Jonas Rathsman crafts a sound that feels like a high-end fashion editorial come to life. It is electronic music that prioritizes elegance over aggression, utilizing deep, resonant basslines and shimmering synth textures that wrap around the listener like a silk garment. While his roots are in the underground clubs of Gothenburg, his music carries a global, sun-drenched sophistication that feels equally at home in a dark London basement or a Mediterranean beach club.
What sets Rathsman apart is his meticulous attention to the 'space' between the notes. His tracks often feature a distinctively crisp, Scandinavian production quality, where every percussion hit and vocal chop is placed with surgical precision. There is a recurring tension in his work; it is functional dance music that never loses its emotional core, often leaning into melancholic melodies that provide a bittersweet contrast to the steady, driving house rhythms.
For those new to his catalog, starting with his breakout 'Tobago' offers a perfect glimpse into his ability to blend tropical warmth with club weight. From there, moving into his more complex, atmospheric work like 'Wolfsbane' reveals the darker, more cinematic side of his artistry that has earned him the respect of industry titans like Disclosure and Pete Tong.
Jonas Rathsman is a Swedish producer of electronic music and graphic designer He was born in a small village in Western Sweden. At the age of 18, he started organizing parties at local nightclubs in Gothenburg. Using this platform Jonas Rathsman began producing music under his own name and quickly caught the attention of the French Express label. It was with French Express that he began to release his music, starting in 2011 with the bass heavy 'Love Is My Middle Name' which was featured on the second instalment of the French Express compilation. Jonas quickly followed up this success with his first solo release on French Express 'Tobago/Feeling You' gaining high-profile support from the likes of The Magician. Jonas' reputation continued to grow following two more releases on French Express, 'Since I Don't Have You' and 'W4W' that got notable BBC Radio 1 support from Pete Tong, who was such a fan of Jonas' output that he invited him to play the coveted Essential Mix with fellow French Express artist, Perseus. He continued to supply the world of underground house music with releases on French Express and his productions eventually lead to Pete Tong tipping Jonas Rathsman as his 'Future Star' for 2014. As a result of this he was asked to remix Sam Smith's single, Like I Can later that year. Disclosure are now the most notable backers and have invited him to produce the inaugural release on their new extension of Method Records, 'Method White'. 'Wolfsbane' was released on 23 March 2015. Over 2017, Rathsman designed and created a six-room studio complex, situated in an industrial area of Gothenburg where the North Sea flows into the city. Having released on a range of imprints from Diynamic and KX to Crosstown Rebels and Mobilee, Rathsman is now focusing his efforts on building his ELEMENTS brand, a journey which began in 2017 off the back of his debut BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix. In 2018 ELEMENTS has grown into a multifaceted brand and is split into three parts: the label, the mix series and the parties. The label was successfully introduced with Rathsman's own 'Within Borders' and is about to celebrate its seventh release from French techno hero Sébastien Léger. Its events arm launched with a how at London's Autumn Street Studios and has taken residency in XOYO for 2018 having hosted Pional and Fort Romeu for their opening with Kiasmos soon to follow.
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); processed, breathy, absent (vocal style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, hi fi (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); analog warmth, studio polished, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares house, downtempo (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares nu-disco, studio polished, house, dreamy (signature)
Shares ocean, house, dreamy, hi fi (atmosphere)
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