Jasper Wijnands goes full retro-futurist funk on his new single: “Ultra Magnetic”
Dutch producer Jasper Wijnands (aka Shook) is back with “Ultra Magnetic,” the third single from his forthcoming sci-fi concept album Arcana.
A sequel of sorts to earlier single “Space Rock Funk,” the new track pushes deeper into electro-funk, pairing robotic sequencers with elastic funk grooves and the kind of crunchy, futuristic energy that recalls Daft Punk’s Homework era. Everything was played by hand on vintage analogue synthesizers in Shook’s studio. It gives the track a tactile warmth beneath all that machine-driven momentum.
Wijnands says Arcana draws inspiration from 90s anime directors including Katsuhiro Otomo, Satoshi Kon, and Yoshiaki Kawajiri, alongside Yellow Magic Orchestra and the early electro sounds of his native Den Haag. A recent collaboration with Legowelt also helped reignite that side of his musical identity.
That combination feels natural for an artist whose work has always moved between genres, from synth-funk and city pop to ambient electronic. “Ultra Magnetic” draws from that range: it’s playful, tightly wired and gleaming with retro-futurist detail. It’s a track that feels engineered for late-night drives, neon-lit rooms and anyone who likes their funk with a little cosmic circuitry attached too. And in an age where everything is AI, “Ultra Magnetic” feels fresh with its handmade nostagic 80s electronic sound.
Arcana is available to pre-order on vinyl now via Shook’s Bandcamp.
