As 2018 draws to a close, you know we had to bring you one last Focus Five to close the year off right. For the final edition we’ve got a wild mix of artists dabbling in everything from experimental bass to wave and trap. While their styles and sounds differ, the quality and impressiveness of their work is all consistent. Look out for these five artists making serious noise going into 2019.
Hontis
Rhys Gillander, more affectionately known by his musical persona Hontis, possesses a remarkable talent despite his humble following of just over 600 on SoundCloud. What the Calgary native lacks in his fan base, he more than counterbalances with the depth of his sound, which carefully borders the line between trap and future bass. A deliberate emphasis on production assures that each track packs a punch, while the sheer range within his style brings something new to the table with each release.
Strap in for remixes of LUUDE’s ‘Don’t Leave Me’ and ‘Bottom End’ by What So Not & Dyro, which adopt a heavier, production-heavy guise, while a collab remix of Billie Eilish’s ‘Lovely’ with Yancey demonstrates a more sentimental side to Hontis. Don’t let the astounding collection of remixes fool you, Rhys is on the verge of discovering the true direction for his own sound, which he illustrates in his latest solo releases ‘Stims’ and ‘Pesanta’.
-SL
memphis
I’ve been hosting my own blog and radio show for more than three years and I can honestly say I’ve never come across anyone with the prolific output that Toronto’s own memphis can boast. A quick scan through my library shows at least 32 tracks released this year alone. So it while it’s safe to say he’s been making massive waves with this kind of turnaround, you can also say he’s been making wave singular, as in the genre. Often working with fellow Canadian and wave-maker MRKRYL (a pairing I deemed the magnificent M’s), their tracks have an indescribable allure. And that seems to be the thing about wave: there’s just something inexpressible, almost spiritual or transcendent at its core. While of course the choice of his more wave-centric tunes is large, my favourite comes in the beautifully haunting ‘Beyond The Waves’ with Codxinx and Djedi. All that said, lately memphis has been moving more towards trap and to great avail I might add. One of the most recent and momentous examples coming in ‘Zeus’ with Keiden. You never know what he’s going to drop or when, so keep a close eye on what this prolific producer will do next!
– OJ
Protial
Despite a solid SoundCloud following of over 3000 and support from bass music’s hottest names such as TYNAN, WHIPPED CREAM and PEEKABOO, Protial‘s name is not widely known due to his minimal social media presence. Nonetheless, he’s definitely an artist that should be on your radar, as his unique approach to bass music is truly unparalleled. First catching my attention almost two years ago with his heavy track ‘Below’ before truly amazing me with ‘No Signal’, Protial has continued to release astonishing tracks over the years, and is showing no sign of slowing down. His style is consistent, often using repetitive vocal samples layered over heavily distorted bass to create eerie, bass-face inducing soundscapes. A recent favourite is ‘Asterisk’, as it showcases this distinct technique to a tee. Keep an eye on Protial as he’s bound to make waves in the bass world sooner rather than later.
-SC
skeler.
Originals, remakes, collaborations, flips, there are no limits that can contain skeler.‘s genius. In case you missed it, during the past couple of years he has pushed some extra fine bass music from down under. Whether it’s trap, eurobass or wave, this young Aussie producer crafts only quality products. In this last act of 2018 he hasn’t slowed down in the slightest, ending up under my radar with two lush pieces: a remake of Hardwell’s dance hit ‘Arcadia’ and a brand new (long awaited) original titled ‘We’re Burning’. Both the tracks got put out under the ‘hardwave’ tag, etiquette that reflects the high tension of which the songs are pervaded. They are electrifying, uplifting, galvanizing, proper musical chimeras that embody bass music and trance in single, manifold bodies. If you’re looking for a rip-roaring adventure for your ears, skeler. is your new trusted dealer.
-AA
yojas.
If you’re wondering who to look out for in 2019, look no further than yojas. He first caught my ear with one of the standout tracks on Below The Surface’s SFBV4 in ‘Charisma’. A release that possesses the heat and intensity of a volcanic eruption and he hasn’t slowed up since. In the past month alone he unleashed two of the wildest rap flips to grace my ears in ‘ybn.’ and ‘x’. Both take familiar rap vocals, from YBN Namir and 21 Savage respectively, and drag them into a bass-laden dungeon. Standing above all of his releases is his latest ‘Apathetic’. Released on Quality Goods Records’ latest compilation, the track is the perfect display of his signature sound. The balance of brutal bass with punchy samples makes for something special. yojas.’s music packs the simplicity of early trap with the gritty sound design and wild bass we’ve fallen in love in 2018. yojas. is a must for any trap lover.
-CV
Get familiar with them all through our Focus Five Volume Eleven playlist below.
Words by Alessio Anessi, Colin, Oggie James, Steph Contant & Sam Lewis
