The single marks the first sneak peak of his highly anticipated Captive EP set to be released on 10/15, and an engrossing progression in the weird world of organic, sub-shaking low end scores. Best experienced at high volume, low temperature, and with a spare pair of pants.

The post Snuffy Debuts Trunk-Shaking Single ‘Elephant Pants’ Off Forthcoming Captive EP appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Space Yacht culture was built around vibrant underground after-hours events and electronic music and has grown to embrace a boundary-pushing mentality of what it means to be an organization in the modern music industry. Having orbited the space as art collectors themselves, founders Rami Perlman and Henry Lu have a unique appreciation for the explosive crypto-art expanse. In spite of the many obstacles that riddled the music industry in 2020, they successfully migrated to the digital realm and brought their vivacious community along for the ride. In an industry where live music is the primary source of income for most, Henry and Rami wasted no time pivoting their focus towards alternative revenue streams for the artists they champion.

The electrifying pieces feature original 3D visuals and music that embody the imaginative nature of the Space Yacht brand. Built on a blockchain primitive called NFTs (non-fungible tokens), the artworks are among a rapidly growing classification of advanced pieces that are truly owned by the collector outside the confines of any single platform or company. This new form of cryptomedia has generated millions in revenue for creators who previously struggled to be compensated fairly for their art, enabling them to further pursue their creative endeavors. We linked up with the captains of Space Yacht to share their journey from the high seas of live events to their latest undertaking into a new paradigm for digital media.

Space Yacht founders Rami Perlman (L) and Henry Lu (R) at one of their events

Howdy – thanks for chatting with us! Can you tell us about the origins of Space Yacht?

HL: We started out bonding over house music when us founders (Henry Lu and Rami Perlman) worked long hours at our jobs at one of the first viral marketing agencies. An opportunity came up for us to throw an event. Henry had thrown parties in college, and Rami wanted to DJ (he goes by LondonBridge). The first event was a hit, and the venue owner demanded that the concept become a weekly. We’ve thrown parties every single Tuesday in Los Angeles for the past 5 years, and we built a solid reputation for being spot-on curators in the electronic realm.

Our community is everything. If there’s any reason to take risks at all, it’s for them.

What did the journey to becoming an established events company entail?

HL: For companies in general, it’s consistency. For Space Yacht specifically, it’s our willingness to take risks, our taste, and our unique way of doing things. For a weekly party in the heart of Hollywood, we were probably the most anti-Hollywood. And for folks who came from marketing, we had a very anti-marketing approach to all things Space Yacht (no announced lineups, dropping flyers 3 hours before the show on purpose). These things would make a modern marketer sick to their stomach. A lot of our weird strategies, design ethos, and approach have been adopted by folks all around the world, and I think our influence to them comes from our consistent look and our willingness to take risks, especially when we were relatively small.

RP: On top of that, we try to put the interests of our community first–this includes folks who are artists starting out, young managers and industry folk who seem to be fighting for the culture, and the sort of people with a bit of vision. We owe it to those who said “yes to Space Yacht” and took a chance to come by either as a performer or attendee. Our community is everything. If there’s any reason to take risks at all, it’s for them.

How do you think in-person music events will unravel over the next 1-5 years?

HL: In-person events will come back, and I’m sure they will have new standards for safety, but I think that’s by and large expected by now. Here’s something I think is a bit more interesting–we expect a ton of folks who will be very accepting of super immersive virtual experiences. Even now (it’s January 2021 as we write these responses, 11 months into quarantine), we are still barely scratching the surface. Ten months ago, most people wouldn’t even bother to think about this. We’re talking to a ton of folks who can help us push experiences not only in the context of our everyday Default Reality, but into Extended Reality, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. I have no interest in wasting our time fighting the CDC on how I can “get away with” doing limited capacity events. We will do them when our time comes. Right now, the whole team at Space Yacht is united in leaning into our obstacles, adapting to them, and learning how to turn them into opportunities for us and our industry.

Five years ago we were concerned about getting people to fill up a nightclub–this is the least of our worries now.

How has Space Yacht evolved to meet the challenges posed by COVID?

HL: Expanding a bit more on what I alluded to above, quite literally the first week of quarantine, we froze all operations immediately so that we could make informed decisions. We had the choice of committing our time fighting our own governing agencies and trying to “get away with” silly technicalities, or we could carry forward our mission in a space where we knew we could continue to thrive–that was in the digital space for us. We became super serious in e-commerce and increased our revenue creating rave-inspired streetwear. Then we started laying the foundation for a multi-genre label, once again deeply promoting the artists who we would have booked to play our shows anyway. Then we developed business in crypto, and crypto products (which are powered by blockchain technology). These all tie back to our mission to be stewards of electronic music culture, but we are noticing that as we get more experienced, we are becoming more strategic and operating at a higher level, impacting cultural infrastructure at large. Five years ago we were concerned about getting people to fill up a nightclub–this is the least of our worries now.

RP: Our days are chaotic because there’s almost no rhythmic routine. But it’s super exciting.

One of the NFTs sold in the Iconography Collection

Was there anything that surprised you about your first NFT drop on Nifty Gateway?

RP: We’ve both been huge fans of the crypto-art space and had been collecting ourselves before we did our first drop over the summer. I think our biggest surprise was how quickly the collection sold out and how we were embraced by the existing NFT community. There are so many awesome people in the community and I think our mix of visuals and music give us a unique voice in the space. We also love the fact that crypto-art gives Henry and I another avenue in which we can be creative with our brand.

What makes crypto-art valuable?

RP: It all starts with the quality of the work and a unique point of view. Just like physical art, the market determines the ultimate value. If someone is willing to pay $200 for a piece and then someone buys it from that person for more, then the market is setting the value. Just like physical art, the clout of the artist and marketing has a lot to do with why some pieces are more valuable than others. But at the end of the day, the imagery, animation and or concept has to be great for it to have any value.

Why does it make a difference if these items are stored on a blockchain?

RP: The blockchain enables people to actually OWN the art and is the mechanism through which each piece is authenticated via a unique token known as an NFT. Just as a painter signs and numbers a piece of work to show authenticity, an NFT uses the blockchain to do this with digital art.

I think it has to do with the high visibility of the crypto space in popular culture as well as the fact that people love to collect things. Just like people collect sneakers or Pokeman cards, NFTs are a new way for people to collect.

Why do you think blockchain-based art has taken off so much recently?

RP: I think it has to do with the high visibility of the crypto space in popular culture as well as the fact that people love to collect things. Just like people collect sneakers or Pokeman cards, NFTs are a new way for people to collect. We have all been buying digital goods for years whether it be an app, MP3 download or cool skin in a video game. For digital natives, ownership of a digital good is not a new concept.

Another NFT from the Iconography collection

Do you think this is a trend? Are limited edition collectibles a viable long-term form of revenue for musicians?

RP: We feel strongly that NFTs will become a part of the music ecosystem. We love the idea of being able to sell limited edition master prints of tracks. We don’t see it replacing streaming or existing methods of listening to music. Instead, we think of it as additive and a new way for people to collect and support the artists they love. And yes, for some, it will be a new source of revenue, but just like the traditional music business, musicians will still have to create music and a brand that people connect with on an emotional level in order for anyone to want to buy their NFTs.

There’s no shortage of inspiring new tools for creators to monetize their work using cryptocurrency, and it’s encouraging to see renowned curators like Space Yacht making waves in the space. The more we can educate and usher existing communities into new realms of digital ownership and commerce, the more artists and creatives we can support. We’re grateful to be along for the ride and are beyond excited to see the inventive experiences Space Yacht has in store.

