For a true gauge of the jungle and drum & bass scene in 2025, Rupture is the collective to watch. Established by label owners and life partners, Mantra and Double O, the duo has become synonymous with the UK’s jungle and drum & bass culture. Since their early days promoting together in 2006, they’ve turned their passion for music into one of the biggest dance nights in the country.
For Mantra and Double O, Rupture has always been about more than just the iconic “amen” breaks—a defining feature of jungle music. David “Double O” Henry explains, “People who’ve never been to Rupture always go, ‘Oh yeah, it’s an ‘amen’ night.’ But we love everything. When me and Indi do our all-night-long sets, we finish with old hip-hop or techno tunes. We play the whole spectrum.”
Indi “Mantra” Khera adds, “The thing is, when an ‘amen’ does come on, everyone goes, ‘Ahhh!’ But the stuff that really moves me is on the outer edges—the stuff that’s moody, dark, and a bit screwy. I love all the late ‘90s techstep and artists like Optical, Matrix, and Krust. But for me, jungle and drum & bass are all one, and sometimes people have the wrong idea that Rupture is all about ‘amens’ and old-school jungle. It’s really not.”
Through their iconic events, particularly the two-room sessions at Corsica Studios in South London, Mantra and Double O have cultivated a loyal community of both artists and ravers. Rupture’s bookings represent a perfect blend of heritage acts and rising talent, balancing deep dives into specific eras of drum & bass with a commitment to fresh, up-and-coming names. As both a party and a record label, Rupture has become a cornerstone of modern jungle and drum & bass, with values that shine through in their operations. Mantra also co-founded EQ50, an initiative that works to address the gender imbalance in the genre, and Rupture’s bookings are committed to diversity.
The diversity isn’t limited to the artists—they also celebrate the evolution of the music itself. Since its inception in the early ‘90s, jungle has splintered into various subgenres, including atmospheric jungle, jump-up, and techstep, alongside the halftime Autonomic sound of the late ‘00s. A recent trend sees jungle incorporating elements of deep techno, with sleek atmospheres and minimalist percussion, as a new generation of producers fuses the foundational breakbeat sound with modern techniques to keep the genre feeling fresh and relevant.
In November 2024, Rupture celebrated its 18th anniversary with a series of events across the UK. Their weekender at Corsica Studios saw both rooms packed over two separate nights, showcasing the full range of jungle and drum & bass. “I like a tune that sounds like it was made in ‘95,” Mantra says. “If it moves me and David, that’s the main criteria. There are incredible new artists pushing boundaries, like gyrofield, Forest Drive West, and Quartz. But Kid Lib’s upcoming release for us feels straight out of ‘94. His use of hardware and the unique feeling he brings to his machines gets me so hyped.”
Rupture has built strong ties with younger producers and crews across the drum & bass scene, fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Their bookings have become a trusted indicator of the most exciting and genuine movements within the culture. More than a decade after the styles first broke through, and still going strong 18 years later, Rupture stands as a testament to the enduring power and cultural impact of jungle and drum & bass.
“As we get older, it’s all about the music,” Mantra reflects. “When you’re younger, you take three pills, you go for three days, and it’s all amazing. As you get older, it becomes something that is very precious.”
Rupture’s dedication remains unwavering, with their spring release schedule set to continue this passion. Quartz’s Lucid will soon be followed by Mantra’s Shades of Rave Vol. 1, a new EP from Double O, and a slew of collaborations and raves. Rupture and their extended family are poised to continue making waves in the jungle and drum & bass scene for years to come.
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