Bon-Psy

Your favourite artist’s favourite artist could probably be your favourite artist, too. Something that I’ve learned over the years is that the influence and inspiration that drives great artists usually come from like-minded individuals or groups that push boundaries in a similar fashion. Now, I’m not saying that Bon-Psy is David Gotham‘s favourite artist, but it surely means something to bring on the UK-based producer as the sole remixer of his debut single. After being introduced to Bon-Psy through his remix of ‘Enter, The Hole Divine (Part I),’ a quick dive into his brief yet impressive discography revealed a fresh approach to production that reminds me of a crossover between Rome in Silver and music one would hear on Inspected. It’s equally groovy as it is complex, with combinations of electronic and acoustic elements often coming together to create rich, emotional soundscapes. Being consistently unique is not easy, but Bon-Psy has got it on lock.
-SC

CAB

Hailing from San Marcos, Texas, an upcoming and dangerous weapon is taking the spotlight with every release.  And discovering his art has been a stroke of pure destiny for us. We’re proud to introduce the icon in the making, CAB. A heavy-hitter you do not want to sleep on.

Powerful sound design, nasty drum creations, you name it! This artist knows no boundaries when manipulating the spectrum. His grasp and shining touch on the trap movement is truly like no other. Separating his creative world from the rest. And standing out as one of the most intricate and unique creators to date. CAB has appeared on a couple of labels so far such as Wicked Records and Gridlock Records! Both tracks are simply astounding and will have your jaw dropped the entire time. And his newest piece, ‘RAVEx’ dropped not too long ago and pays homage to the next step for the trap environment. Integrating some of the finest techniques used for electronic music. So go make sure to support this everlasting spirit, because he’s got some very interesting works of art coming in the future!
-JD

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YAANO

I’m really going deep down the D&B hole this year. Not that I wasn’t already listening enough drum & bass before, but thanks to some fresh names that we all know very well (Rohaan, gyrofield, IMANU, Tom Finster) I’ve approached the genre from a completely different perspective and it feels like I went back to the days I was a rookie in the scene. With every track I find it’s surprise after surprise that brings back a feeling of playfulness and extreme curiosity that had faded a little. YAANO was one of the last names I discovered during my SoundCloud explorations. In spite of all those who comment “where’s the real dnb?”, YAANO churns out quality drum & bass, ranging back and forth between the many shades of the genre but never losing his touch. From his debut appearance on Overview via the Zone 2 compilation to the gem of the Blossom EP and after there’s just quality work all around!
-AA

YOSHUU

It’s about time for another one of my bets! So far I’m quite sure I didn’t fail a single one, (you can check previous volumes of Focus Five here to prove me wrong) and I’m strongly convinced this one will be no exception. Those you see below are the only two public releases on YOSHUU‘s profile but they speak loud of the potential of this Romanian producer who I’m sure will make important moves in the future. His sound might not share the same crazy inventiveness of other generational champions yet, but it’s built on the same contemporary approach to drum & bass of which I’m a huge fan of. Given that they released both these two tracks, it’s fair to say DIVIDID’s team is a huge fan too, which is an endorsement that can’t go unnoticed. However, as professional music nerds, you should accept suggestions but also make up your mind by yourself. So don’t wait any longer and dive into YOSHUU’s music right here.
-AA

Words by Alessio, Colin, John and Steph.

The post Focus Five: Volume 42 appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

While the original is the soundtrack to an epic quest to find the meaning of life, Bon-Psy’s remix is the soundtrack to the reopening of the world today. It spans half the length of David Gotham’s rendition, but packs the same amount of punch and is perfectly tailored to the exploration of a newly-opened society.

To be quite honest, Bon-Psy was not on my radar before today, but his remix is a clear reason why he needs to be. His take on ‘Enter, The Holy Divine (Part I)’ is fun and danceable, reminiscent of Rome in Silver in some of its elements but still incredibly unique in its approach. Despite being easy to listen to, the remix boasts no lack of complexity, making it a real standout as an entity. Dive in below.

The post Bon-Psy Delivers Captivating Remix Of ‘Enter, The Holy Divine (Part I)’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Congruously so, the collective have provided a lavish foundation for the debut EP from United Kingdom’s BON-PSY, a maestro at crafting thought-provoking minimalist soundscapes wrought with captivating melodies and an insatiable tranquil temperament.