The post Space Yacht Explores New Paradigm of Digital Media [Interview] appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

50. gyrofield – Because You Are You

Given her immense rise to success this year, we figured the Top 50 would not be complete without the inclusion of gyrofield. Developing as one of the brightest young minds in drum and bass (and beyond), the Hong Kong-native started off the year with ‘Lionfish / Here 2 Stay’ and never looked back. From the Tech Flex EP to the Synopsis EP, gyrofield consistently exuded creativity and is extremely deserving of a spot on our list. However, we’ve chosen her Pilot Records single ‘Because You Are You’ as her contribution, as that track is a mesmerizing display of gyrofield’s ability to keep one hooked with melody, sound design and effects for a whopping five and a half minutes. It’s a steady outpour of crisp drum and bass that is somehow both intense and emotional. gyrofield is bound to tour the globe when the world allows it, so keep a close eye on the rising star.
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49. Integrate – Enter The Mirage

Despite being released on Valentine’s Day, ‘Enter The Mirage’ is anything but cute. Brought to you by the formidable production prowess of VCTRE and Black Carl!, this monstrous tune is a force to be reckoned with. The shared brilliance behind the Integrate duo couldn’t be illustrated better than through the grizzly neuro bass snarls that rip the swung halftime rhythm apart. The unparalleled vocal samples and off-the-wall sound design exquisitely capture the damage this track is capable of. Take it for a spin if you wanna see “what they talkin’ bout” and “what they mean.”
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48. Supertask – Healing

Portland, Oregon’s Kyle Bishoff has been making major waves in the underground bass music community between his solo venture Supertask and his new collaborative project Lab Group with fellow vibe adjusters Charlesthefirst and Potions. Despite taking an extended hiatus to refocus his energies in 2020, he still persevered and released one of his most captivating tracks to date. Adding a little sonic therapy into a year that desperately needed just that, ‘Healing’ is a gentle reminder that it’s okay to feel all aspects of the human experience, even the moments that make us feel like we’ll never fully recover. I don’t know a single person that didn’t go through something that drastically affected their lives at its very core this year, but it’s music like ‘Healing’ that aids us in grappling with those feelings and realizing that life happens again, and it won’t be stopped. One of the best pieces of the entire year? Absofuckinglutely.
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47. Supermerk2 – La Resaka (Control Freak Remix)

Played out religiously by every dubstep heavyweight in the game, Control Freak’s remix of ‘La Resaka’ was a veritable cultural phenomenon for the headbanging crowd. One of those tracks that wholeheartedly deserved a full festival season to wage a campaign of audible carnage, the immense amount of groove and wicked energy would have even the tamest of characters viciously throwing down with the best of them. Despite Control Freak’s young age, he’s shown he carries the production prowess of a longstanding veteran, and can run with the biggest in the business. Expect massive things from this one in the near future.
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46. RL Grime x Juelz – Formula (IMANU Remix)

The release of ‘Formula’ shocked many to the core. The combination of RL Grime’s anthem production with Juelz’s fast paced vibes was an immediate love factor. Fans from all over the community were talking about it from either the internet or hearing it live. But then, IMANU decided to take the wheel and put it into full throttle. His glitchy atmosphere and sound design absolutely brought it to the heavens. It’ll make any listener go crazy and create an even bigger passion for music itself. IMANU has been working well and hard to impress all and he’s done just that with this stellar reimagination of a cold hard classic, making this piece one of the most memorable remixes we’ve heard this year.
-JD

45. OAKK – Eclipse Flow

While some love the exponentially complex, I’ve always gravitated towards simplicity. There’s something special about the less-is-more approach that makes music feel more impactful and rich. A great rap sample, an intoxicating melody, perfectly executed percussion and some trunk-rattling 808s; what more could one need? Combining all these elements in a way that is pure perfection is OAKK’s ‘One’. From the Clipse sample, to cleanliness of the drum work and the deep bass, this track is what trap and bass music needs more of.
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44. Hukae – Dirty Talk

With three EPs and a handful of other releases throughout the year, Hukae broke out as one of dubstep’s most promising forces in 2020, and the track that catapulted the year into motion was ‘Dirty Talk.’ A personal favourite from the calendar year and a true demonstration of Hukae’s unique style and boundary-pushing approach, ‘Dirty Talk’ is one of those tracks that will have you saying what the fuck at every new bar, and will hypnotize you with its meticulous flow and raw inventiveness. A standout in Hukae’s impressive 2020 repertoire, this year’s list is not complete without this brute.
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43. Tiedye Ky – Never Cage a Butterfly

One of the most pleasant surprises of 2020, Tiedye Ky’s debut album Baby Blue and the Super Moon was a warm, sonic embrace that made the year just a little more bearable. A delightful menagerie of indie guitar and vocals courtesy of himself, mixed with progressive bass music elements, combined to create an impactful, introspective story that weaves a tale of love, loss, and the human experience itself. The most groundbreaking piece from the album was ‘Never Cage a Butterfly’ in our expert opinion, due to its overall atmosphere and remarkably original sound design. Breaking past being considered solely “a vibe,” we have approached “vibe and a half” territory.
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42. Alix Perez – Post – Mortem

Mastermind of low frequencies and tormenter of sound waves, Alix Perez had a monumental year. Both across his various side projects and on his record label (1985 Music), the man dropped some of the dodgiest plates that have been lurking deep in the nastiest DJ sets ever known to humankind. Of these, most notable is the lethal weapon that is ‘Post – Mortem’ off his Ravana EP. This catastrophic throbber of a tune is beyond mangled and easily one of the hardest hitting songs released this year. Built for the fattest sound systems money can buy, the tune deserves nothing less than the finest of audio fidelity when being delivered through your skull. Listen if you think you can stomach it.
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41. Aweminus – Glass Planet

It would truly be blasphemous to omit Aweminus from the Top 50 Of 2020. With over twenty tracks released this year alone, it was incredibly difficult to pinpoint a single track for this list, but it was definitely ‘Glass Planet’ that set the stage for the incredible year that Aweminus had. Emerging as one of the greatest minds in bass music, Aweminus undeniably took the 2020 dubstep crown, releasing one creative bop after the next. ‘Glass Planet’ is certainly no exception, showcasing Aweminus’ insane flow in a 5+ minute opus that will leave you breathless from start to finish.
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40. Chromonicci – True Colors

Although chromonicci is already a pillar of our music scene, somehow he managed to exceed our expectations once again. In this 2020 the diversity (and quantity) of his productions has been ridiculous. Everything that passed through his laptop has turned into gold and ‘True Colors’ is the diamond on the crown. Since he decided to start singing on his productions, I’d say that his voice has become a powerful weapon on a par with his iconic bounce basses, and here the two marry perfectly. ‘True Colors’ slips like velvet into our ears, pampers our feelings and gives us one of the most emotional and elegant songs of the year.
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39. six impala – EPSILON LOVE

The first single from six impala’s sophomore album, ‘EPSILON LOVE’ is a masterful showcase of the group’s ability to make music fun. Comprised of KaTT, underscores, Script, Helvetican and the newly-created NEUTRA, six impala are a group of creative minds who use their strengths to their advantage, creating projects with meaning that go beyond the music. With WFLYTD and ‘EPSILON LOVE’ specifically, six impala went beyond expectations, orchestrating a piece that, in true six impala fashion, doesn’t fall under the umbrella of any genre. It’s fun and danceable, and the impeccable ingenuity behind the project assured us that six impala needed to be in our Top 50.
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38. msft. – Move

Despite the world being completely frozen by the pandemic, this hasn’t stopped msft. from proceeding on his musical journey. As we have carefully documented on FUXWITHIT, through remixes, edits and originals his rock-hard sound is tirelessly evolving. ‘Move’ is the purest manifesto of this development. It’s muscular, it’s tonic, it’s the incarnation of filthiness but it’s also smart, classy, accurate, and flawless down to its tiniest little detail. As I’ve been arguing for years, controlled chaos is the best label for msft’s sound, which I believe still has very few equals at the moment. In the bass scene, he’s light years ahead. It’s us, mere humans, who have to catch up with him.
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37. Skrillex – Kliptown Empyrean

