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  • Back 2 The Old-Skool

    Back 2 The Old-Skool

    Deformat Compilation With Open Submissions

    Deformat Compilation with open submissions.
    Songs in the key of OLD SKOOL breakcore.

    Deformat is looking for YOUR submissions.

    What is it?

    We are looking for songs/tracks that embrace the roots style and sound of breakcore. The original… the abrasive, the jarring, and the anti-commercial sonic assault that was 90s-00s breakcore.

    Oldschool rave stabs, oldschool rap samples, amen breaks, gabber bass? Hell yeah, let’s really get oldskool with it.

    How will it be released?

    This will be a free compilation on the Deformat Bandcamp.
    Plans to release on Subvert down the road, perhaps, but otherwise that.

    How long should it be?

    Between 2- 6 minutes? Somewhere like that. Some exceptions allowed, but please try for that.

    When Is This Happening?

    Submissions will take place through the month of August. Release will be planned around the start of school (skool). Get it? That is kinda a play on words… pretty clever, huh?

    Look, I know that it isn’t that clever… but that is what is happening, deal with it, or just send me hate mail, homophobic comments, despair, like the last time… it genuinely cracked me up how much hate I got last time!

    What If My Track Is Not Accepted?

    Please do not take it personally. Not everything will fit the compilation stylistically, and sometimes audio quality or other technical limitations may make a track difficult to include.

    I cannot guarantee placement if I do not feel a submission reaches the level of quality, effort, or fit needed for the release.

    How and what to submit?

    PLEASE… Submit:

    Audio in WAV 24-bit, 48k

    Text file with: social links, IG name, YouTube channel, etc. Any and all information you want to be included and credited for. Correct artist spelling, etc. Just please do this to make my life easier.

    TEXT FILES are plain text, .txt, dot text…

    Put this all in a Google Drive, make it shareable, get the link, and email it to:
    deformat@deformatrecords.com

    Sending a poke to me on Instagram (@wolfmerrik) would be a nice reminder, too.

    WHAT ABOUT MY RIGHTS, MAN?

    The track is and forever will be yours; Deformat does not own it, the artist does. If you want to release it anywhere else, you don’t have to worry about it.

    The song is yours; you are just permitting Deformat to use this track on their compilation, for promotional material, for mixes, and for Deformat to release, etc.

    Where to find more?

    Contact John Merrik on Instagram or check the Deformat IG:

    https://instagram.com/wolfmerrik
    https://instagram.com/deformat.records

  • HARDWIRED FOR HARDWARE Vol1

    HARDWIRED FOR HARDWARE Vol1

    Deformat Compilation Submissions Open

    Deformat is looking for submissions.

    What is it?

    The main focus is IDM, breakcore, glitch, and noise. Hardware-driven music is the core idea here. Not necessarily fully dawless, but tracks where the hardware process is front and center.

    The goal is to keep things raw and immediate, so ideally We are looking for single-take recordings whenever possible. Imperfections are welcome. The whole point of this compilation is the raw experimentation and unpredictability that comes from working directly with machines/hardware.

    What if I make something in a different genre?

    While the genres specified are primarily what we are looking for, there are some exceptions. If I reached out to you directly, it is because I felt you had a sound that matched well with it.

    How will it be released?

    This is planned as an audiovisual compilation as well. Alongside the Bandcamp/Subvert release (which will be completely free/digital), I want to include video performances and clips through social media collaborations, plus a YouTube playlist featuring all contributors when the compilation releases.

    There is (and mind you, this may not happen) a consideration of doing a very limited physical DVD release. That part is still up in the air, mostly because I know this kind of thing is incredibly niche… If it happens, it will probably just be contributor copies plus maybe a handful of extras to sell for breakeven.

    How long should it be?

    between 2-6 minutes? Somewhere like that. Some exceptions allowed, but please try for that.

    What If I cannot Make a Video?

    Video is optional, although it will definitely help your track stand out and get heard. The stronger the visuals, the stronger the overall release becomes for everyone involved.

    That said, audio-only submissions are completely welcome as long as they fit the compilation and meet the submission criteria.

    When Is This Happening?

    The current target release is the first day of summer, around the end of June. Because there is video coordination and collaboration involved, I would like to have submissions mostly finalized by the first week of June, although there will still be some additional time for finishing touches afterward.

