Slikback Launches Xternal Domain Label With 3 Debut Releases

What Slikback's Xternal Domain label offers emerging artists

Full profit and copyright ownership

Xternal Domain guarantees emerging artists 100% of profits and complete copyright control—a rare model in electronic music. Slikback prioritizes "smaller acts pushing their art in interesting directions," removing financial barriers typical of traditional label deals.

The December 19, 2025 debut slate demonstrates this commitment: Brighton dubstep producer Median Wage released nine-track album Silviculture, while Kyiv's experimental artist worse debuted Smelting (featuring vocalist Maryana Klochko). Philadelphia collaborators 2wrist and No Author contributed eight-track LP Exposed Functional Elements. Slikback designed artwork for all three releases, unifying the visual identity while allowing sonic diversity.

This structure lets niche artists—from UK underground to Ukrainian experimental scenes—access distribution and curation without sacrificing autonomy or revenue.

The debut releases: Median Wage, worse, and 2wrist collaboration

Xternal Domain debuted with three releases on December 19, 2025, each showcasing the label's commitment to boundary-pushing artists. Brighton dubstep producer Median Wage released Silviculture, a nine-track debut exploring textural depths beyond the genre's club origins. Kyiv-based experimental artist worse contributed Smelting, a nine-track project featuring Maryana Klochko that was created between 2023 and 2025 amid Ukraine's ongoing challenges. Philadelphia's 2wrist teamed with No Author for Exposed Functional Elements, an eight-track collaborative exploration of abstract sound design.

Artist-first ethos and visual identity

Slikback designed artwork for all three releases, establishing a cohesive visual language for the label. The roster reflects his curation philosophy: prioritizing emerging voices from underrepresented scenes while granting artists 100% profit retention and full copyright control—a rare model in contemporary electronic music distribution.

Why this artist-first model matters for electronic music

Empowerment over extraction

Xternal Domain's artist-first structure addresses a persistent electronic music industry pain point: emerging producers sacrificing earnings and rights to access distribution. By guaranteeing artists 100% profits and full copyright control, Slikback's imprint inverts the traditional label extractive model. This matters acutely for experimental acts operating outside commercial electronic music—dubstep innovator Median Wage in Brighton, Kyiv's worse navigating Ukraine's cultural resilience amid ongoing conflict, Philadelphia duo 2wrist and No Author exploring collaborative sound design.

The timing amplifies impact. Launched as Slikback ascends through Planet Mu and Skrillex collaborations, Xternal Domain leverages his platform to spotlight practitioners who lack major-label leverage. Retaining copyright ensures these artists build sustainable careers rather than ceding catalog value for short-term visibility—a structural shift if adopted industry-wide.

Where to find the new albums

Streaming and purchase options

All three inaugural albums—Median Wage's Silviculture, worse's Smelting, and the 2wrist/No Author collaboration Exposed Functional Elements—dropped simultaneously on December 19, 2025. Each is available through major streaming platforms and digital storefronts, with Bandcamp serving as the primary hub where artists retain 100% of sales revenue under Xternal Domain's profit-sharing model.

Slikback designed the cover artwork for all three releases, establishing a unified visual identity for the label's debut wave. Physical pressings have not been announced, keeping the focus on digital distribution that aligns with the label's emphasis on direct artist-to-listener relationships and maximum creator control.