Well, Skrillex finally confirmed that he is working on a full-length project. While this doesn’t come as much of a surprise, it was reassuring to finally hear it from the legend himself. To tide us over, Skrillex dropped one solo track this year, a surprise future garage jam that further attests to the god-like artist’s ability to create every single genre with ease. Sampling Hilary Duff’s ‘What Dreams Are Made Of,’ Skrillex ventures into the territories of ‘Fire Away’ and ‘Leaving’ with his latest, driving emotion through impeccable drum work and atmospheric effects. ‘Kliptown Empyrean’ is not a mainstage banger nor an incredibly complex track, but it’s simplicity and undeniable beauty make it worthy of a spot on this year’s list.
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36. camoufly – Life Of Lido

camoufly is undoubtedly one of the fresh faces of 2020. I mean, we don’t actually know what his face looks like yet, but his cartoonish avatar and unconventional productions have been ubiquitous in live streams, mixes and Minecraft raves. This year, the opinions of countless experts have come together in a choral endorsement for camoufly who, behind the goofy mask, has proven to hide lethal production skills. ‘Life of Lido’ is the most crystalline example. In case you’ve missed it, this creative prodigy produced a work of art using samples from seventeen Lido tracks. That’s it. You’re not impressed? Well, you should be. This tribute is truly one of a kind and how he managed to keep it so clean and balanced is still a mystery.
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35. Krischvn – Second Baked

A true German mad audio scientist of the highest degree, Krischvn, has been consistently gallivanting his excessively heavy take on experimental trap music that frequently touches on borderline dubstep flavors. His biggest project of the year, his Baked EP was a unique take on making multiple distinct versions of the same track, with the biggest being ‘Second Baked,’ which was teased in live settings by the don Liquid Stranger for almost an entire year prior. Being one of those tracks that as soon as you heard the initial note of the build in a live setting, you’d firmly grasp your closest friend knowing full-well shit was about to get excessively bonkers. An easy choice for our top 50 of the year, we see this track gracing almost every festival sound system once they start back up once more.
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34. anderson .paak – Lockdown (ft. JID, Noname, & Jay Rock)

Yo, you can’t ignore a stacked feature lineup like this. I’m never one to say anderson .paak’s music can necessarily be improved, but when you add names like JID, Noname, and Jay Rock to a track… What am I gonna do, say no? The funky beat and velvety vocals in juxtaposition to its heavy message, referencing the pandemic, police brutality, and racial injustice in America, are jarring. But it wasn’t the least bit performative. .paak also donated to the Action Bail Fund L.A., Atlanta Solidarity Fund and Albany Bail & Safety Fund for Black Lives.
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33. Ty Dolla $ign – Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, FKA twigs & Skrillex)

What happens when a few legends come together for a spin on hip-hop and electronic music? Pure emotion and slow-tempo groove are right as Ty Dolla $ign called upon Kanye West, FKA twigs and Skrillex for their diverse collaboration on ‘Ego Death.’ A surprise collaboration which could not have come at a better time, Skrillex’s top notch production skills go hand in hand with these artists’ vocal talents to produce a single which has clearly been on repeat through 2020. With the track revolving around killing one’s ego to achieve success and happiness, TY Dolla $ign, Kanye West and FKA twigs deliver a clear message with their classic vocals. Drawing upon a taste of house to conclude the track, Skrillex does not hold back to end off on the highest note.
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32. IDK x JID – Cereal (feat. Kenny Mason)

If festivals were a thing this summer, this track would’ve been heard at every stage. ‘Cereal’ feat. Kenny Mason is indisputably one of the hardest rap songs released this year. Driven by a sample that’s tough as nails and backed by jaw-dropping beat, IDK, JID and Kenny Mason definitively shredded this sheesher. Reminiscent of past anthems like ‘Shabba,’ ‘Cereal’ slaps unequivocally hard. 3 of the best rappers right now cemented their position with this one.
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31. Dabow x LYNY – Caliente

We all could use a little spice in our lives and Dabow & LYNY certainly brought the heat with ‘Caliente.’ Released on Dome of Doom and premiered on FUXWITHIT, we knew this one was going to be massive before it was even released. Wild sound design, fun vocals and anthemic energy made this track a favourite in DJ sets and livestreams, landing support from heavy-hitters like QUIX, HWLS, Boombox Cartel and UZ. Forget about jalapeños or serranos, these two brought that ghost pepper heat. Would you expect anything less from two of trap music’s brightest stars?
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30. great dane – Former Friends

Between a handful of ADBC Records releases, his critically acclaimed album Delta Fly and the accompanying remix LP, great dane had a monumental year. The puppy papa was so busy that we had to take a minute to recognize one of the swankiest boppers he put out: ‘Former Friends’. This perfectly executed track is not only particularly susceptible to getting stuck on repeat, but is also an absolute weapon in DJ sets. Bob along below.
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29. Leotrix – Emoboy303 (SIDE)

Never one to conform to expectations or to remain caged within a specific genre, few have demonstrated the ability to weave through the different realms of bass music as Leotrix has. 2020 was another monstrous year for the Sydney-based artist, with ‘Emoboy303 (SIDE)’ being a true standout from his numerous releases. A highlight from Halcyon’s debut compilation, ‘Emoboy303 (SIDE)’ demonstrates a new, welcome side to Leotrix’s impressive skill set, as the producer totally disregards all genres while simultaneously creating a bop that easily fits within any trap, future bass, or dubstep set. Leotrix is a bright mind in bass music, and worthy of yet another spot in this year’s list.
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28. Keys N Krates – Double Dutch

While Keys N Krates haven’t put out much music since the release of Beat Tape For Your Friends last year, we’ve still been able to keep up with them through weekly Twitch streams. Whether it’s Matisse and Tune letting us hang out and chat while they’re making beats, or Jr. Flo doing a DJ set, we’re always hyped to keep tabs on them. ‘Double Dutch’ was one of their only drops this year… but when has KNK ever disappointed us? The Toronto-based group said they were inspired to make a cinematic piece through Baile Funk and soundtrack music. The trio was able to effortlessly blend tribal drums, rhythmic chanting, powerful 808s, and scintillating pianos all in one high-powered track.
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27. COPYCATT – Bare Your Soul

2020 was the year of COPYCATT’s return to SoundCloud, and regular music releases in general. We had the extreme pleasure of catching up with the Australian talent just last month to discuss everything from self-criticism, to the power of social media, to developments in his personal life and so much more, in addition to being blessed with a bangin’ 30-minute guest mix filled with originals. What really kicked off the year for COPYCATT was his release on Inspected’s Powered By Inspected Vol. 3 titled ‘Bare Your Soul.’ As the most played tune from the compilation on both SoundCloud and Spotify, ‘Bare Your Soul’ is an amazing display of COPYCATT’s ability to mesh beautiful melodies and rugged bass in a cohesive manner, drawing influence from hip-hop, lo-fi and neuro to concoct a ballad worthy of playing on repeat for hours on end.
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26. Tchami & Gunna – Praise

Many of us who enjoy future house music can attest to counting on Tchami’s blessings to get groovy on the dancefloor no matter what time of the day it is. Recognized as a true pioneer in the ever-growing future house movement, ‘Praise’ Tchami for continuing to push his forward-thinking sound forward by calling upon Gunna for an epic collaboration a few months back. Drawing upon hints of hip-hop rhythms and Gunna’s classic vocals, Tchami brings his classic production skills to the table as listeners are welcomed with subtle basslines and distorted frequencies. Crafting an irresistibly smooth sound to the ears, Tchami and Gunna are the perfect match for a collaboration we never knew we needed in our lives.
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25. Griz – Medusa (Feat. Wreckno)

An LGBTQ+ anthem that wiggled the air in sound systems in countries across the entire world, Griz and Wreckno’s ‘Medusa’ became an instant classic and turned the hearts of bigots to stone. Fiercely promoting fiery empowerment is what’s on the menu, and these boys are serving it up piping-hot. It’s a tough call what to be more proud of; the overall message itself, or the absolutely insane level of polish. Featuring top-tier production with deliciously purring low-end and saucy vocals from Wreckno himself, this is one booty-shaking, hip-gyrating, rainbow-touting good time.
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24. Clozee – Winter Is Coming

