As we move towards the close of the year, we’ve got one more installment of Focus Five for your music discovery needs. This month we’ve got some Japanese UKG, emotional trap, chill instrumental hip-hop, and a few producers jumping between genres. Get familiar with all five.
Age Of Espion
Very few new artists make their debut on a label such as Deadbeats. When an artist does, one needs to take notice. Age Of Espion kicked off his project on the aforementioned label as part of the We Are Deadbeats Vol. 5 compilation earlier this year, and has since earned respect from the likes of IMANU, gyrofield, latesleeper, and more. With ‘Vansali,’ Age Of Espion showcased a future bass-leaning sound that is scintillating and crisp, putting him on the map as one to watch. More recently, the budding producer unveiled an emotive remix for Sonder’s ‘Nobody But You,’ adding an uplifting touch of house to the originally-acoustic track. With only two releases to his name thus far, Age Of Espion is showing incredible promise with a refreshingly unique style that does not appear to be limited to a single genre but falls right within the umbrella of the FUXWITHIT fanbase.
-SC
gny
When it comes to discovering underground hip-hop producers, Lofi Vibe has become a hub for putting on a diverse variety of talented beatmakers. One of the artists I’ve been following closely since his feature on the page, Manila-based gny, goes crazy with it. Whether he’s flipping a Playboi Carti track or creating something completely original, gny’s gentle approach to music-making wraps you in a warm hug, each note caressing you until the song ends. In the midst of doing our digging, we found that gny also had an electronic side project called Technicalia. While that project has been untouched for four years, his signature sound still shines through and his production chops are hugely impressive there, too.
-AL
Isaak
phuture collective’s Destinuna sublabel is an underrated home for vibey gems. One of the label’s standouts from this year came in the form of Isaak‘s ‘So Good.’ The inviting title and vibrant art set the tone but the sonic journey extends beyond those initial cues. Centered around transcendent vocal chops, cool basslines, and a sense of divine beauty, it elicits all the right feels. Building upon that energy and upping the intensity came Isaak’s follow-up ‘Frustration.’ The track was born out of the feeling we all experience. The intro perfectly encapsulates a slow burning irritation that erupts into a powerful future bass meets trap drop that feels almost capshun-inspired. As the year draws to a close we’ll be keeping a keen eye on what’s next from Isaak.
-C
rvnti
rvnti‘s pure poetic symbolism within his works takes your breath away. Carrying your hearts and souls down a rabbit hole of new beginnings. Letting go of the past while embracing emotions of the present and future. Completely separating his sound from the rest with such power throughout his discography. Angelic piano sections combined with cybernetic bass lines will instantly leave you in tears. Stuck in a trance you’ll never want to wake up from. Testing the waters of electronic trap, house, and of course wave. Honoring the genres in his own sophisticated fashion. From releases on Tribal Trap, KUMO Collective, and The Arcadium Project, to telling stories of rebirth through gorgeous self-releases, the talent flourishes throughout his creativity from beginning to end.
‘unforgettable’ is a mind-bending out-of-body experience. His abilities within the sonic spectrum is showcased to brand new heights. Harnessing emotions from all over and shaping them into a tale of woe and forgiveness. Hard-hitting drums combined with a heaven-sent atmosphere that nurtures the broken is something you’ll always keep coming back to. His newest release ‘mind+’ features a haunting vocal choice that carries throughout the story in an impactful and unforgettable sense. Taking the hands of the listeners. And guiding them through the darkness to a safe haven for all. From a thick and fluent bass line, to mystical attributes soaring around the environment like magic, it’s clear that rvnti is a force to be reckoned with. Making a true name for himself and paving a road of organic energy for the future.
-JD
Shunji Fuji
I have had it on my radar for years, but the Japanese electronic scene as a whole is still a mystery to me. Whenever I dive into it, however, I invariably come home with some gems. For example, during one of my latest digging sessions on Bandcamp, I was lucky enough to come across Shunji Fujii‘s music. Right when my enthusiasm for UKG was waning, his exuberant take on the genre gave me a much-needed boost. What immediately hooked me on Shunji Fujii’s garage flavor is its phenomenal funkiness. Check his latest EPs released via Stricly Flava and Garage Shared. Those basslines slap like no other! Add to the mix a wide variety of instruments like piano, organ, and trumpet but also many more I can’t even name (in this regard don’t skip over his 2020 tune ‘Images‘) and you will have on a theoretical level a fairly clear idea of what awaits you. Now you just have to put it into practice by pressing play below.
-AA
Words by Alessio, Arielle, Colin, John & Steph
