# Wiwek

Wiwek Mahabali, better known mononymously as Wiwek, is a Dutch DJ and music producer based in Utrecht, Netherlands.

## Early life

Wiwek was born in the Netherlands and is of Indian descent. His father is an Indian musician and singer. His stage name was suggested by Gregor Salto that he use his given name for his musical career.

## Background

Wiwek is best known as the pioneer of, and his contributions to "jungle terror", a hybrid style of dance music characterized by offbeat kick drums, dissonant lead synths, and tribal drum and chant samples. His music has been released on such labels as Barong Family and Owsla, and led to collaborations with Skrillex and Yellow Claw. He is also the label head of his own jungle terror-based label Rimbu Recordings. He gained popularity in dance music and was known for 'fusing electronic elements with tropical rhythms'. He is regarded as the "Godfather of jungle terror".
Jungle terror was first created when Wiwek was playing and explaining his music to his friends. He then uploaded some songs to SoundCloud with the 'jungle terror' tag which eventually became popular.

## Career
### 2014: Mad Decent

In 2014, Wiwek was signed to Diplo's Mad Decent record label as an artist. He collaborated with Gregor Salto to release the single "On Your Mark".

### 2015: OWSLA

American dubstep DJ Skrillex had announced the signing of Wiwek to his record label "Owsla". Wiwek performed at the 2015 Ultra Music Festival in Miami. He had also hosted an episode on Tiësto's record label, Musical Freedom's radio show. He collaborated with Hardwell to release the single titled "Chameleon". On 28 April 2015, he released "Fire" as a single collaborating with Dutch DJ Alvaro via Steve Aoki's record label, Dim Mak Records. In November 2015, he collaborated with GTA to release "What We Tell Dem" as a single.

### 2016-2019: Collaboration with Skrillex, Marshmello and debut album Cycles

On 19 February 2016, he collaborated with Dutch DJs Yellow Claw to release "Pop It" as a single. His OWSLA-debut extended play consisting of five songs, The Free and Rebellious which incorporates elements of drum and bass, was released a week later. The EP had received poor ratings in a review with only 1.5 star was given out of five.
Most recently, Wiwek's The Free and Rebellious EP was used as the soundtrack and score to the short film Still in the Cage which was filmed in Bangkok, Thailand, written and directed by Canadian filmmaker Jodeb and produced by Wiwek and Skrillex. The short film included Wiwek's collaboration with Skrillex, "Killa". It was premiered on 17 August at the theater at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. An official music video for "Killa", directed by Jonathan Desbiens was uploaded by Skrillex to YouTube. The single "Killa" features vocals from Swedish vocalist Elliphant. American trap producer Slushii, Boombox Cartel and Henry Fong have released remixes of the song.
He released his debut album, Cycles on 8 March 2019 through his record label Maha Vana. He was also featured on the track "Angklung Life" with American DJ Marshmello on the album Joytime III.

## Discography
### Albums

| Title | Details |
| Cycles | Released: 8 March 2019 Label: Maha Vana Format: Digital download |

### Compilation albums

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | US Dance |
| Jungle Terror Saga | Released: 13 April 2018 Label: Barong Family Format: Digital download, CD, vinyl | — |

### Extended plays

| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Details | US Dance |
| Jungle Terror | Released: 6 October 2014 Label: Barong Family, Spinnin' Records Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Jungle Terror: Volume 2 | Released: 16 March 2015 Label: Barong Family, Spinnin' Records Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| The Free and Rebellious | Released: 26 February 2016 Label: Owsla Format: Digital download, CD | 17 |
| Faka G / Double Dribble | Released: 1 February 2017 Label: OWSLA Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Drum Nation | Released: 28 July 2017 Label: OWSLA Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Jungle Terror: Volume 3 | Released: 1 December 2017 Label: Barong Family Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Get Out of the Way / Wan Tu (with Chocolate Puma) | Released: 21 May 2018 Label: Spinnin' Records Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Jungle Terror: Volume 4 | Released: 18 September 2020 Label: Barong Family Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| Time Machine Drums | Released: 10 September 2021 Label: Axtone Format: Digital download | — |
| Jungle Terror: Volume 5 | Released: 03 May 2024 Label: Barong Family Format: Digital download, CD | — |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released. |||