One of the biggest queens in the electronic music ecosystem is France’s Clozee, who proudly flaunts her eclectic and exceptionally passionate take on bass music in the form of “world bass,” piecing together an overall sound that easily spans the length of the globe. Her sole release this year came in the form of Neon Jungle, a magnificent 10-track body of work that gives birth to heartfelt, concrete emotions in all that come into contact with it. Our top pick from that album was ‘Winter Is Coming,’ arguably the most powerful and soul-igniting piece that sports as much soul and funk as it does wondrous wubs. A true feel-good track that hits all the right notes, ‘Winter Is Coming’ was a bright spot in a year filled with much darkness. Clozee once again came with the all- encompassing good vibes, and we’re positive she’ll continue that trend into 2021 and beyond.
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23. Subtronics – Scream Saver

With ‘Griztronics‘ topping our list of best songs last year, all eyes were on Subtronics to see what he would whip-up into existence in this calendar year. His answer? The illustrious ‘Scream Saver’ of course. The title track off his first of 2 EP releases this year, ‘Scream Saver’ provides more kick than a pissed off mule with Subtronics’ patented earthquake-inducing heaviness. Leading his merry band of Cyclops into the future, only time will tell what this young creator will penetrate your sound system with next.
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22. Moore Kismet – Flair

It’s absolutely astonishing that one of the most forward-thinking sound designers in the game just so happens to also only be 16 years old, but Moore Kismet wears that title proudly and earns it back with each and every release. With the unveiling of their album Revenge of the Unicorns, they far exceeded all expectations, showcasing a diverse and wholly unique audible breath of fresh air. Our favourite track from that body of work was the uplifting track ‘Flair,’ which features their own mother. Perfecting melodic dubstep and making a piece that truly makes it difficult to not bust-out smiling while listening, Moore crushed this track and the rest of the project as a whole. Earning recognition even from Forbes magazine for their triumphs this year, this is one artist that will continue to prove time and time again that they can hang, and even lead, with the best of them.
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21. Papa Khan – Rain

There were a lot of pieces this year surprising audiences left and right, but one song in particular caught the eyes and ears of the community as a whole. Papa Khan’s track ‘Rain’ shook the ground from underneath by passion and intricate sound design. His process of evolving the dubstep genre in general was a beautiful sight to see. And having it released on Marshmello’s label, JOYTIME COLLECTIVE, fit perfectly in their roster.

Even though the artist is known for his heavy and dirty bass designs, ‘Rain’ takes all of that knowledge and shapeshifts into something lush and melodic, creating an indescribable feeling you’ll remember for years to come, giving this song the spotlight of being one of the most game changing vibes we’ve heard in a long time. No matter where you are in the world, you’ll gain another piece of happiness and inspiration from this work of art and more.
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20. Phonon – Polyriddim

This was a no-doubter. When we featured phonon in our Focus Five at the beginning of the year, we would have never predicted such an explosion in popularity. ‘Polyriddim’ is by far the biggest dubstep track of the year, with everyone and their mother talking about it on social media. Few tracks have created such an online frenzy, and that’s saying a lot given the total lack of live events this year. Despite earning somewhat mixed reviews from avid dubstep listeners, as some criticized the flow and listenability of the track, there’s no denying the impact that ‘Polyriddim’ had on all fans of the genre. It is also undeniably one of the most creative approaches to dubstep that we have ever heard, thus earning a spot in our top 20 for its inventiveness and overall impact on the scene.
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19. Aminé – Pressure In My Palms (ft. slowthai + Vince Staples)

To be honest, it was hard to pick one Aminé song, since Limbo was an unadulterated masterpiece. What makes ‘Pressure In My Palms’ so elite is its versatility. While the Portland native is known for his goofy side, Aminé begins with a gritty and bass-heavy old-school rap track in the first half and transitions seamlessly to a softer, more melodic beat in the second half. With support from other heavy hitters, slowthai and Vince Staples, Aminé story tells the struggles of an artist and the stress of keeping up when trying to be the best. The song is a great representation of what you can expect in Limbo.
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18. KOTA The Friend – BQE (Feat. Joey Bada$$ & Bas)

KOTA The Friend’s Everything is easily my favourite album of the year. It’s actually one of my favourite albums in years. Living up to his name, the project feels like a close friend giving you game and reasons to celebrate life. 2020 was difficult at best and Everything was exactly what we all needed. Smooth and upbeat production paired with down to earth and optimistic bars. It was a reminder of getting back to basics, enjoying chilling in the park with that special someone, and the importance of family and love. The standout single ‘BQE’ reminded the world that New York is still home to some of the best rappers as KOTA trades verses with Joey Bada$$ and Bas. KOTA steals the show with an inspiring 16 that challenges you to keep grinding and striving for more. Joey & Bas follow suit, making ‘BQE’ one of the best hip-hop collabs of the year. Catch the wave.
-C

17. Disclosure – Tondo

There’s nothing I want to do more than dance to ‘Tondo’ on a rooftop in the summer. The track was one of many in the duo’s latest and aptly named Energy album, and they give us exactly that. The Lawrence brothers stated that they’ve been exploring sounds from different cultures—notably in African genres—over the last few years. They didn’t fail to showcase the artists from all over the world that they were heavily-influenced by in Energy. ‘Tondo’ actually happens to be a dynamic rework of Cameroonian musician Eko Roosevelt’s ‘Tondoho Mba,’ and we’re digging what they’ve done with the piece.
-ALL

16. Halogenix – Independent

As drum and bass made waves in the west this year, one tune stands out as the undeniable anthem of the summer. Complete with a symphonic outro and released as a part of his Dragonforce EP, Halogenix’s ‘Independent’ took the world by storm. Rinsed in countless live streams (even non DnB sets!), the impossibly catchy vocal chops and immaculate production caused this tune to spread like wildfire. We gotta hand it to Halogenix for single-handedly reminding everyone how much there is to explore and love in drum and bass.
-JS

15. Juelz – Renegade (feat. HEKLER, RemK, SteLouse, Juuku, Harlyyn)

Power. Power can be a beneficial yet horrifying force to hold. It can either build, or destroy depending on who possesses it. And with this year being so challenging and scary from power itself, what can we do as humans, to contribute for a better tomorrow? If there was any source of light this year, it was partly created from Juelz, HEKLER, RemK, SteLouse, Juuku, Harlyyn and more. Their song, ‘Renegade’ has touched the souls of many around the music industry. Shaking the listener’s emotions to the deepest depths.

According to Juelz, he wanted to do his part and join the fight for equality of black lives in America by creating a piece to honor the Black Lives Matter movement. And every profit off of the song itself, was be donated to the Color of Change organization. But he couldn’t do it alone. With the help of other talented musicians, they produced one of the most impactful songs this year. Their energies and souls bonding with each other through sound is done in a gorgeous and breathtaking fashion. It will leave you with a beating heart and tears streaming down your face. Creating a sense of empowerment to fight for what’s right. And showing you don’t need to be afraid to stand up against a higher energy.
-JD

14. Whethan x RL Grime – Outta Here

This is the third time we’re talking about ‘Outta Here’ on FUXWITHIT so there’s no doubt it would be featured on this list. After all, Whethan and RL Grime are the kings of future bass and trap, respectively, and are two of the most spotlighted producers on the site. When ‘Outta Here’ served as the teaser for Sable Valley Summer Vol. 1 compilation, we knew it would be an absolute unit of a collaboration. We’re definitely hoping to see more of “Trap Whethan” in 2021.
-ALL

13. capshun x Quiet Bison – Acai Tower

Few artists possess the ability to create sonic worlds like capshun & Quiet Bison. Both renowned for their transportive sounds, the two combined to bring listeners on the ultimate journey with ‘Acai Tower.’ With a slow burning introduction accounting for half the song’s length, this isn’t your typical Quality Goods Records banger. Patience pays as each passing second adds a layer of tension and complexity; brushstrokes on the canvas, carefully bringing the scene into focus. The brief moment of near silence interrupted by a shot eviscerates the tension and launches forth a second act that is ripe with adventure. Tribal, beautiful and dangerous, ‘Acai Tower’ is a one-of-a-kind work of art that proved capshun & Quiet Bison are true masters of their craft.
-C

