Wuki
Wuki, born Kris Barman in New Jersey, is an American DJ and producer whose career began as a member of the electronic rock band Innerpartysystem, where he sang backing vocals and played guitar and synthesizer from 2007 until the band's breakup in 2011. After years touring as a guitarist and synth player, Barman moved into DJing and solo production, developing a sound centered on dubstep, trap, and EDM that led to releases through Owsla, Mad Decent, and his own imprint, WUKILEAKS.
His remix work earned a Grammy nomination in 2020 for Best Remixed Recording, recognizing his rework of Miley Cyrus's “Mother's Daughter,” and his debut album, WukiWorld, arrived in 2021. Barman has spoken about his musical origins starting on guitar at thirteen before moving into beatmaking on Fruity Loops as a teenager, citing The Prodigy's “Smack My Bitch Up” as a pivotal influence that pulled him toward electronic music.
His transition from band member to solo DJ reflects a broader shift within the 2010s EDM scene, as rock-adjacent artists moved into bass music production and touring. Wuki continues to release and perform under the HARD Recs banner, maintaining a catalog built around club-facing bass and trap productions.