### Singles

| Title | Year | Album |
| "Maguas Revenge" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Obambo" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Totem" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Mangrove" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Hurricane" (with Rishi Romero) | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Batman" (with Rishi Romero) | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Salomon Beach" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Secret Meadow" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Pleistocene" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Koala" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Zombiekids" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Puma" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Tarantula" | 2012 | Non-album singles |
| "Magadha" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Trommelboy" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Angry Birdz" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Mango Chutney" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Intimi" (with Gregor Salto) | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Terminator" (with Moska) | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "FOK" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Mufazi" | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Ritual" (with Cesqeaux) | 2013 | Non-album singles |
| "Salute" | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "On Your Mark" (with Gregor Salto) | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Annihilation" (with Nom De Strip) | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "G.M.A.F.B." | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Bad Gyal" (with Jeremia Jones featuring Kalibwoy) | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "So You Want Drums" (featuring MC Vocab) | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Ground Shake" (featuring Stush) | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Ragga" | 2014 | Non-album singles |
| "Bang Bang Theory" | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "What We Tell Dem" (with GTA featuring Stush) | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Fire" (with Alvaro) | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Miami" (with Gregor Salto) | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Chameleon" (with Hardwell) | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Trouble" (with Gregor Salto featuring MC Spyder) | 2015 | Non-album singles |
| "Tropicana" (with Valentino Khan) | 2016 | Non-album singles |
| "Rebels" (featuring Audio Bullys) | 2016 | The Free and Rebellious |
| "How It Goes" (with Gregor Salto featuring Stush) | 2016 | Non-album singles |
| "Getho Circus" | 2016 | Non-album singles |
| "Faka G / Double Dribble" | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Run" | 2017 | HOWSLA |
| "Drum Nation" (featuring WatchTheDuck) | 2017 | Drum Nation EP |
| "Ni de Coña" (with Mike Cervello) | 2017 | Jungle Terror: Volume 3 |
| "So Hot" (with Gregor Salto and Kuenta I Tambu featuring Spyder) | 2018 | Non-album single |
| "Black Panther" (with Kuenta I Tambu) | 2018 | Cycles |
| "Rise" (featuring Stush and Kuenta I Tambu) | 2018 | Cycles |
| "I Want It" (with Yellow Claw) | 2021 | Non-album singles |
| "Periphery" | 2021 | Non-album singles |

### Remixes
#### 2013

* Moska – Sick Kick (Wiwek Remix) [Mad Decent]

#### 2014

* Yellow Claw featuring Rochelle – Shotgun (Wiwek Remix) [SPRS]
* Leftside – Monkey Biznizz (Wiwek Remix) [Mad Decent]
* Yellow Claw featuring Lil Eddie – Never Dies (Wiwek Remix) [Mad Decent]

#### 2015

* Katy Tiz – Whistle (While You Work It) (Wiwek Remix) [Atlantic Records]
* Gregor Salto – Afrobot (Wiwek Remix) [DOORN Records]
* Etnik featuring Mykki Blanco – Unclassified (Wiwek Remix) [OWSLA]
* Martin Solveig & GTA – Intoxicated (Wiwek Remix) [Spinnin' Remixes]
* Sauti Sol – Sura Yako (Wiwek Remix)
* Cash Cash featuring BOB, Busta Rhymes & Neon Hitch – Devil (Wiwek Remix) [BIG BEAT]

#### 2016

* Firebeatz and Chocolate Puma featuring BISHØP – Lullaby (Wiwek Remix) [Spinnin' Remixes]
* Getter – Rip N Dip (Wiwek Remix) [OWSLA]
* Skrillex and Diplo featuring Kai – Mind (Wiwek Remix) [OWSLA / Mad Decent]

#### 2017

* A R I Z O N A – Oceans Away (Wiwek Remix) [Atlantic Records]
* Bro Safari, Dillon Francis & Salvatore Ganacci – XL (Wiwek Remix) [Bro Safari Music]
* Mike Cervello – Moodswing (Wiwek Remix) [Barong Family]
* Axwell Λ Ingrosso - More Than You Know (Wiwek Remix) [Virgin EMI]

#### 2019

* Kiwi - Witch's Lesson (Wiwek Remix)