker's jungle tracks, starting with the Jungle Crack EP, which quickly became sought-after. Two more <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Livity+Sound%22">Livity Sound</a> singles appeared in 2017, as well as "Persistence of Memory" on Hidden Hawaii. Several more short-form releases, including an additional jungle EP for Rupture (Set Free), appeared in 2018, leading up to the release of <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Livity%22">Livity</a>-issued full-length Apparitions. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi