On SUN, his most ambitious and musically open armed project to date, the producer and multi-instrumentalist Crackazat steps fully into the breadth of his artistry.
Moving fluidly between jazz, house, soul, funk and hiphop, the album captures a creator embracing freedom, collaboration and live musicianship after a decade of working largely alone. Rooted in warmth, optimism and a deep love for groove, SUN reflects both his personal evolution and a belief that real instruments, bands and dance culture belong side by side. Across its expansive arrangements and spirited performances, the record stands as a radiant statement of identity, and a celebration of the many musical worlds that shaped him.
What immediately stands out about SUN is just how natural everything feels. Rather than sounding like a producer trying to force genres together, the album unfolds with the confidence of somebody finally allowing every side of their musical personality to coexist in one space. Jazz-funk, soulful house, broken beat, live soul and hip-hop influences all drift through the record organically, creating an album that feels warm, human and genuinely alive.
There’s an undeniable musicality running throughout the project that separates it from many modern electronic albums. Live horns, percussion, bass, keys and vocals breathe through the arrangements while the grooves remain rooted firmly in dance culture. Even at its most expansive, SUN never loses sight of rhythm and movement.
Photo: Mikael Sjöberg
Tracks like Grey shimmer with polished Brit-funk influences and glowing jazz arrangements, while Crouching Tiger featuring Lyric Jones leans into soulful hip-hop territory with loose live grooves and flowing instrumentation. Set My Sun featuring Eva Lazarus delivers another standout moment, balancing uplifting songwriting with rich live musicianship and warm rhythmic foundations.
Elsewhere, Shine bursts with vibrant horn lines and infectious energy, while Who’s Boss channels smoky jazz-funk textures through rolling percussion, fluid sax work and deep musical layering. Pick Me Up feels tailor made for open-air summer sessions, blending elegant horns and soulful groove into one of the album’s breeziest moments.
What really elevates SUN though is its emotional warmth. There’s optimism throughout the record without it ever sounding forced or overly polished. It feels like music made by somebody reconnecting with the joy of collaboration, live performance and musical freedom.
That spirit comes through strongly in Crackazat’s own words during our interview.
“SUN represents me granting my own wish, musical freedom to progress the different elements of my artistry.”
And that freedom is exactly what gives the album its identity.
While previous Crackazat projects often balanced club functionality with soulful depth, SUN pushes much further into fully realised songwriting and musicianship. The collaborations with vocalists and players from different backgrounds add another layer entirely, helping the album feel expansive without losing coherence.
There are obvious nods to Brit-funk and jazz-fusion legends throughout, but the record never becomes trapped in nostalgia. Instead, SUN feels contemporary while still honouring the musical traditions that shaped it.
Perhaps the most important takeaway from the album arrives in Crackazat’s own philosophy about groove and musicianship:
“What I’m saying through SUN, is that real instruments and bands do belong in the dance and club space. Dance bands belong right next to electronic producers and DJs. I want a club where musicians and DJs meet and are united. I want a record like that too. SUN is that record.”
And honestly, that sums the album up perfectly.
SUN feels less like a collection of tracks and more like a complete musical statement. Warm, vibrant, deeply crafted and full of personality, it’s easily Crackazat’s most fully realised body of work to date, an album that values groove, soul and musicianship equally while reminding listeners how uplifting dance music can still be when it’s played from the heart.
Read our full interview with Crackazat below…
SUN feels like your most musically expansive album yet, moving between jazz, house, soul, funk and hip-hop very naturally. Did this record come together intentionally that way, or was it more a reflection of everything you’ve absorbed over the years?
SUN happened naturally. There are many sides to me as an artist, from house music producer, jazz musician, and so much more. SUN represents me granting my own wish, musical freedom to progress the different elements of my artistry.
The album carries a strong live feel throughout, especially with the horns, percussion and extended arrangements. Was there a conscious decision to move away from more club-focused structures and lean further into musicianship this time around?
It definitely was. As a musician I love interacting with other musicians. For over 10 years I’ve been focused solo. The most important first step of SUN was to find musicians that shared the same approach to live music as I had inside. It’s one of the most special things in this album.
You mention Brit-funk as a big influence on SUN. Were there particular records, artists or eras you kept returning to whilst making the album?
Jamiroquai, Jamiroquai & also Jamiroquai. And also don’t forget Jamiroquai. I still can’t believe that Jamiroquai even happened.
This is your first fully collaborative album. Did bringing in vocalists and musicians from different places change the way you approached songwriting and production?
Definitely. Having additional input and perspective always affects the results – and for SUN it’s added a new dimension to my music. I wrote the album draft, and then worked with the musicians on it, who became part of the album’s sonic foundation. For the vocalists, the songwriting was a mix of my own and the collaborators – this was such an enjoyable process for me, playing around with what my tracks could be through this new layer.
There’s a warmth and optimism running through the album that feels quite deliberate. In a music landscape that often leans towards darker moods, was SUN intended as a more uplifting statement?
Thank you. For my ears, it’s both peaceful and spiritual to listen to. This is perhaps due to where I’m at now – personally and artistically, as I write from the heart. The concept of SUN is all about warmth, so if I can bring optimism to current times, I’m nothing but honoured.
If you had to pick one record that shaped your musical identity more than any other, what would it be and why?
Jamiroquai – Travelling Without Moving. It is every young person’s dream to find themselves in an album and this was mine. To me it’s a perfect band, perfect songwriting & arranging and production. A perfect moment in musical history.
Your music often sits comfortably between dancefloor functionality and proper listening music. Do you think modern electronic music sometimes loses something when groove becomes more important than musicality?
To me – if it’s got groove, it’s musical. Groove is a rhythmical and frequential blueprint that is both unique and beautiful. Most dance music has this and that’s why I enjoy it even if there are no real (and by real I mean physical) instruments playing in its creation. If there’s no groove, then to me it’s just a beat.
What I’m saying through SUN, is that real instruments and bands do belong in the dance and club space. Dance bands belong right next to electronic producers and DJs. I want a club where musicians and DJs meet and are united. I want a record like that too. SUN is that record.
‘Sun’ is out now on Freerange Records, get it here.
