Track of the Week: Cornah… From Macclesfield to The Vault via the ‘Helsinki Bus’

We talk to the UK export about crafting jungle in a hostel dorm, the Boomtown effect, and why “staying on the bus” is the secret to finding your sound.

It takes a certain level of commitment to fly halfway across the world, check into a hostel, and immediately start crafting dark, technical jungle rhythms on a laptop.

But for Dominic Corner (Cornah), that was just part of the process.

Originally from Macclesfield, UK, Cornah is one of the latest exports to land in the Perth underground, bringing with him a sound heavily influenced by the gritty, sub-heavy culture of Boomtown Fair and labels like Critical and Sofa Sound.

His latest track, “Rusty”, has just taken out our Track of the Week. It’s a roller that feels like it was born in a Bristol basement, but was actually engineered in a Perth backpacker dorm.

We sat down with Cornah to talk about the shift from Jump Up to Rollers, his obsession with The Vault, and the specific philosophy that keeps his creative process on track.

🚌 The Helsinki Bus Theory

In a scene obsessed with viral moments and quick pivots, Cornah subscribes to a different school of thought: The Helsinki Bus Theory.

Picked up from a Technimatic podcast, the theory (originally by Arno Minkkinen) uses the bus routes of Helsinki as a metaphor for creativity. All buses leave the station on the same line (the copycat phase). Most people get off early when they realize they sound like everyone else.

But if you “stay on the bus” long enough, the route eventually diverges, and you find your own unique destination.

“Do what you want to do and not what you think you need to do,” Cornah says. It’s this patience that has seen his sound evolve from high-energy Jump Up to the more refined, rolling textures of Jungle.

🏨 The Hostel Sessions

The winning track, “Rusty”, is proof that limitations breed creativity.

“I had just moved to Perth and wanted to create something for my first set,” Cornah explains. “I sat down in my hostel and spent all day making the drums and different bass patterns… It stayed in my locker for about six months until I asked if Up4It wanted it.”

The result? A track that captures the exact mood of a “dark, outdoor festival night”—the kind of tune designed to test the limits of a rig like the one at The Rechabite (which sits at the top of his gig wishlist).

🇦🇺 The Local Connection

Despite his UK roots, Cornah has embedded himself deep in the Perth scene over the last two years, citing The Vault as his favourite stomping ground and crediting his housemates (Riddler and Lil.dev) for keeping his selection fresh.

“They both have a great understanding of liquid rollers and older classics… they introduce me to artists and tracks that aren’t always new, which inspires me to look at the back catalogues.”

The Track: Rusty

Cornah’s winning track, “Rusty,” is the direct result of a creative burst in a confined space.

“I had just moved to Perth and wanted to create something for my first set,” Cornah explains. “I sat down in my hostel and spent all day making the drums and different bass patterns and just smashed it out.”

Inspired by the fresh sounds he was hearing in the local scene, he wanted to craft something that fit the Perth energy while adding his own unique, UK-influenced touch. The production process was surprisingly smooth—”straight forward, nothing too stressful”—but the track sat in his locker for six months before finding its home.

Eventually, he pitched it to Up4It Records, and label boss Tempah didn’t hesitate to sign it. The result is a gritty, rolling weapon that captures the “dark, outdoor festival” energy Cornah lives for.

Cornah’s Quickfire

🔌 Pass the Aux

We ask every feature artist to answer a question left by the previous interviewee, and leave one for the next.

Incoming Question from Nayler: “How many beers is the right amount to drink before playing a set?”

Cornah: “1 maybe 2. Don’t want to break the seal. Go crazy afterwards though.”

Outgoing Question for the Next DJ: “What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you during a set / whilst in the rave?”

Listen to “Rusty” on [Soundcloud Link]

Follow Cornah: [Instagram Link]