Brussels-based producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Kuna Maze delivers Backlash, a standout track from his new album Layers. Fusing jazz-funk textures with downtempo rhythms, the track captures Kuna Maze’s ongoing dialogue between classic influences and contemporary production.
Backlash opens with a rich bass element that immediately sets the tone. A laid-back drum groove follows, giving the track a smooth, rolling energy. Electric piano riffs and layered synths weave into the arrangement, adding harmonic depth and melodic warmth. The production is tight and groove-focused, with subtle shifts and details that maintain momentum throughout.
The track sits comfortably in a space between instrumental hip-hop, broken beat, and modern jazz-funk, drawing clear inspiration from the Los Angeles beat scene and artists like Kaidi Tatham and early Flying Lotus.
Originally from France and now based in Brussels, Kuna Maze (Edouard Gilbert) has roots in jazz trumpet and formal music education, having studied at the Conservatoires of Lyon and Chambéry. His music has evolved to incorporate electronic production, bass-driven textures, and live instrumentation, often guided by a jazz-informed sensibility.
With Backlash, he continues this trajectory, creating a track that’s equally suited for deep listening and movement on the dancefloor. The album Layers showcases this duality across multiple tracks, but Backlash stands out for its blend of nostalgia, clarity, and rhythmic control.
