Ephemerals

Ephemerals — producer. Genres: Liquid Funk, Retro Soul. Based in London, United Kingdom. The name comes from a seven-piece soul/funk band formed in London in 2013 and led by Wolfgang Valbrun and Hillman Mondegreen.

As a musical project Ephemerals began in 2013 with a self-released debut, Nothin Is Easy (2013/2014). The band then issued Chasin Ghosts (2015), Egg Tooth (2017) and The Third Eye (2020). Their recorded work and live setup have attracted radio plays on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 1, festival slots including Glastonbury, Mostly Jazz and Bestival, and releases on Jalapeno Records. Members of Ephemerals are also credited as featured vocalists on Kungs' single "I Feel So Bad" (2016).

Background: the project started in London as a multi-piece group that blends soul, jazz, funk and psychedelia — a fact that carries into any studio-side activity by the same name. Wolfgang Valbrun and Hillman Mondegreen are named leaders of the group; the seven-piece lineup is cited in press and credits. The band's early self-release in 2013/2014 marked their entry into records and live festivals across the UK.

Musical style — concrete details. On record Ephemerals deploy vocal-led arrangements, extended harmonic gestures drawn from soul and jazz, and layered ensemble parts that reflect a multi-piece band approach. Those elements inform the project's Retro Soul side: warm chord voicings, soulful lead lines, and arrangements that favour live-feel dynamics over dry, linear sequencing. In a Liquid Funk context, that translates into tracks built around melodic instrumentation and vocal hooks rather than minimal, drum-only constructions.

Production and technique (producer role). Public documentation of Ephemerals’ drum & bass-specific releases is limited. Where the name operates as a producer within Liquid Funk/Retro Soul spaces, the practical focus is on integrating live-sourced material — recorded vocals, live ensemble textures and organ/keys-style harmonies — into electronic frames. Expect production choices that preserve organic decay and stereo width: layered vocal takes, roomy reverbs on horns/keys, and compression that keeps transient detail while smoothing ensemble dynamics. Those are the concrete studio markers that bridge the band's soul/funk records and a liquid-oriented production approach.

Career and contributions. The factual record ties Ephemerals to four full-lengths (Nothin Is Easy 2013/2014; Chasin Ghosts 2015; Egg Tooth 2017; The Third Eye 2020), BBC 6 Music and Radio 1 airplay, festival appearances (Glastonbury, Mostly Jazz, Bestival), a release relationship with Jalapeno Records, and a featured-vocal credit on Kungs' "I Feel So Bad" (2016). Those credits show the project operating both as a live multi-piece act and as a recording entity whose material has crossed into electronic-pop collaborations.

Specific influences and connections. The verified connections are internal (Wolfgang Valbrun and Hillman Mondegreen as leaders) and external (the Kungs feature in 2016, Jalapeno Records releases, BBC radio support and named festival appearances). Beyond those documented links, public biographical detail about Ephemerals’ separate drum & bass or jungle releases is scarce; the existing, verifiable record is strongest in their soul/funk albums and festival/radio activity.

For listeners coming from Liquid Funk or Retro Soul, Ephemerals’ catalogue offers concrete source material: four albums spanning 2013–2020, ensemble-led arrangements, and collaborative credits that include mainstream electronic crossover on Kungs' 2016 single "I Feel So Bad".