12. UZ – Fire feat. Solosam (Extended Version)

FUXWITHIT was founded upon the idea of bringing hip hop and electronic music together. Few artists did a better job at blurring these lines than the trap king UZ. His album Trinity was a masterclass mixing forward-thinking bass music, trap and rap for one of the best projects in 2020. A clear standout, ‘Fire (Extended Version)’ featuring Solosam embodied this to the fullest. Solosam’s distinct vocal tone and catchy delivery made it a rap bop, but just when you get comfortable UZ completely flips the script unleashing an absolutely astounding trap drop that is assured to decimate any speaker system. It’s not easy to balance weird and adventurous with approachable and smooth but UZ proves when done right, it’s hard to top.
-C

11. TroyBoi – Favorite

Always on another level in the music industry, TroyBoi is an OG who is definitely not new to the game. With over 5 million streams on Spotify, this was easily a ‘Favorite’ of ours and fans alike. TroyBoi joined forces with rapper Healthy Chill to lead us into the summer with a hip-hop infused single alongside Troy’s versatile production style. Catching all those uplifting vibes is easy with these two artists, as several keyboard progressions flow perfectly with Healthy Chill’s prominent vocals to deliver a true masterpiece for all those in need of their hip-hop fix with a side of Troy’s ever-evolving sound design. With the track continuing to shift levels, listeners are reminded of why the sun is shining on Troy even during the current pandemic situation in 2020.
-AK

10. Chee – Vultures

With each passing year, South Africa’s Chee becomes even more impressive in his undeniably trademarked sound and pinpoint murky, energetic aesthetic. With his first release on Zeds Dead’s Deadbeats imprint in the form of the production phenomenon ‘Vultures’, part of his Quarter Inch EP, he solidified his status as a modern-day cosmonaut of digital audio workspaces. Sporting a delayed drop that had listeners firmly floored and was readily reproduced by a healthy helping of fellow beatsmiths, Chee racked up 1.2 million compulsive plays between the two major streaming giants. With stats like those and the wave of tracks that followed that were direct homages to this piece, ‘Vultures’ was a no-brainer for being in the top 10 of the year on our list.
-AB

9. Baauer – Magic

When Baauer unleashed his album Planet’s Mad, it was a moment. It’s rare that we collectively stop and truly tune into a release these days but that’s exactly what happened when Baauer debuted his latest album along with the accompanying visual. From group chats to social media, the feeling was electric. Baauer gave us a much needed escape from reality by sweeping us away into his alien world. Sonically, the project broke new ground defying genre barriers, while truly crafting an out of this world soundscape. ’Magic’ did justice to its name with a sound that felt otherworldly, enchanting and tribal. With pounding percussion and transcendent palettes it was pure ‘Magic.’ Combine its cultural impact with a Grammy nomination and it’s clear Baauer commands a spot in the top 10.
-C

8. Big Sean x Nipsey Hussle – Deep Reverence

“Fuck rap I’m a street legend.” Nipsey Hussle’s verse on ‘Deep Reverence’ is bittersweet. It’s a showcase of everything that made him so special; from his street mentality to his inspirational outlook. It’s magic to hear Nipsey but a sullen reminder of the tragic loss of life. ‘Deep Reverence’ shines in many ways, including pushing typical song structure aside. The hook only plays once but the power of the words are left ringing in your head. Big Sean proves why he’s one of the best in the game with a two and half minute verse that sees him navigating from mending ties with Kendrick following Nipsey’s passing, to family struggles, personal revelations and coping with depression. It’s honest, inspiring, and moving. ‘Deep Reverence’ rewrites the definition of a street single, crafting a work that’s catchy, captivating and fittingly deep.
-C

7. JOYRYDE – 4AM

While part of us thought the day would never come, the other part knew that bass music would change forever once JOYRYDE would drop BRAVE. That day finally came on April 3rd, and to the delight of many, exceeded all (high) expectations that we had. Despite featuring ‘I’M GONE’ in last year’s list, it would be unjust to exclude a contribution from BRAVE in this year’s list. Among the wide array of instrumental and vocal-driven tracks, none stood out more than ‘4AM,’ a monstrous bass house brute that is relentless in its energy and impeccable in its execution. ‘4AM’ is JOYRYDE at his finest, demonstrating why he is a pioneer in the bass house realm while also showcasing his ingenious approach to creating something fun. Aside from a couple of familiar samples, ‘4AM’ is pure bass house mastery, truly invoking the most profound goosebumps as one experiences the ungodly progression from start to finish.
-SC

6. Drake – Laugh Now Cry Later (Feat. Lil Durk)

It wouldn’t be a FUXWITHIT Top 50 list without at least one Drake record in the top 10. Clocking half a billion streams on Spotify and YouTube combined, ‘Laugh Now Cry Later’ isn’t Drake’s biggest record of all time but it was still an anthem (with a few Grammy nominations). It’s victory lap rap that would’ve rang off at every club (if clubs were actually open). Triumphant horns, breezy bars, Drake’s signature catchy singing and a Lil Durk feature make it impossible not to rock with. Drake is the king of Instagram caption worthy quotables and sharing intimate experiences that somehow resonate with us all. “Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry, but I guess you know now,” pretty much sums the year we all had, baby.
-C

5. Ekcle – Pearl Jigsaw

Some may be surprised to see ‘Pearl Jigsaw’ at such a high ranking on this year’s list, as Ekcle might not be a very well-known name to the average listener. That being said, the average listener needs to add Ekcle to their radar now, and ‘Pearl Jigsaw’ is only one of the many reasons. Transcending genres, styles, and sound with every new release, the UK-based duo have proven their mastery time and time again, evoking unparalleled emotions in each of their tracks while somehow pairing it with the perfect dosage of bass. As their first release of the calendar year, as well as my personal top Spotify track of the year, ‘Pearl Jigsaw’ is a perfect testament to this boundary-pushing mentality that Ekcle have embodied, and a single listen-through is sure to make you an instant fan of their work. I have yet to meet someone who has listened to Ekcle and been unimpressed, so I implore all to dive into their discography to get a full sense of their creative genius. Don’t miss out.
-SC

4. Apashe – Uebok (Gotta Run) ft. Instasamka

Despite it being an early release into 2020, we felt compelled to include a piece from Apashe’s sensational Renaissance album due to its absurd level of overall quality. Featuring a full orchestra throughout, this one was by far one of the most impressive bodies of work of the year, and past several years if we’re being completely honest, and ‘Uebok (Gotta Run)’ was our top from that field pick by a wide margin. With over 6 million combined streams on SoundCloud and Spotify combined, and over 8 million plays on its music video, it’s showcased the boundless artistry Apashe is capable of. Featuring some of the finest horns I’ve heard used in an electronic song, and a ridiculous hard dance switch-up to close out the track, listeners will be left on their toes and drooling from the audiophile buffet at their fingertips.
-AB

3. Kumarion – Want It

If you didn’t think this track was going to make our list, let alone break the top 10, you weren’t paying close enough attention. Easily one of the most frequently rinsed tracks by all the heavy hitters in the industry, Kumarion’s ‘Want It’ helped pave the way for a new chapter in the youthful career of this bass maestro. Transitioning from a bass-heavy approach, to more distinctly drum & bass flavors, it’s been one wild ride watching the exceptional growth in the productions and overall branding of this Seattle-based producer. Garnering almost 1 million total plays between Spotify and SoundCloud, this track reverberated through sound systems across the world to fans’ sheer delight. So how exactly did Kumarion give it to his fans? Just as they wanted it, apparently.
-AB

2. Cardi B – WAP (Feat. Megan Thee Stallion)

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny ‘WAP’ was a cultural reset. After months of quarantine, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion reminded us that we’re all still bad bitches. The song defied genres, in that, everyone and their moms were remixing it. People learned how to do the fuckin splits just to dance to it. But it’s more than just a rap song with silly lyrics about sex, this song is about female empowerment… and it deserves this #2 spot on FUXWITHIT’s Top 50 Songs Of 2020. It also has the numbers to back it up, for any doubters.

