With Dr. Ozi set to release the Hive Mind Pt. 2 EP on Friday as a follow-up to the seven intricate tunes from late 2021, we have the extreme pleasure of premiering ‘Long Live’ today, an unlikely yet anthemic collaboration between the two aforementioned artists. The reason a collaboration between the pair seemed unlikely was because Dr. Ozi’s usual sound is loud and aggressive, while Groke often edges towards slower and softer bass cuts. Nonetheless, ‘Long Live’ is a cohesive combination of Dr. Ozi and Groke’s distinct styles.

A simple guitar riff introduces the track before powerful chords take the limelight to build the energy of the piece, leading to a bass-filled section that serves as a nice teaser to the madness that follows. The opening melody returns for a brief moment before the track is flipped on its head once again, with an orchestral backdrop beautifully complementing the heavy foreground.  With the third unique drop further demonstrating the harmonious joining of both artists’ sounds, ‘Long Live’ is evidence of Dr. Ozi and Groke’s individual talents, and their undeniable ability to work as a team.

Dr. Ozi’s highly-anticipated comic book is also set to hit the stores soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Until then, don’t miss ‘Long Live’ below.

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As Never Say Die‘s Halloween-themed release, Dr. Ozi has unleashed the Hive Mind Pt. 1 EP for all to enjoy. Boasting a sinister theme and seven (yes, seven) new tracks, the project sees Dr. Ozi create a whole new world around his music. From a dedicated introduction to the ensemble in ’50/50′ to six menacing tracks quintessential to his style, Hive Mind Pt. 1 is Dr. Ozi at his finest, showing an evolution in versatility, arrangement and sound design with each track. From the vocal-driven ‘Prayers’ featuring Peytn to the bass-riddled brute with pristine percussion ‘Black Pollen,’ every track offers something different, keeping listeners hooked from start to finish.

And if you thought that was all, the artist has created a comic to go along with the story behind the collection of tracks. Last May, we spoke with Dr. Ozi about what the word host meant to him, but little did we know that the concept would become a full-fledged story. “6 years of story arch, 2 and half years of making songs.” Talk about dedication to your art. Don’t miss Hive Mind Pt. 1 below, and stay tuned for the comic coming soon.

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Out today on Never Say Die, the Host EP is a five-track endeavour that sees Dr. Ozi pushing his sound to new limits once again, and we have the honour of premiering ‘Play It Back Again’ from the collection. The entire Host EP is phenomenal and deserving of a few run-throughs, but ‘Play It Back Again’ is a standout from the project due to its lively introduction paired with the quintessential Dr. Ozi heaviness and bounce. Equally fun and dynamic as it is menacing and core-shattering, ‘Play It Back Again’ is Dr. Ozi at his finest, showcasing how a signature sound does not mean confining creativity.

We also had the pleasure of catching up with Dr. Ozi to talk everything from the current state of the dubstep scene, to his newest Host EP, and much more. Don’t miss ‘Play It Back Again’ and the interview below!

How are you doing during these crazy times? You seem to be keeping busy with live streams and radio shows among other things, what other activities help you pass the time?

Haha, yeah it has been quite a journey. I am sure anyone who’s making music right now is doing something to keep themselves busy, as they should. Other activities I got into were painting, and gaming a lot to keep in close contact with my friends and peers.

In a 2017 interview, you seemed to have predicted the ongoing loudness war, stating that “mixdowns are getting louder and crispier all the time”. What’s your take on the current state of the dubstep scene, especially in regards to the above quote?

The loudness war is still in effect. I have seen hard mixdowns where they don’t mind clipping their mixing channels above 0 dB, and sometimes even more. There are ways to portray loud. Sometimes loud can also be looked at as the length of the sound. Mixing a song is more of a timbre concept now. If clipping is the sound of the producer, and if it’s a creative choice, then sure.

A lot of people are going to break rules and try things and that makes me excited.

You also added that on paper, what some artists do shouldn’t sound good but on a big system, it’s a different story. With shows getting cancelled and no foreseeable date for their return, do you anticipate a major shift in sound as curation may no longer be for live shows?