    Realistically, the final release date will likely land on the first Friday of July.

    If this sounds like your kind of chaos, send something over.

    What If My Track Is Not Accepted?

    Please do not take it personally. Not everything will fit the compilation stylistically, and sometimes audio quality or other technical limitations may make a track difficult to include.

    I cannot guarantee placement if I do not feel a submission reaches the level of quality, effort, or fit needed for the release.

    I assure you, it is not personal.

    How and What to submit?

    Video in MP4 format (landscape preferred),
    Audio in Wav 24bit, 48k
    Textfile with: social links, igname, youtube channel, etc. Any and all information you want to be included and credited for. Correct artist spelling, etc. Just please do this to make my life easier.

    Put this all in a Google Drive, make it shareable, get the link, and email links to:
    deformat@deformatrecords.com

    Sending a poke to me on Instagram could be a nice reminder, too.

    Where to find more?

    Contact John Merrik on Instagram or check the Deformat IG:

    https://instagram.com/wolfmerrik
    https://instagram.com/deformat.records

  • We have new Merch on Printify

    We have new Merch on Printify

    Currently, there is merch available on https://deformat.printify.me – This was chosen so I could quickly set it up, rather than focus on the development of this site and continue working on music.

    This was indeed procrastination.

    What we have so far

    So far, I have added a large collection of items to the site, and I am adding not only Deformat specific designs, but any of my designs that align with music/breakcore/gabber in general. I have made a lot over the years, and it seems it would align well with people who like our music.

    Here is a selection of what is up so far:

    Why Prinitify?

    Printful will still be our top choice for integration with the site. I truly feel their quality is the best. However, the test items I ordered from Prinitify were completely acceptable and nearly indistinguishable in my opinion. I honestly cannot (aside from the inner tag branding from the Printful products) tell the two apart.

    POD?

    POD was chosen due to the fact that I truly do not expect to sell a lot of merchandise. Because of this, it is both economical and environmental.

    While yes, the margins are lower, it utilizes a large corporate entity; these are drawbacks. However, it still allows me to provide my designs to people wanting them, and to help fund other endeavors with Deformat.

    Conclusion

    I am a lazy bastard when it comes to this website, and have put the merch on https://deformat.printify.me rather than this website. This will eventually change when free time arises or when there is an actual demand for it.

  • New Release: John Merrik – Deformat EP

    New Release: John Merrik – Deformat EP

    John Merrik‘s Deformat EP has been released by Deformat Records on October 4th, 2025.

    More information can be found in the Releases section, and on the page for the release itself

    Music Video

    The music video and information on it can be found here:

    The full video from John Merrik “Deformat is Back”, inspired by 70s/80s VHS horror. I wanted this one to have the format of a music video from the bygone era, with storytelling and plot.

    The track “Deformat is Back” is the A Side track from The Deformat EP, released October 4th, 2025. New Breakcore, Speedcore, and more from Deformat Records. Just name your price on our Bandcamp.

    and an embed:

    The original teaser video:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DO9BHkGDjAB

    More information will be found on the following Instagrams:

    https://www.instagram.com/wolfmerrik
    https://www.instagram.com/deformat.records/
    https://deformat.bandcamp.com/
    https://www.youtube.com/@deformat

    and on the release here:

    As I finish setting up the site and shop, it will become available here as well, but I don’t expect that to happen before the release drops.

  • New Goals & Beyond

    Deformat is returning in and so is the website, with a new set of goals beyond digital releases. Let’s look at what Deformat hopes to accomplish and what has been done so far.

    • Artists – update the list of future artists, add more details to the archive of past releases.
    • Releases – tracks are currently listed, but downloads/audio are unavailable. If found, they will be added to a Bandcamp to be downloadable.
    • Live Events – live streaming events are an idea down the road.
    • Return of Contests – this has been talked about, and will follow another possible project.
    • More Info – there is always more of this.

    Admittedly, much of this website is a tertiary goal. Focusing on music, social media, and engagement, as well as other endeavors.

    For more information, please follow our socials

    Deformat Records
    Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | GitHub | Bandcamp

    And check out:

    Noise 4 Tots
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