Mt. Eden

Known for their robust electronic productions laced with downtempo elements, the New Zealand-born and Brooklyn-based duo Mt. Eden—also recognized under the names Mt. Eden Dubstep and MtEdenDnB08—emerged on the worldwide dance circuit once their track “Sierra Leone” achieved viral status in 2009. The pair consists of producers and DJs Jesse Cooper and Harley Rayner, who took the project’s title from their hometown of Mt. Eden in Auckland, New Zealand. Acquainted since roughly age ten, Cooper and Rayner spent their formative years exchanging music and mixtapes via computer, then began crafting original electronic material as teenagers under the sway of Benga, Skream, Skrillex, and similar artists. Near the end of that decade they uploaded “Sierra Leone,” a reworking of Freshly Ground’s “I’d Like,” to the internet, where it spread rapidly. Live performances soon followed, helping them cultivate a devoted audience. After inking a deal with Ultra Music, they issued two favorably received short collections: the 2010 Meds EP and the 2013 Walking on Air EP. Additional work included remixes for Six60, Delerium, Ruby Frost, DJ Fresh, and others. Festival appearances spanned multiple continents before the duo eventually settled in Brooklyn, New York. Subsequent releases encompassed the singles “Blinded,” “Distance Kills” featuring Nolita Knights, and “Stronger.”