From pioneering the early Jungle scene with Ruffneck Ting to shaping the sound of Kosheen, Markee Ledge has always been at the forefront of UK bass culture. Now, with his latest solo release Equinox IX: Mind, he opens a powerful new chapter grounded in Roots Jungle and spiritual intent. We caught up with Markee to explore how Peace, Love & Unity sets the tone for a deeper journey, one that ties the cycles of music, nature, and consciousness together in bold, elemental sound.
Markee Ledge – Peace, Love and Unity is the call. It’s what we strive for, and when we keep these in mind, it can guide us in our choices. It’s the start of the Mind journey.
Markee Ledge – The release timing is deeply symbolic. The Equinox marks balance, day and night in harmony, reflecting the Mind EP’s themes of transition and awareness. Earth Day, when the EP drops, our connection to the earth and its natural cycles that we’ve lost touch with.The music goes beyond the beat, touching on the mystical force of nature. We are bound to the seasons; the earth is our mother. These are rooted in human culture but have been overshadowed by money becoming the shining object in everyone’s vision. We no longer see food, clothes, or objects in their essence, just their price tags. This obsession with money is strange because money isn’t even a real thing. People talk about how much they want to earn, but I always wonder, doing what? It’s shifted our outlook, chasing an illusion instead of what truly matters.
This project cuts through the noise, getting back to the core and staying grounded in music and mindset. It’s about balance, resilience, and keeping it real. Tracks like Tribal Flow bring it home with deep Roots Jungle vibes, closing the EP on a strong, grounded note.
Linking release cycles to earth cycles feels right. Each season begins with a promise—the blooming of flowers, warm sunshine (except in the UK), and time of plenty at harvest. We may have lost some connection to these cycles, but they still shape us. The Mind EP itself is a cycle, a story that cycles.
T.H.E – You describe your style as ‘Roots Jungle’. Can you break that down, how does it connect past and future sounds?
Markee Ledge – Jungle is uniquely British music, a unique blend of elements and genres. It’s like a magpie, it takes from anywhere the best elements and creates something new. But Jungle also has a simplicity and elemental force – again, earth elements. So I’ve started using a lot of real samples, native drums from around the world, combining them with breaks. I like the sound and feel of a kind of Afro Jungle. ‘Roots’ refers to returning to a more simplified, elemental Jungle sound, but using the incredible production capabilities we have now. Music production has developed a lot in 20-30 years, but a simple rolling break and an 808 kick drum can still move the dance. This is a stripped-back Jungle with a raw spiritual energy. It’s got those 808 basslines and breakbeats at the core, but it’s also layered with emotion and intent. It still nods to the darker atmospheres of Decoder & Substance and the songwriting of Kosheen, but this is more elemental. More meditative.
The Mind EP is about clarity, and the sound reflects that. No unnecessary noise. Just the essentials, delivered with purpose. It’s not retro for the sake of nostalgia, it’s a new blend. It’s a reflection of where I am now and what I feel needs to be said.
T.H.E – Megatron MC delivers a powerful vocal performance on the single. Why was he the right voice for this message?
Markee Ledge – Megatron and I go way back – all the way into the roots of Jungle, Jungle Techno, and Hardcore. We’ve shared the same musical foundations, so there’s a deep mutual understanding. When I told him I wanted to do a track called ‘Peace, Love and Unity’ for the Mind Body and Soul project, he just got it – and came through with a verse that ran perfectly with the theme.
His skills on the mic are next level. He’s a true Bristol veteran, sharpened through years in the scene, and he brings that energy, clarity, and lyrical power that only comes from real experience. I always knew I wanted to work with an MC on the Markee Ledge project, and Megatron was the natural choice. I’ve also worked previously with MC Jakes – and if the stars align, maybe we’ll see them both on a track someday!
T.H.E – What themes and ideas run through the Mind EP as a whole?
Markee Ledge – The main themes are about your state of mind, as it suggests, how you approach life and the cycles of thought you go through. Like a lot of people, I tend to overthink things. There’s a creative process you go through as an artist: you start with a fresh optimistic outlook, step out into the world with your hopes and dreams, only to get slapped back down or face an obstacle. We get in a ‘Fight For Life,’ but overcoming these shows you that your path is the only way. The obstacle becomes the way. You have to break down perceived notions and reshape them, because it is really your own outlook that determines your future.
The track “Turmoil” shows this as a sort of breakdown, but it is grounding, you’re getting closer to the real you. It’s a breakthrough, you learn and move on. The fourth track, “Tribal Flow,” takes you back to a more balanced equanimity, ready for your next creative loop.
T.H.E – How does this EP fit within the broader Mind, Body & Soul trilogy conceptually and musically?
Markee Ledge – The Mind EP is the first and sets the tone and format. Each EP will have four tracks exploring the themes. Mind is first because everything comes from the mind engine – our thoughts, desires, and resolution. We do a lot of mental gymnastics, a lot of us. The stoic way is to become more balanced and self-aware, so no one can upset your peace.
T.H.E – Jungle and Drum & Bass have deep social and cultural roots. How are you using your platform to continue that legacy?
Markee Ledge – Yes indeed, Jungle has a great musical legacy. Creating Ruffneck Ting in the 90s and Kosheen in the 00s – this is my next chapter, and I’m being clearer about the aspirations of the Junglist lifestyle. I want to spread the values of unity, culturalism, humanity, music and the universal language of dance.
T.H.E – What role do you think conscious lyrics play in today’s electronic music scene?
Markee Ledge – I can’t really speak for others, but to me, music has a unique place in spreading any message. Song has been used for thousands of years to pass down knowledge and culture – the songlines of Australia, the Apache ‘death song.’ There’s something about the frequency of the voice carrying the message that gives it more weight.
T.H.E – As someone deeply rooted in Bristol’s music history, how has your environment shaped this new direction?
Markee Ledge – I think living in any city shapes your outlook, concrete jungle, traffic jams, malls, we’re living in an unreal world. But when the bass hits, you feel no pain.
T.H.E – What do you hope listeners walk away with after experiencing Equinox IX: Mind?
Markee Ledge – I want people to enjoy the grooves, have a think, and make their own moves. We only have our own actions that can change things, we always have that. There’s so much we can do, but it’s what we actually do that counts. Knowledge and skills are easier to acquire now with the Information Age we live in. We have more sophisticated tools, but we still have the same pair of hands.