The song debuted at #1 on Billboard Top 100…. and is the first female collaboration to do so. It currently sits at 541,592,466 (and counting) streams on Spotify. It broke the record for biggest 24-hour debut for an all-female collaboration on YouTube. It was listed at #2 on Time’s Top 10 Songs of 2020. With the help of ‘WAP,’ Cardi B became the only female rapper with Hot 100 #1 singles in two different decades and GQ named Megan Thee Stallion Rapper of the Year. There are so many contributing factors to why this song is a hit… its brilliant sampling of Frank Ski’s ‘Whores In This House,’ the plethora of powerhouses doing cameos in the music video, or just that two of the hottest black women in rap collaborated on this catchy song. Whatever it is, we know ‘WAP’ will be playing long after clubs reopen.
-ALL

1. Flume – The Difference (feat. Toro y Moi)

This year has been a strange and eye opening experience, with each day holding its own challenges and obstacles. But one track in particular has given us all a reason to keep going. With the help of Toro y Moi, Flume’s ‘The Difference’ has become a worldwide sensation. Having more than 35 million plays on Spotify alone, it’s become a hit that transcends audiences and genres alike.

If you’ve been following the legend for a long time, this might have been a shock in the beginning. But a shock filled with awe and adoration. It surprised many to hear Flume’s take on the drum and bass genre, not to mention how uplifting it was. Nonetheless, it is truly a remarkable and revolutionary step for electronic music as a whole. Its effect goes beyond just the electronic world. Let’s think about how many non-electronic people will think “wtf is this rhythm?” or “what’s this sound?” while listening to this “pop” song, and, seeking answers, they’ll discover the amazing world of Flume’s discography, of drum and bass and weird electronic music in general. With this track, Flume has opened the doors of our world to legions of new fans, who in the future may discover and support acts like Quiet Bison, capshun, gyrofield and many others that graced this list.

It’s a perfect example of creativity that can inspire anyone who’s listening to it. We all see the track as a strong message to always have confidence and courage for what you believe in, regardless of other opinions. It’s our beliefs first and foremost, not outside forces that define us. We’re our own artists and we can paint our canvas of life however we feel.
-JD x AA

Words & selections by Alessio, Alex, Alshaan, Arielle, Colin, Jeremy, John & Steph.

FUXWITHIT Top 50 Songs Of 2020 Playlist

The post Top 50 Songs Of 2020 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

i think its p clear at this point @AudiusProject is not fucking around

— 𝑺𝑨𝑲𝑨 (@soundslikesaka) October 23, 2020

Why cryptocurrency?

There are no shortage of problems with how the current music industry handles payments and distribution. Legacy financial systems come with their own set of obstacles. Cryptocurrency has reinvented the way people can exchange value online, enabling systems that adhere to rules ingrained into their code instead of ones set by greedy companies and outdated laws. Audius leverages the Ethereum blockchain and other distributed networks to let users truly own their money, data, and content.

On Audius, artists don’t have to wait for distributors to send them their royalties. Not even Audius itself holds the keys to your wallet. They don’t host the music, and after enough time they won’t even own the protocol that platform runs on. It’s a new paradigm that gives power back to the people who provide value: you. By aligning incentives for platform and artist success through the value of the $AUDIO token, Audius doesn’t even need to take a share of revenue to be a profitable company. SoundCloud and Spotify wouldn’t hold the power they do today without the immeasurable contributions from the artists and fans doing what they love. Cryptocurrency enables us to cut out the middle man. It takes the reigns back from greedy corporations and gives people the tools to steer the ship themselves. It lets us create the world we want to live in, void of the toxic systems that have wreaked havoc upon the music industry for decades.

What is the $AUDIO token?

$AUDIO is a central building block of the Audius ecosystem. Holding it is like owning a piece of the network; it represents your stake in the projects success. The token is a reward mechanism that unites all participants in the ecosystem to make the project succeed. It’s a reason for new artists to join, for the team to deliver useful features, and for other stakeholders to bring value to the platform. It can be used in a handful of ways today with more use cases on the horizon.

Tech-savvy entities currently support the network by running nodes (servers) that deliver content (audio, song/user metadata, images, etc.) directly to users without relying on Audius or other companies to host and transfer the information. These node operators are rewarded in $AUDIO for their help, which gives them a larger share of voting power to guide the project to a better future.

In fact, anyone (yes, even you!) can use their $AUDIO to vote on upgrades to the protocol. The token gives you a voice in the ongoing evolution of the network, allowing people to propose improvements and signal their support for them. There are additional ways the Audius team foresees the $AUDIO token being used such as unlocking content and features/services, which you can read about in their whitepaper.

How do I use $AUDIO?

At the moment, there isn’t much that your average user can do with their tokens other than buy/sell them on Uniswap or Binance. More technical folks can stake their $AUDIO by running discovery and/or content nodes, which in turn will earn them more tokens as they continue to support the network. Starting in the next few weeks, users will be able to vote with their tokens on the Governance Dashboard. The more tokens you hold, the more of a say you will have in decisions.

Who received $AUDIO tokens?

The 10,000 most active users received an airdrop based on how many plays they’ve earned, their follower count, and likes on their tracks, playlists, and reposts. If you’ve been using Audius check your email! There’s a good chance you can claim some tokens on your Account Dashboard.

Unlike the SoundClouds, Spotifys, and other major tech companies that largely exist to extract money from their users, Audius rewards those who generate value for the project. In a remarkable gesture, they illustrated how much they respect their community by rewarding them with tokens for helping them get the project off the ground.

What better way to speak to the ethos of a community-owned and operated streaming protocol than by sharing the token responsible for shaping Audius’ future with the very people who helped us get to where we are today. – Audius

Audius airdropped 50 million $AUDIO to 10,000 users receiving an average of 5,000 tokens each. FUXWITHIT favorites such as Brownies & Lemonade, Phuture Collective and Good Society were each rewarded with ~60,000 tokens, and even we got a small handful for our blog account. You can read more details about the distribution and token launch in their announcement article.

audius is now officially the new soundcloud https://t.co/28T0BYeann

— tsuruda (@tsuruda) October 23, 2020

Now what?

To those who have been plagued by industry incumbents for the duration of their artistic career, let this be a call to arms to reimagine and pave a new path— one in which every aspect of the experience is grounded in sovereignty and decentralization. We look forward to seeing you along the way. – Audius Whitepaper

There is a lot to be excited about. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg for what’s possible with user-operated platforms like Audius. We’re proud to be members of the community and thrilled to steward a bright new chapter in the music industry through innovative technology. Join us along for the ride and check out some of our favorite artists, labels and collectives on Audius below.

FUXWITHIT

Ivy Lab

ONHELL

tsuruda

chromonicci

Blake Skowron

camoufly

capshun

gurf

yojas

bd hbt

snuffy

L*o*J

Saka

Floret Loret

Tek Genesis

vide

FRQ NCY

Noer the Boy

laxcity

Rome in Silver

oshi

X&G

Lido

Mr. Carmack

Partica Artist Group

Above & Below

Saturate Records

Good Society

Phuture Collective

Brownies & Lemonade

The post Audius Rewards Their Early Adopters With $AUDIO Cryptocurrency appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Alexander Panos

Alexander Panos may seem like a strange pick for Focus Five, as the last thing he has posted on SoundCloud dates back to May 2019. However, the wickedly talent artist recently re-appeared on my radar with a nostalgic and fun remix for Skrillex’s ‘Turmoil’ alongside the equally talented Hudson Lee. This remix assured me that Alexander Panos has not disappeared for good, and that his SoundCloud biography stating “debut album in progess” must have some truth to it. Despite not having a very extensive catalog, there’s no denying that a single listen through the Chicago-based artist’s music is equivalent to a journey to a distant universe. The combination of beauty and bass contained with his music is unmatched, evident in opuses such as ‘Cycles’ and ‘Dream Recall’ with Frequent. His shorter experimental pieces such as ‘Going Down’ display an unparalleled sound design mastery, again pointing at the extensive skill set that the artist possesses. Here’s to hoping for more Alexander Panos material in the near future.
-SC

Filthsun.