Most definitely, I think this kick in the butt period of time is going to bring the creativity out of a lot of artists. When you do something as a repetition you eventually start getting sick of it because it feels too much like a muscle memory, which is good and bad practice in music. Experimenting is what I think is going to happen in this time of waiting. A lot of people are going to break rules and try things and that makes me excited.

I think anything that makes you move has a place in live shows. Whether it be a tap of your foot or a full on dance. Which, in return, means a lot of people are going to be relieved once the pandemic is done, and everything will be moving on with lightning speed.

Who, in your eyes, is pushing the scene forward, keeping bass music fresh be it for a live audience or for enjoying in the comfort of your own home?

I think anyone in the underground scene. During my live streams I have listened to so many new artists that barely have been discovered. The young artists ages 10-18 are legitimately making my jaw drop with their skills and knowledge. People like JoeB, The Sausages, Moore Kismet, to name a few.

I also want to say that a lot of DJs are starting live streams. Those people that are doing that deserve the exact same recognition.

Congratulations on yet another fine body of work in the form of the Host EP. How long has it been in the works? If you had to pick one, which track would you say is your favourite from the bunch?

Thank you so much! This EP was in the works for 7 months. The branding and the story was what made it quite a different EP. The plan was to showcase the Host brand before the EP. I feel very satisfied that there are people following the concept.

The quality and quantity of your musical output is rare. How do you stay inspired while continuing to innovate with each new project?

Like I said, anything in repetition starts becoming stale. So, I always like to practice things so I am never demotivated to create something. I’m practicing the creative side of my brain. Trying things like painting, motion graphics, 3D designs. I love playing on my hardware synths.

It’s very easy to forget that playful and curious side of your personality which has always been there since you were a kid. It’s nice to remind yourself you’re paying attention and learning while being curious.

The pandemic had got everyone in such a division that I wanted to create something that people felt a bit more connected to and closer to my music.

Along those lines, what was a key difference in approach and desired outcome when writing Host compared to Demons In Denial?

Demons In Denial was more so the final stage of Ozi, the monster, finally being a real thing and now people can see what he looks like. Demons In Denial was more of a story line that started with a bunch of other releases. There is meaning behind the songs but not anything too crazy, then again I am making electronic dance music. It was more so a story between the Doctor having multiple personalities and one of them being Ozi.

Host is more about the people – I created the songs in that tone of sound. People followed Ozi, and the Doctor has become more of a voice. Each song has its personality and each song has a theme and setting. That’s how my workflow has been and it’s treated me well thus far.

As it’s the name of your radio show and latest project, what does the word “host” mean to you?

Hosts are followers of Ozi. Let’s remember that the Doctor is just voicing who Ozi is. Hosts are kind and courteous and respectful. They believe in knowledge and friendship. The pandemic had got everyone in such a division that I wanted to create something that people felt a bit more connected to and closer to my music.

Check out the Host EP in full below.

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‘Mumbai Madness’ is the product of two creative signatures meshing into one cohesive banger, a feat that Soltan has demonstrated aptly over his last few releases and that Dr. Ozi is no stranger to doing as well, despite working alone more often than not. The newest Never Say Die single blends the tell-tale sounds from each artist to a tee, as Soltan takes the lead during the introduction with his Middle Eastern-inspired soundscapes and rambunctious percussion. When the drop hits, the sound design mastery from both artists hits hard and often, pounding listeners at their core with brief interludes of upbeat fills. The second half of the track explores unfamiliar territory in the form of dubstep-leaning psytrance, further attesting to the musical genius of Dr. Ozi and Soltan before headbanging insanity closes out the versatile piece. Don’t miss ‘Mumbai Madness’ below.

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In a flex of sound design evolution and raw ingenuity, Dr. Ozi has outdone himself with his latest project. The opening track titled ‘Collider’ uses a natural progression in tension to catapult listeners into a fiery section full of the talented producer’s signature sounds, with firing synths arranged in a headbang-inducing manner. In ‘Legacy,’ more of the artist’s typical sounds can be heard layered below a repeated-vocal, before guttural sounds and raspy stabs take over in the drop. Perhaps the highlight of the Demons In Denial EP comes in the form of ‘Brooding Murder,’ which sees Dr. Ozi experimenting with pre-drop fakeouts and unusual ordering of sounds and tempo to have you on edge until the very end of the track. ‘Bar Brawl’ and ‘Forgetting About You’ cap off the tumultuous project as hard it as it began, with Dr. Ozi only displaying further production prowess.

