The Manchester Sound: Chunky
As the new decade progresses, recent change in Manchester, its nightlife and music scene has become more noticeable. The skyline has changed, fashion has changed (mainly for the better), and musical influences have changed. There are new names, new faces, and new spaces. We’ve seen the end of iconic club nights and the emergence of exciting new projects. However, one Manchester music man who has been as consistent as the change itself is Chunky.
An MC, DJ and Producer, Chunky lives music. Growing up in South Manchester, he was involved in several youth projects and sharpened his skills in Grime sets and Rap cyphers before entering the rave and taking up hosting duties. I first saw Chunky perform as the energetic frontman for the 10-piece brass band RIOT JAZZ. Check out this 2015 performance of ‘Dem a Sus’, a homage to Manchester 80’s reggae band Harlem Spirit and dedicated to the people of Moss Side.
Dem A Sus – Riot Jazz Brass Band
Since then, I’ve caught Chunky at almost every event in the city. If it’s music, he’s involved. From hosting Manchester’s leading HIT&RUN bass music events and the much-missed HOYA: HOYA club nights to pushing Manchester Music with his show ‘Manny Flavahs’ on Bloc2Bloc Radio and, more recently, contributing to the growing Manchester Afrobeats and Amapiano scene.
Swamp 81 Records
Looking outside of the city, Chunky made connections and friendships with Loefah’s SWAMP81 crew, a forward-thinking, bass-heavy label experimenting with the underground sound of the capital, in the early 2010s. A long-term collaboration, Chunky performed sets across Europe, hosted shows on RINSE FM, released The Chunky EP (2012) and delivered some of the best club nights at venues such as Manchester’s Mint Lounge and London’s FABRICLIVE, with Swamp 81.
Other Chunky releases on Swamp 81 include Oun_C, Tolk to Meh, Threats EP, and 2020’s Novella EP featuring Manchester legend Trigga. As well as hosting the label’s events and producing music for the rave, Chunky has laced a couple of his productions with his signature wit and innovative form. Check out the video to Vibesman below (you might spot a couple of familiar faces).
Vibesman – Chunky
LEVELZ
Around 2013, LEVELZ emerged, consisting of 14 MCs, DJs and Producers from Estate Recordings and DJ Rich Reason’s Hit&Run family, including Skittles, Metrodome, Black Josh, Truthos Mufasa, MC Fox and Chimpo. As part of the Manchester super-collective, Chunky and the crew combined all elements of Manchester music, taking influence from Hip Hop, Grime, Garage and Drum&Bass to create some of the most exciting music to come out of the city (as well as the best parties). Check out Chunky’s reload-worthy verse on Front Face, filmed at their sold-out boat party and sets at Outlook Festival, Croatia, 2017.
Front Face (LVL 36) – LEVELZ
Manchester Music & Beyond
Other notable collaborations include tracks with Red Eye HiFi, Chimpo, Zed Bias and Werkha. Years spent hosting raves means Chunky brings a sense of effortless energy to any tune, whether it’s a sound system banger like Weak Bones with Red Eye HiFi or an anthemic vocal on a hard D&B tune like We Push On with Dub Phizix. Another personal favourite is Studio Floors produced by Kwes Darko – ‘proper dons, not a one pansy’.
Weak Bones – Red Eye Hifi ft Chunky
We Push On – Dub Phizix & Chunky
Studio Floors – Chunky (prod. Kwes Darko)
As well as pushing his own vision across postcodes and borders, it also has to be said that Chunky is one of the most supportive artists in the city. As mentioned earlier, his Manny Flavahs show on Bloc2Bloc solely pushed Manchester Music, playing everybody from Greater Manchester regardless of collective, label, genre or any other identifier. In a Manny Flavahs set, you may hear a Strategy tune, a Fumez tune, a Rago Loco tune, tracks from Zed Bias, Robin Knightz, Sparkz, EvaBee or anyone else making music that’s true to them. Chunky is also rarely in a T-shirt that isn’t a friend’s design, a local label or a fellow artist’s merchandise.
When it comes to Chunky’s output, the levels continue to rise. Gotta Be with Indian producer SickFlip pushes the boundaries of lyricism, rhythm and flow as does Meh. GNG (Guts & Grets) on TLD Records further explore these sounds and themes, drawing from lived experience, community, current influences, and a unification of African music with Black British sound system culture.
Gotta Be – SickFlip & Chunky
MEH – Chunky
GNG (Guts N Grets) – Chunky
Experimenting with poetic devices, delivery, sound and vibe, Chunky’s creativity spans across genres and demands more from the listener. He’s demanding more from the wider arts scene too, applying his people power philosophy to all he does. Examples of this include work with ThirtyPoundGentleman (a Manchester-based creative company ran by Danny ‘Falz’ Fahey’) with Chunx’s Pre N Tea event in the UK and Greece, combining a listening party with a set menu, Chunky has also orchestrated a text scavenger hunt, pop-up events in the Northern Quarter and other out-the-box projects.
A Multi-Disciplinary Artist
The Mancunians unique approach and willingness to explore other art forms has also continued to bloom. In recent years, Chunky has pushed the limits in his music videos, collaborated with 20 Stories High theatre company, modelled for SPORTSBANGER, explored visual art with the legendary Benji Reid, and appeared in the sitcom Alma’s Not Normal.
Anyone at this year’s Manchester Caribbean Carnival at Alexandra Park will have likely seen Chunky hosting at the Chimpo & Bloc2Bloc Stage, urging the crowd to come forward and take space, shouting ‘this is for you!’ The same attitude can apply to the Manchester music and creative scene as a whole and we’re very lucky to have an artist like Chunky at the forefront of that. So, take space, make noise, and do something different.
I’ll leave you with the Size? Sessions: Chunky Video Stream.
Size? Sessions X Rinse FM – Chunky
Cop Chunky’s Most Recent Single GNG (Guts N Grets)
For more Manchester Music check out the Still MCR Spotify Playlist.