As an architect of chaotic good and master of low frequencies, Filthsun. has been dropping too much gas for us to ignore. Hailing from Portland, Oregon and a true embodiment of his name, this eclectic bass music producer is swinging far above his weight class. ‘THE WHISTLER’ and my personal favorite, ‘i feel funny’ are absolute bodies of tunes that sound systems don’t deserve without proper sacrifice. His most recent track ‘Rest And Relaxation’ brightly celebrates his much deserved milestone of crossing the 2k follower mark with a swanky surprise at the end. The self-proclaimed “man w/ eyes” has a varying style that’s glued to the underground, and we’re keen to see what’s in store from this forward thinking artist.
-JS

reform.

It truly wouldn’t be an installment of Focus Five if I wasn’t shining the light on at least one future beat producer. The genre has become a personal favourite and the pool of talent seems to deepen with each passing month. The latest artist to catch my ear in the space is reform. His new release ‘hideawayy’ is all you need to become a fan. Fusing shimmering melodies, soulful vocal bends, knocking 808s and an abundance of bounce makes this one too good to miss. Taking it beyond the typical banger are the stunning breaks; fusing lush soundscapes and DnB drums to provide a deep and moving calm that perfectly contrasts the animated drops. With tracks like ‘hey boo,’ ‘this one’s for you’ and ‘amanacer w/ théos’ bringing the same calibre of quality, reform. is 4 for 4. We’ll eagerly be awaiting what’s to follow.
-C

Rusha & Blizza

India’s trap and bass scene is continually developing and Rusha & Blizza are the newest hot export. The New Delhi based duo recently unveiled their impeccable Mudra EP. The tracks fuse classic Indian samples and sounds with an undeniable banging trap aesthetic. ‘Kaka’ perfectly embodies the sound of the EP. It’s energetic, exotic and pounding. If you’re looking for something a bit more industrial and agressive be sure to check out tracks like ‘Stromy’ and ‘This Bottom,’ off their SOPHIE-leaning Gloss EP. With a wide palette of sounds at their disposal, we don’t know what to expect next, but we know it will be heat.
-C

Tom Finster

After Millbrook, this month I’m backing once again the #DNB2020 trend by bringing Tom Finster to your kind attention. Hailing from Germany and part of the amazing and immensely talented UPSCALE family, we’ve already briefly encountered him earlier this year as part of the latest Inspected album. The first word I’d use to define Tom’s music is sophisticated. The second one would be captivating. The third, sensational. He’s an artist that easily bends the Drum&Bass etiquette to his creative genius and always manages to deliver unique and astonishing creations. His latest EP From Here On Blind crowns years of refined productions and marks, in my humble opinion, the highest point of his repertoire, which by the way has already been already supported by tastemakers such as Mixmag and Skankandbass. The only negative side of the story? Too little music lovers are blessed by his music. Have a taste of his Drum & Bass delights below and don’t forget to spread the word!
-AA

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Words by Alessio, Colin, Jeremy & Steph

The post Focus Five: Volume 31 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Foundation is a platform for creators to sell limited-edition art and goods at that are dynamically priced to match the demand around the items. 30 Very Special records are currently for sale at a starting price of $50, and as more buyers purchase the EP the price of buying (or selling) the next copy increases. Each vinyl is sold on Foundation in the form of a digital token ($PECIAL) which will be redeemable for the physical album when it’s ready to ship. Fans can alternatively hold the cryptocurrency and sell it back to the market, enabling buyers to speculate on the “true value” of a creators work while simultaneously supporting the artist. Foundation operates as a stock exchange for culture and art, giving creators a small slice of each trade and enabling more organic price discovery.

This idea has been explored by RAC with his album BOY being sold in the form of cassette tapes that are redeemable with $TAPE tokens. During the initial sale, the value of a single $TAPE token (which, like $PECIAL, you can buy fractions of) soared to a valuation of over $800 per token. While the price has since settled, it is evident how these new kinds of offerings can be of service to both creators and their fans; aligning incentives to ascribe value more fairly to scarce content. In the age of abundant digital music where artists aren’t being compensated adequately for their work, it’s possible leveraging scarcity could be a more sustainable means for creators.

Foundation has detailed how to buy the Very Special EP on their blog, which also contains more information about the platform, their values, how cryptocurrency works and how to get involved as a creator.

The post PLS&TY Tokenizes Limited Edition Vinyl With Foundation appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

His brilliant discography is admirably diverse in style with a wide array of rhythm and energy levels ranging from tender, buttery smooth ear lotion to supernatural garage and untamable, swanky trap. skowron defies all presumptions one can have about music by tearing down genre-defining borders and entwining ruthlessly inventive sound design into his productions that leaves you questioning what’s possible. From his finely aged Deep Fried and Bummed EPs to more recent works like the feel-inducing Outlaw Ocean release and new comic books compilation, Blake’s boundless catalog inventively captures the unimaginable.

While there’s much to be explored in his discography, we were lucky enough to get a glimpse into some of his own taste as well as a spoonful of unreleased juicers. Saddle up with the best headphones you can find and properly lube your ears before immersing yourself on the inspirational journey that is blake skowron’s guest mix and interview.

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Thanks for chatting with us! How’ve you been? What’re you up to these days?

What’s good! Definitely, thank you for inviting me to do this with you. To be honest, not bad. Mental health was kind of on a roller coaster for a bit during the stay-at-home order here (which is still in effect due to a substantially high amount of stupidity). Although, things have been looking up in some aspects, recently.

I’m pushing through, educating myself and taking my time to plan the next steps in my future projects. Lately I’ve been living in Chicago, inside for the most part. I binge watched the Avatar series (was dope seeing that again). Drinking water, trying to balance music and work.

Have recent events impacted your routine/workflow?

100%. Not gonna lie, routine is still shit (still, as always, pushing through).

I’ve been trying new things to break up the workflow. One idea was to live stream on Twitch and “uncover my process”, tricks in Ableton Live, and even DJing sometimes. In April, we had “Can’t be Cancelled Virtual Music Festival,” which was insane. We raised over $3,000 for Meals on Wheels. In addition to Electric Hawk’s “In Harmony, In Solidarity”. In which, all donations went to The Black Lives Matter Movement. A pleasure working with everyone on these.

Circling back to workflow: It’s been off and on. There’s a lot of things going on right now, so I’m doing my best to manage some sort of balance.

Loved listening to KOTA. What was working on that project like? Any big takeaways from The Outlaw Ocean?

Fun project. The whole thing took about six months. The book was interesting for sure. I received video captures of Ian in the field, which inspired me to write kind of like (maybe) an “adventurous” style of music. I wanted the flow of the project to be more like a drive, of some sort. Something that had a deep delicacy to it but also pushing forward, never looking back. Gathered a lot of inspiration from meeting new people, new experiences and music I’ve never listened to as well. So it’s really a blend of things. I binged on Brian Eno and wrote “Nemesis.” My roommate and I tracked some bass guitar and steel drum on “Ketchup!”, was nice breaking up the routine. I’d say this project definitely helped me consider different approaches in writing and sound design. Personally speaking, the whole thing kinda left a bad taste in my mouth upon release. It’s just not the project I once thought it would be, or wanted it to be.

What other styles of music have you been making recently?

I’ve been finding myself sliding back into hip hop, dnb, glitch-whatever and always writing goofball trap music. Recently, I’ve been into two-step, UK garage and techno as well. So I’ve been putting my own little spin on those too. Sometimes when I play through my current projects, track after track, it almost feels like there’s a strange inconsistency. But, in a good way. I don’t know if that makes sense but what I’ve gotten from it is I feel to understand some sort of versatility. It lights me up in a way. So yeah, I’ve been writing all kinds of weird goofy things. Been focusing on sound design quite a bit more than usual. Getting wacky with it!

There’s no such thing as too much or too little… If you want to go gleeb glob stupid sticky crazy on your session and sounds, do it. I mean, what’s stopping you?

Really dig your use of squishy textures and lush atmospheres. What advice would you give to producers looking to push their sound design?

