A formidable hunting territory for the production-oriented, Quality Goods Records have established themselves as both the first and final frontier for the modern wave of electronic trap music. Under the careful guidance of production icon UZ, the label has matured at an almost alarming rate since its founding in 2016, now providing homage and guidance to an extensive roster of veteran artists such as Hydraulix, Oski, Champagne Drip and sfam.
With exciting new additions around nearly every corner, 2018 may have been the most remarkable year for QGR to date. Bolstering the ranks with remarkable talent such as Krischvn, thook and Rome in Silver, the label capped off a diverse year of releases with the annual label compilation, which revealed yet another noteworthy batch of exciting young names to watch in the coming year.
Without breaking stride for an instant, Quality Goods Records starts the new year off on the right foot with the release of the highly-anticipated remix compilation from UZ’s coveted Rebirth, which debuted last spring. Teeming with creativity and innovation, the release compiles contributions from the label’s veteran constituents as well as a few new faces, each revealing a novel exploration from the direction of the original tune.
Kick up your feet, sit back, and enjoy as Quality Goods Records demonstrates yet again why they are the point of origin for all things trap.
Leading the pack is Rome in Silver with his take on the minimalistic track ‘Mad’. Orchestral chants are layered above an energetic revamp of the original track, before Rome in Silver jumps into the first drop in full swing with a barrage of wonky basses and tribal percussion. Don’t be fooled by the heaviness of the first half though, as the versatile producer adds lustrous beauty to the bass in the latter half of the remix.
Exploiting the tantalizing vocals from the original rendition of ‘Rebirth’ to his advantage, Los Angeles based Eliminate contrasts the floral, emotional melody of the track with a gripping, low-frequency drop. Sonic disparity gives the remix a raw, authentic appeal, while a deliberate emphasis on production smooths out the rough edges of the track for a silky smooth listening experience.
We know, you’ve heard this one already. It’s simply too good not to share twice, though. Silva’s dainty sounds have captivated the attention of many as of late, and his contribution to this remix pack is a perfect embodiment as to why. The Australian producer’s take on ‘Leave It’ will incept vivid imagery of nature with its whistling leads and ethereal soundscapes, allowing listeners to relax between bass heavy productions.
First making his debut appearance in the recently released 4th installment of the annual QGR compilation, Baajewala makes his return with a captivating remix of ‘Futon’. Enlisting fluid production enhancements, absorbing bass patterns and enriched synth medleys the latest QGR addition weaves an impassioned touch into a remarkable original.
Krischvn is another promising up-and-comer who is quickly becoming a QGR favourite. Tackling ‘Flash,’ Krischvn makes himself heard from the get-go, accentuating Bok Nero’s vocals with a raspy, metallic synth and a wretched sub bass. An elongated build-up leads you into an assertive showing of Krischvn’s pristine production talents, where contorted synths and glitchy samples shine.
In the vocal-rich ‘Cray’, Hydraulix keeps the original essence of the track alive in the introduction. After a short verse, the Sydney-based producer leads listeners into mayhem, adding a fat layer of bass to tickle all of your senses. The bombardment of resonating bass is enough to turn the vocal-driven original into a set-ready heater.
Capping off the wildly entertaining remix pack is Jon Casey with his take on the serene ‘Castle’. The talented South African takes Nevve’s calm vocals to build into a fury of trap insanity. In a real contrast from the original, Jon Casey uses penetrating drums and crushing bass to transport you to the depths of the Amazon, flexing his musical prowess once again.
Words by A. Samuel Lewis and Steph Contant.
