Gramatik
United States
Gramatik: The Funky Architect of Electro-Soul
Gramatik is a Slovenian-born electronic music producer and DJ known for his genre-blending style of instrumental hip-hop, electro-soul, and glitch-hop. Hailing from Portorož, he built a massive following through digital platforms and his innovative approach to independent music distribution, culminating in his album Epigram reaching #1 on the Billboard Electronic Albums chart.
Early career
Denis Jašarević, born in 1986, began his musical journey in Slovenia, heavily influenced by hip-hop, funk, and jazz. He started producing beats in his teens and gained early online attention with his Beatport Playground series, which led to his signing with the San Francisco-based label Pretty Lights Music in 2011.
Breakthrough
Gramatik's breakthrough into the mainstream electronic scene accelerated with the 2012 release of #digitalfreedom, a pivotal free download album that embodied his philosophy of open-access music. This era solidified his signature sound and paved the way for his 2014 album The Age of Reason, which debuted at #3 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart and cemented his status as a leading independent force.
Key tracks
Hit That Jive — This early instrumental track from his Street Bangerz Volume 2 mixtape became a fan favorite for its slick fusion of sampled funk and boom-bap beats.
Just Jammin' — A standout from The Age of Reason, this collaboration with Exmag showcased his perfected blend of live instrumentation and electronic production.
Muy Tranquilo — This Grammy-nominated track, a collaboration with Gibbz, highlighted his ability to craft catchy, vocal-driven electro-soul anthems.
Torture — Featuring Eric Krasno, this song from the Epigram album exemplifies his later work's grittier, guitar-driven funk and blues influences.
In 2015, Gramatik took full control of his career by founding his own label, Lowtemp. This move allowed him to directly release his music and cultivate a roster of like-minded artists. His subsequent albums, including Epigram in 2016 and Re:Coil Part II in 2019, continued to explore and expand his electro-soul blueprint, incorporating more live elements and collaborative efforts.
His collaborations are a testament to his versatile style, having worked with artists across genres, from hip-hop legend Talib Kweli on We Used to Dream to funk icon Bootsy Collins. Gramatik's consistent touring and festival appearances, along with his music's prolific use in media and video games, have maintained his prominent position in the electronic music landscape without major label backing.
Fans of Gramatik's fusion of live instrumentation and electronic beats also enjoy the works of Pretty Lights, the pioneer of the "electro-soul" movement who founded Gramatik's first major label. Griz shares a similar ethos of saxophone-driven funk and electronic fusion, often collaborating within the same circuit. The glitchy, sample-based productions of The Geek x Vrv offer a comparable style of textured instrumental hip-hop. For another European perspective on electronic funk, explore Parov Stelar, the Austrian producer known for pioneering electro-swing.Gramatik's dynamic catalog is a staple on electronic and independent music radio stations worldwide. His tracks, from early beat tapes to his latest funk explorations, receive regular airplay on dedicated electronic channels, online radio streams focusing on instrumental hip-hop, and FM stations with forward-thinking dance music programming.
You can hear the innovative sounds of Gramatik on various radio stations featured here on onairium.com. Tune in to discover his genre-defying discography and experience the funky, soulful beats that have made him a standout figure in modern electronic music.