I guess… maybe, there’s no such thing as too much or too little. If you wanna write something or make a sound for the simplicity and beauty of it, do it. If you want to go gleeb glob stupid sticky crazy on your session and sounds, do it. I mean, what’s stopping you?

How crazy was it hearing one of your Splice samples in a Flume song?

Definite geek. Word from someone working with him, he used a solid amount of my samples on the tape. Super inspiring. woogiewoogie.

Is there anything you wish someone had told you before you started making music?

I’m attention deficit. I’m not sure of the degree in which I am, but sometimes it does get pretty bad. Another thing is I can be very impulsive, irritable and start writing at three in the morning. There’s more. I can also become obsessive over things I’m working on and drive myself mad. For example, when I was writing my Bummed EP in 2016 I didn’t listen to any other music, besides my friend’s music from group chats I was a part of. That went on until the project was out, on Spotify, SoundCloud and all that. Sometimes I still have those moments, to an extent, but I’m able to manage it a whole lot better. I didn’t do a whole lot that year. I was either at college, my girlfriend’s house, at the time, or in my bedroom working on this flipping EP. During that time, my life went south as well. I lost interest in self-health. My relationships with my friends and parents roller coaster-ed and unfortunately, I let that slide for a couple more years. I didn’t get proper help until early 2019 and I’m still working on bettering my health. Life can be real erratic, weird, troubling or just difficult to wrap your head around.

If anyone were to talk to me, about anything, it would be something like “understanding the importance of self care and self worth”. Take the effort to listen when people who love you are concerned about you. Also, acknowledge who you surround yourself around. Maybe it doesn’t have a lot to do with music. That’s all right, though. I don’t know.

Saw you mastered Harris Cole’s latest track, ‘hey, september’. Do you master your own music as well? Is the process or end result a bit different with other people’s tracks?

Yup! I master all my own music (with an exception of Deep Fried EP [2017] and my ADBC Records releases haha). Always switching up techniques too, as that is the beauty of mastering on a laptop. I’m on a slow path to graduating in Audio Design, but working hands-on in different studios with different artists greatly improved what I’m listening for in a mix and versatility of genre or style.

Maybe this can be a takeaway for beginner freelance audio/mastering engineers. In my experience, the best way to present your versatility in mastering another’s record is to start with three or four different renders. Narrow it down to what the artist prefers and tweak from there. I had a master done for a client that took close to 15 drafts of tweaking the mix after starting with two different masters. Everyone has different ear, ya know? It’s practice for yourself too. I’m not sure if that entirely makes sense but that’s the way I think about it.

I’m also a huge fan of works done by Alex Tumay and Daddy Kev. I find myself to be very attentive to their socials, since they’re always posting things to consider in the art of mastering.

Side note: There are so many solid engineers recording tutorials and post-production techniques on YouTube.
Youtube kind of slaps.

Stepping away from my computer and still creating hits different

Do you have any creative outlets outside of producing?

I’ve started drawing again. It’s been a few years, since I’ve taken the time to noodle with something tangible. Usually I make a lot of graphic niblets on my computer for myself. Designing little covers is fun, don’t get me wrong, but stepping away from my computer and still creating hits different. Really good for your eyes too. I also have some concepts of things I want to try with sound and picture too. I try not to spend a lot of time on my phone but I do like taking pictures pretty often. Right now I don’t have a camera besides my phone so I’ve been practicing for something… I guess? It’s hard to say what that’ll be, but we’ll get there when we get there!

Before I started writing music I played percussion in jazz and concert band. My parents have a kit at their house. Whenever I visit them I throw on headphones with whatever I’m currently listening to and play some. Before I was in concert band, I practiced painting with acrylics, charcoal and some other stuff. So, I guess I’m diving into the idea to go full circle with it, maybe try something new in the process. Saving up, so we’ll see what happens.

What kinda music have you been listening to recently? What’s the last song you had stuck on repeat?

Always trying to dive into some abstract bass music on SoundCloud. Sometimes friends will recommend artists to listen to on Spotify. I sound silly trying to describe styles of music sometimes so, some artists I’ve been into as of recently are: Vhsceral, Kuzich, o k h o, Jason Wool, Ache and everything Six Impala is doing right now. Last song I had on repeat would probably be “crush” by weird inside. That track is everything.

Been thoroughly enjoying your new comic books Bandcamp release. Can you tell us a bit more about what’s in there?

Thank you! “new comic books” is like my collection of unreleased projects. This is my own little way of sharing those tracks and still noodling with them, visually too (sorta)– I kinda know how Photoshop works, trying something new with it. I’ve posted the release on Bandcamp, and as of right now I’m posting a couple of the tunes every week or so on SoundCloud, with little covers I made. It’s was an idea to keep a demo project alive for a short bit, I thought I’d try it out. Also gave me a reason to maintain some sort of creativity, explore a little and somewhat tie my visual art with my sound art. It is really cool though as an artist to reflect on your own discography. Maybe it’s just something I felt the need to drop for myself, maybe for some listeners too.

“new comic books” also includes some sound design sessions for music makers looking for ideas. I felt sharing some sound design sessions for anyone interested in my music, or just now tuning in, could potentially spark some sort of inspiration for however that person perceives it.

How do you know when a song is “finished?”

I almost never really know when. In my personal taste, I’d keep adding channels until my computer crashes several times. However, I’m also considering things like song structure and flow. “Does it feel right? wrong? Wrong but right? Right but left? Left, right, right, down, left, up?” I guess those are some things I’m always asking myself.

Any upcoming releases we can be on the lookout for? Possibly some more francis booth?

Absolutely. I have a couple singles coming out within the next few months. One being a record off a compilation with a label I’ve been wanting to work with for a few years (and could be out by this time). Another is a remix for Great Dane. That is coming out on 08/14. Francis Booth will be making an appearance in the future, alongside another side project or three. As of right now, I’m working on something. I’m not sure how to explain it, yet. :,)

Thank you again for inviting me to do this with you. Love y’all. Stay hydrated, drive safe!

Tracklist
former hero – we clipped thru each other (cam stacy flip)
golden features – medicate
zes – grimm
vhsceral – upstairs
naughta – RghtThng
joe ford & asa – real talk
blake skowron – cloyde
blake skowron – linus
reesepushkin – return to square one *mash w/
blake skowron – head knots
blake skowron – ID
blake skowron – ID
blake skowron & harris cole – ID

The post Guest Mix + Interview – blake skowron appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Upholding their unmistakable left-field sound design, sfam, um.., Elle and Blake Skowron bring the squishy, squanchy and crunchy palette on their flips of ‘Basshead’, ‘Free Money, Free Times’, ‘Wumper’ and ‘Former Friends’, delivering a new edge to the project. Each track bangs in it’s own lane, but if you really want to have your brain dismantled I especially recommend the 2:32 mark in Blake Skowron’s flip of ‘Former Friends’. Samsin and aedfx. bring some Carmack-esque heat to the table with their renderings of ‘Bank On Me’ and ‘We Get Up’ that keeps us coming back for more. ‘Bandz On Me’ gets an especially savory handling from the don UZ, giving  the already radio-friendly original an elegantly executed melodic trap-rap spin. Even the dog daddy himself took the opportunity to breathe alluring new life into his track ‘Lonely Ones’ with Katya Grasso.

Great Dane took what was already a memorable album and enlisted the best talent from far and wide. The project makes an immaculate addition to ADBC Records growing catalog of superb variety and will stick with us for years to come. Take a listen or two (or eleven) and be sure to check out the impeccably diverse all-star lineup of producers that helped make this possible.

The post Great Dane’s ‘Delta Fly’ Enlists All-Star Producers for Remix LP appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

‘Sunk’ is another installation in a handful of collaborative tunes from the two Good Nature Collective founders. Birthed in the early days of snuffy‘s recent move to Los Angeles when he visited bd hbt at his spot, the song illustrates the hazardous potential the two have when they team up and amplifies the sounds of the West coast bass scene. Get your stank face ready, peep the banger below and grab the free download.

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The post bd hbt & snuffy Sync Up Once Again On ‘Sunk’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Fix yourself up with a long overdue dose of late night club energy below.

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