Don’t miss the Demons In Denial EP below!

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‘Beauty & The Grim’ is a wicked display of Dr. Ozi’s insanely innovative abilities as a musician. Dr. Ozi provides insight into his inspiration for the sounds in the track by pairing the single with a synth tutorial video. Kicking it off with his unique percussion and a fast-paced tribal soundscape, he then wastes no time unleashing sound design madness with rugged synths that will bring out your nastiest bass face. Three distinct sections make ‘Beauty & The Grim’ a dubstep monster that can not be tamed.

Orchestral synths lead off ‘Over Those’, before Dr. Ozi flips it into another wildly entertaining, headbang-ready track. Through pulsating waveforms, punchy drums, and rampant, unadulterated energy, the skilled artist offers a ferocious track that flexes his production prowess. Dr. Ozi proves that he hasn’t lost his knack for making the catchiest, festival-ready dubstep with ‘Over Those’.

Remaining true to his distinct sound while continuing to push bass music forward, Dr. Ozi’s Beauty & The Grim / Over Those further solidifies his spot among dubstep’s best.

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Much like a growing seed, a genre demands fertile, nurturing soil and a deep running system of support roots in order to blossom into maturity and survive the competitive landscape of the music scene. Founded in early 2009, Never Say Die Records and founder SKisM have furnished the necessary foundation that has allowed the bass genre to grow to where it is today, not to mention expanding into new & exciting sub-genres.

Toting an arsenal of veteran names such as Zomboy, MUST DIE!, Eptic & Trampa, the label has more than solidified their dominance over the bass realm; releasing consecutive Never Say Die compilations every year since 2012, each further revealing the seasoned cast of artists that have contributed their influence to the dubstep we know and love today.

Despite an extensive back catalog, SKisM maintains a rigid focus on the present moment and watchful gaze on future endeavors; demanding that past artists and newly acquired talents ceaselessly test the boundaries of their creative ability, which has resulted in a versatile evolution of sound for the label since its origination in 2009.

Now, with the sixth installment of the coveted Never Say Die Records compilation, we are enamored to see debut contributions from Mastadon, ECRAZE, and TYNAN as well as heavy-hitting sounds from seasoned veterans and Soltan’s first release of the year. And, as with all predecessors, there is not a single weak link in sight, providing sound confirmation that NSD will only continue to rule in 2019.

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Every established artist has a signature sound that makes them easily distinguishable among others, but perhaps the most unique of them all is Eptic. Within five seconds of any of his tracks, a true fan is able to identify him in any mix. His contribution to Vol. 6 is no exception, jumping on the riddim bandwagon with his distinctive flair to unleash the monster that is ‘Ready 2 Die’. In typical Belgian overlord fashion, Eptic combines snappy vocal samples with his robotic synths and gut-wrenching bass to create one of the most forward-thinking riddim tracks of the year. Captivating your attention with an intricate introduction and keeping it with his forward-thinking approach is what Eptic does best, and ‘Ready 2 Die’ will have you hooked for its entirety.

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While 2017 saw IVORY make a name for himself in the bass scene, this year saw him establish himself as one of the greats. His Next Level EP lives up to its name, offering next level sound design and supernatural bass. It’s no surprise that his contribution to Vol. 6, ‘Unbreakable’, stands out among the best, as he continues to elevate his wicked engineering with every release. In his latest, IVORY introduces middle-eastern chants with a desert-like soundscape to create a dance-ready torrent. Don’t be fooled by the splendor, though, as the gap between beauty and bass is quickly met with a loud, cawing lead matched with heavy-hitting percussion to create a headbang-ready heater.

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Who knows exactly what prompted Space Laces to become the Santa Claus of bass this year, but whoever/whatever triggered it deserves all the thanks in the world. Gifting his die-hard fans with more releases this year than the last 5 years combined, Space Laces has been on an absolute tear with his latest work. When his collaboration with Topi wasn’t included in the Vaultage 001 mix, speculation began as to whether it would ever see the light of day, before being included in the Vol. 6 mix and giving bass enthusiasts a new hope. To the pleasure of all, ‘Whiplash’ has made its way into the newest compilation, offering more insight into the mind of two musical geniuses. A picturesque introduction depicts a group of friends cruising down a highway (no pun intended) before a hasty rise in tension predicts an unfortunate event. An abrupt crash of monstrous sounds injures all, with meticulous sound design and a fury of bass causing additional damage. Elevating the glitchy take on dubstep throughout, the track continues to jerk the passengers, offering no escape from the ‘Whiplash’.