Niya demonstrates the prodigious UK-native firing on all creative cylinders, unleashing an ambient four-track narrative, which further enumerates his creative composure. The EP composes riveting spatial appeal, utilizing effervescent synths, heavenly chords, and gripping percussion for a seamless listening experience from start to finish.

It was an immense pleasure to catch up with BON-PSY to learn more about the importance of constructive criticism, the role mixing and mastering plays within his creative process, and to learn what Niya might look like as the plot for a modern film feature.

Check out the interview and full EP below!

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In what ways has living in the United Kingdom left an impact on your style as a producer or your path as a musician?

I don’t think it’s influenced me that much honestly, we live in a world of streaming where we have access to tracks from all corners of the globe and I think I take influence from a lot more music outside of the UK. However I do live in the countryside, and I’ve definitely found myself outside with a mic recording sheep and bird sounds on multiple occasions, haha. ;)

How does your creative approach differ when putting together a full EP as opposed to a single track?

When I’m working on an EP I usually try and find a certain sound or vibe that I can build off of and take in multiple directions with different songs. After I’ve got a solid group of tracks I’ll then be focusing on how they transition between each other. I always prefer to create EP’s that flow nicely, I think they are much more interesting to listen to when they’re a coherent package as opposed to a few random tunes chucked together. When I’m working on single tracks I tend to experiment more with different styles and see how I can incorporate them into my own. Generally when I’m making singles as well, I’m trying to make something that’s going to grab people’s attention.

What did the process of selecting the album art for the project look like?

Before this EP I used to create all my own artwork, but I wanted to get something unique for this project so I reached out to Sean Sinclair for some help (@seanwsinclair). He produced some amazing art for the project but in the end we went with the cover provided by BONSAI, to keep within the style of the label.

How do you feel about the importance of having a second opinion or another pair of ears to put the finishing touches on a track?

If you’re mixing and mastering your own tunes like I am then it’s really a necessity, it’s difficult to correctly judge a piece of music when you’ve been working on it consistently for a long time, and having someone else listen to a track can bring up some things you may have not considered or even noticed. In terms of musical ideas though I think critique in this area is a little bit more subjective, not everyone is going to enjoy your track, that doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means, it just might not be to their taste. In this case I would always recommend getting advice from someone who has an interest in the styles you produce in, that way whatever you’re trying to convey in your song is more likely to come across and be appreciated. I think it’s also important to trust your judgement and skills as a producer, taking others words as gospel can sometimes lead you down an endless path of changes.

What role does mixing or mastering play in your creative process?

For me, both are super important, mixing was something that I was always trying to develop further since I started producing. But a few years ago I made the decision that I wanted to be able to produce music completely independently, leading me down the path of mastering. At first it felt like more of a chore, but as time went on I’ve become more and more interested in the topic and now both mixing and mastering are enjoyable and integral parts of how I create a finished track. I still find it really interesting how different these two portions of the production process are despite their similarities, and both can be explored much further into detail if you wanted to. Both are as technical as they are artistic which I thoroughly enjoy.

If you had to compare the thematic approach and overall plot of Niya to a modern film, which might you select and why?

I’ve been thinking about this question for a while haha, I think Interstellar would be a good pick. Though definitely not as long, Niya has a dark, ominous vibe that I think is applicable to the thoughts and feelings of the main characters as they venture off into the unknown territories of space (and possibly their demise). There are moments of excitement, tension and surprise that are littered throughout both the film and the EP, but also brief portions of clarity and beauty that can be seen in some of the shots in the fifth dimension, as well as in the changing relationship between Cooper and his daughter Murph. The film concludes emotionally, but on a positive note, and I think Niya does so in a similar way.

What other things do you have in store to round off the remainder of 2019?

I’ve got another single coming out at the end of June with Kumo Collective, and I’m working on a few collaborations and remixes that will be released shortly after. I’m trying to balance music with work and a master’s degree at the moment so it’s all a bit hectic, but I’m looking to get a consistent release schedule going as soon as the masters work starts to die down which I’m super excited for. I’m also putting together a live show so ideally by the end of the year I will have a few gigs under my belt. I’m glad to finally get some releases out this year, and want to say thank you to everyone at BONSAI and anyone who has supported my music so far, looking forward to the future! :D

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