The Unstoppable Concord Dawn: Drum and Bass Icons

Concord Dawn, the legendary New Zealand drum and bass duo made up of Evan Short (Kiljoy) and Matt Harvey (Matty C), has been tearing up the scene since '98. Their killer blend of techstep, neurofunk, and jungle has hooked fans worldwide. Strap in as we roll through their epic journey, from their wild beginnings to the final drops from Matt, who took the Concord Dawn name solo until their last hoorah.

How Concord Dawn Kicked Off and Took Over

Back in '98, Auckland was hit with a fresh sound, an emerging duo that quickly ignited the local drum and bass scene. These guys were on a mission, ready to take over.

Their rise to fame was rapid as they became the favorites of New Zealand's bNet and student radio stations. They ruled primetime slots, consistently topped the weekly charts, and broke records across the bNet network, creating an unstoppable buzz.

It wasn't long before they caught the eye of Kog Transmissions, a local electronic music label. By July 2000, they dropped their debut album, "Concord Dawn", solidifying their position in the drum and bass world and paving the way for their future success.

And guess what? You can jam to it right here:

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From Double Trouble to Matt’s Solo Masterpieces

Concord Dawn has been dropping fire since day one. From their duo days to Matt Harvey's solo reign, their discography is packed with bangers that rocked the drum and bass scene.

Let's check out their killer albums and EPs:

• Disturbance (2001): Disturbance snagged “Best Electronic Release” and “Best Independent Album” at the 2001 bNet Music Awards, putting Concord Dawn on the map as one of New Zealand’s most dangerous drum and bass exports.
• Uprising (2003): The one that flipped everything. Uprising gave us “Morning Light”, a track that’s basically canon in the DnB world now. The album dominated college radio and picked up multiple bNet Awards across 2003 and 2004, including Best Album, Best Song, and Most Radio Play.
• Chaos by Design (2006): Tracks from this album gained critical acclaim and were signed by major labels like Metalheadz, Ram Records, and Hospital Recordings. It showcased their evolving, edgy sound and won "Best Electronic Album" at the 2006 New Zealand Music Awards.
• The Enemy Within (2010): The first Concord Dawn album after Evan Short’s departure, The Enemy Within marked Matt Harvey’s solo takeover. It peaked at #2 on the iTunes NZ album chart and was named iTunes New Zealand's "Electronic Album of the Year". The single “Easy Life” became the second most-played track on GeorgeFM in 2010.

• The Race To Zero (2011) and Wipeout EP (2012): After Evan Short stepped away, Matt Harvey wasted no time. The Race To Zero, his first solo release under the Concord Dawn name, dropped in September 2011, gritty, sharp, and unapologetically direct. Then came the Wipeout EP in early 2012, a three-track collab with fellow Kiwi DnB producer TREi that kept the momentum flying.
• Air Chrysalis LP (2012): This one brought the soul back. With vocal features from Thomas Oliver, Rikki Morris, Nina McSweeney, Savage, and more, Air Chrysalis felt like a fresh spin on the old Concord Dawn magic. It nailed the balance between anthemic and underground, and it didn’t go unnoticed. The album scored Best Electronica Album at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards.

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From duo legends to solo slammers, Concord Dawn still hits hard, and their label’s just as fierce, fueling the next wave of DnB talent coming out of Aotearoa.

Uprising Records: Two Minds, One Mission

Back in 2004, Evan Short and Matt Harvey started Uprising Records, mainly to put out their own Concord Dawn releases. But it didn’t take long for it to grow into something way bigger. One of their first moves? Dropping Pendulum’s “Spiral” and “Ulterior Motive”, just before the Aussies blew up overseas.

From there, Uprising became a go-to label for fresh drum and bass coming out of New Zealand and beyond. Names like State of Mind, TREi, Camo & Krooked, Psidream, Axiom, The Upbeats, Dose, and Prolix all came through. Their vinyl releases started making the rounds internationally, and the label kept putting out every major Concord Dawn album from Disturbance to The Enemy Within.

Uprising wasn’t flashy, but it was consistent and serious about pushing drum and bass forward.

What's Next for Concord Dawn?

Even after Evan Short left in 2010, Matt Harvey soldiered on under the Concord Dawn banner, releasing new material, killing it at festivals, and repping NZ drum & bass worldwide. But this past year marked the final chapter.

In late 2023, Concord Dawn launched their “Last Hurrah” nationwide tour, a triple-header across Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington, culminating in a farewell fundraiser at Auckland Town Hall’s Save the B event on December 20th.

So yes, the Concord Dawn “story” has been officially closed. Matt Harvey is now shifting focus. Since wrapping up touring, he’s been deep in artist management, working with Kiwi acts like Shapeshifter, Kora, Nick Dow, and The Flaxxies, while also juggling family life and a full-time music career behind the scenes.

But the music lives on. Their tracks, Morning Light, Take Me Away, The Enemy Within, Easy Life, The Sun, and more, are still staples in drum & bass sets around the globe.

Concord Dawn’s imprint on the genre is permanent: dive back into the discography, revisit the anthems, and celebrate the legacy.