5 Years of NOLADNB: How Jungle Punch Became A Cornerstone of New Orleans’ Drum & Bass Underground

NOLA EDM:For people discovering NOLADNB for the first time, how did this journey begin? 

NOLADNB: NOLADNB is a collective of artists and DJs who are dedicated to pushing drum and bass and jungle music. And not just pushing it out wider to new audiences, but also pushing it forward while continuing to uphold the roots and values of the genre. We like to think of ourselves as the rock or cornerstone of the scene. We’ve been around a long time now, and while fads and trends come and go you can always count on us for the jungle and dnb. There are very few single genre crews still kicking- techno club was one of the last ones (much love to those guys!). We do one thing and we do it well, and we try to make sure to keep the culture alive and bring it to new faces. 

Jungle Punch started back in 2021 at Portside Lounge. Coastill had moved into a house on the block right before COVID and became friends with the owner, Danny. As luck would have it, the owner was a long time friend of Glassy Eye from back in his band days! We started hanging there a lot and when COVID hit we tried to support Danny and the bar how we could. Post-vaccine, the city started allowing restaurants to be at 25% capacity and that kind of thing. So partially to help Danny and partially to just get some dnb going again, we hosted a private party at Portside limited to 25 people. You had to sign up in advance, etc. We were trying to make sure we were doing it responsibly and safe. Portside was a tiki lounge so we called it Jungle Punch. Well it was a hit, and the next month we were able to do it again but by that time the city had lifted the 25% capacity rule and it really went off! We’ve taken a couple months off here and there, but for the most part we’ve been going every month for a year for the five years since!

NOLA EDM: Over the last five years, the event has moved through multiple venues and hosted dozens of DJs across the drum & bass and jungle spectrum. Looking back, what moments stand out as turning points for the collective?

NOLADNB: There are so many amazing moments! The first one obviously and realizing it could be a thing– and to hear drum and bass live again after being locked in our houses for so long. The first time we had 360 Degrees and the Mississippi DnB boys down. Our first out of state “headliners” with Burner Brothers and Mickey Flair (RIP). Surviving the move from Portside to Sidneys Saloon/Santos– there was a real moment when we were uncertain if people were still going to come. The show where Machete was in town and got added on last minute was legendary. Dave Shichman, Ben Soundscape, and all the others….. And now our first one at the Crypt last month! Really great memories. Plus all of the crews and artists we’ve been able to build community with and partner outside of Jungle Punch like with Revel Scum and Lacuna just to name a couple.

The ethos of Jungle Punch is that it’s not about us, it’s about the music, and cultivating new talent, giving people a shot. Looking back I think we’re most proud of just the sheer number of DJs we’ve had, often early in their career, who have gone on to do incredible things!

NOLA EDM: New Orleans has always had deep musical roots, but drum & bass has often lived in smaller underground spaces here. What does it mean to keep that sound alive and growing in this city?

NOLADNB: Community, consistency, and cultivation. If you want to get corporate with it haha. We think that’s what’s key. Community first and foremost. This music is about coming together and collective experience. So the community has to be strong, supportive, and earnest.

Then consistency. Both in keeping the parties going and also in the quality of the music. Any good scene needs regular parties, but they also need to be GOOD. And push the sound rather than just playing the same old stuff. Whenever we start feeling burnt out we have to remember to just keep pushing. It also helps a lot to have multiple crew members who can jump in and help with different aspects.

Finally, you have to cultivate new talent and new members of the community. Otherwise we all become old heads and it dies off! You have to build with younger folks, bring them in and collaborate with them. And work to introduce new people to the sound!

Doing all these together? Well that’s the eternal balance but we think things are in a pretty great place across the city right now.

NOLA EDM: This anniversary lineup brings together Jungle Punch founders along with special guest Fluid Form and longtime contributors to the scene. How did you approach curating a lineup that reflects the past five years of NOLADNB?

NOLADNB: We try to curate nights based on ensuring there’s a wide variety of subgenres of dnb and a good flow to the night. We also try to have at least one new debut per jungle punch, while also having one resident. 

Our new debut for this one is technically Fluid Form. He actually came down in December for that Jungle Punch and we met him and thought it was so fucking cool he drove out here for that. We are huge fans of his production too so we knew we wanted to get him for something special.

For residents we obviously have Jungle Punch co-founders Coastill and Glassy Eye, as well as 45Auto who we realized hadn’t gotten a chance to rip it up for a minute! It’s hard when you have so many talented DJs in the city but we try to make sure we cycle everyone through as often as possible. (We haven’t booked you yet, trust us you’re on our Google sheet and we’re going to get you in very soon!!!)

And finally Sawknee has just been an amazing support, an amazing friend. And we knew his sound would fit perfectly in the flow of the night.

NOLA EDM: NOLADNB has become known as a place where longtime heads and new listeners can meet on the same dance floor. How do you create an environment that keeps the community welcoming and growing?

NOLADNB: That community piece I think. We really try to talk and build relationships with everyone. Always try to bring in new faces to be on stage and introduce them to everyone. We try to make it so people walk away having hopefully met a new friend, felt like they were a part of something, and for at least a few hours were able to leave their worries and stresses at the door.

NOLA EDM: Five years is a huge milestone for any underground event series. What has kept the energy and momentum alive through venue changes, scene shifts, and everything else along the way?

NOLADNB: Sheer force of will haha. Not going to lie there have been so many moments where we felt like throwing in the towel. But we’re stubborn bastards. The key is to only do things for the right reason (community and music), and to just keep your head down and ignore the distractions. Remember why you’re doing what your doing and center that. We’ve had slow nights, we’ve had packed nights, but we just keep going and keep pushing.

NOLA EDM: When people step into The Crypt for this anniversary night, what kind of atmosphere or feeling do you hope they walk away with?

NOLADNB: We hope they feel like part of the family! Jungle Punch is celebrating 5 years, but in a very real way the accomplishment is shared by every single DJ that has played and by every single audience member that has danced their asses off. We TRULY would not be here if it wasn’t for all of you, so I hope you can and see this as a celebration of you too.

NOLA EDM: Looking ahead, what’s the vision for the next chapter of NOLA DnB? Where do you hope the scene will be five years from now?

NOLADNB: Who knows! That’s part of the beauty of the journey. We’re going to keep collaborating with folks, keep trying our new things (like our vinyl takeover at Nola Mix Records), and keep our heads down doing the work. And we’re going to continue to support the newcomers and the crews new and old that are pushing the sound! It’s community. It’s music. It’s a way of life.