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Thoroughly listening to a track from international bass aficionado SPAG HEDDY is nostalgic to strolling the streets of Little Italy. Whimsical accordion medleys blend an unmistakable influence of the Sicilian variety into the savory, high-energy buildup of the track which contrasts roaring synth jabs and a commanding vocal sample. As the frenzy grows in intensity, a squealing mixdown launches the track into rampant waves of unyielding bass. Despite an overwhelming extravagance of resonating frequencies, ‘Troupe’ flows coherently as a tribute to SPAG’s coveted tight percussion and expertise in sound design.

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Utilizing heartfelt synth melodies and mesmerizing bass sequences, KRIMER constructs an immeasurable amount of emotional depth and suspense in the buildup of ‘Facebreaker’. As the riser reaches its climax, an assault of rigorous drums steers the track in a new direction, unleashing a meaty vocal sample which catapults the track into a volcano of erupting bass. Just as the billowing smoke begins to clear, a sample from Dr. Dre’s ‘Nuthin But a G Thang’ comes straight out of left field, heaving you right back into the licking flames of the inferno.

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A warm welcome and congratulations to TYNAN for making his debut on this year’s Never Say Die compilation — it’s been a real treat watching his style grow and develop in the previous 4 years and he truly deserves all the respect in the world for his hard work and talent!

The tune begins like the rebooting of a spaceship, captained by an otherworldly beast, which mutters a fierce growl as a repetitive snare drum kicks the vessel into orbit. As the ship begins to reach peak altitude a fatal software malfunction causes the navigation system to sputter uncontrollably, rerouting course directly into an oncoming fleet of bass-clad asteroids. Although the pilot appears to be coherent, he cackles menacingly as a meteor narrowly scathes the right wing, almost as if he had planned this treachery all along. Despite a more foundational trap style, ‘Usurper’ is sheathed in bass and lacks not an ounce in production.

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Christopher Columbus of dubstep, Zomboy is an undisputed pioneer of sound design within the bass realm, with a foundation in production, laid nearly 10 years ago, his riveting style of thundering percussion breakdowns and relentless synth arrangements furnish a template for dubstep tracks still to this date. However, it is an insatiable hunger for progress which sets Zomboy apart from the masses, unveiling with each release an unbridled desire to expand his timeless infrastructure even further.

Flaunting his production expertise right out of the gate, ‘Hide N’ Seek’ opens with a complex digital introduction, coaxing you within earshot of the sensational trademark melody of wailing, harmonious synths. An exceptionally placed break leads seamlessly into an onslaught of drums, unleashing a captivating wave of rapid synths, which build teeming anticipation in the track. A vocal sample delivers the fatal blow, exposing a breach in the walls through which an assault of bass lays siege, demanding immediate surrender with no promise of survival.

Year after year, the growing anticipation is almost too much to bear — beckoning the question, how can the sheer volume and audacity of the previous year possibly be topped? However, expectation and reality flow in perfect synchronicity with Never Say Die; and Volume 6 carries with it an insurmountable quantity of bass, delicately crafted sound design & meticulous production worthy of all praise.

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Word by Steph Contant & Sam Lewis.

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‘Pitchforks & Fire’ gets straight in your face with wicked knocking synths that were masterfully transitioned from a background element in the intro to a powerful drop lead. After a brief pause, Dr. Ozi ups the ante with more tortuous basses. If, for some reason, you thought the track wasn’t dirty enough, the second drop will put you at ease, as Dr. Ozi’s distinct sounds with expert arrangements hit hard. In ‘Formula’, Justin Starling’s vocals lead listeners into another dubstep classic. Again showcasing the Canadian producer’s impeccable sound design, ‘Formula’ goes from gnarly dubstep to absolute riddim mayhem in a matter of seconds.

Prepare yourself, because Pitchforks & Fire / Formula are a trip into the future of dubstep. Check them out below!

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