But he’s not alone on this one. Joining him on this wild and heavy-hitting ride are nonother than blake skowron and Dabow! What a line up! Two very distinct artists proven to be some of the most forward-thinking in the spectrum. And once you put these icons together, you should only expect greatness and a memorable journey.

‘Fargo’ is a trippy ride of pure wonkiness. It completely highlights each artists strongest qualities and overall skill. From liquid percussion leads, monumental drums, and some bizarre glitchy fills, there’s a grand abundance of colorful qualities to leave anyone speechless. Every section flows together perfectly and creates a sense of empowerment and inspiration. A particular part in this piece will completely leave the listener in a far-out daze. As if you were flying through space with stars dancing around you in harmony. You just gotta experience it for yourself to believe it. Bravo to these three icons for creating such a dreamy and filthy track. Honoring ell!psis and his vision to the highest degree. So make sure to go support them by streaming ‘Fargo’ everywhere!

Logistically, this track was a crazy challenge to bring together. It started with an idea I began at 150 BPM. I then went to Blake’s to work on it, and he slowed it down to 30 BPM. That created a lot of the really cool artifacts and fills in it, so he then rearranged it and sent it back and forth with Dabow for awhile. Eventually, when Blake sent it back to me, it was 150 channels, and my CPU was crying every time I’d open it. I also had to get it ready to send to Dabow, which meant stemming it one channel at a time for him to work on in FL (Blake and I are in Ableton). I spent several sessions consolidating it down to 30 stems and getting those together, and we were able to finish it pretty soon after that (thankfully haha).

-ell!psis

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The post PREMIERE: ell!psis, blake skowron And Dabow Rule Over All With ‘Fargo’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

From groovy trap heaters to some nasty hip-hop productions, his flexible workflow is truly one of a kind. Constantly trying out new techniques to improve his skills to an even higher degree. With releases on Presently Lifted, Sub.Terranean and even ADBC Records, he’s stopping at nothing from fulfilling his true destiny within the industry. There’s tons of unexpected gems you’ll discover within his colorful discography. And now, we’re pleased to team up with him for his own guest mix and interview! You’ll find plenty of bangers within this memorable journey of sound. And we even dive a bit deeper into his creative mind to learn more about his background and current state of living within a musical world.

How’ve you been doing so far this year?

There’ve been some ups and downs, but largely it’s been pretty solid! It’s definitely been great to finish music, go back to live shows, and catch up with my family and friends again!

It’s my favorite medium for expressing my state of being in a way that sounds unique to me.

What was your main goal or purpose when creating the ell!psis project?

When I started the project, I was purely wandering around in the dark in Ableton. Throughout years of growing into “ell!psis” I’d say the main purpose has been a journal of sorts. It’s my favorite medium for expressing my state of being in a way that sounds unique to me. And of course, there’s no parallel to having friends, idols, and fans express their appreciation for it.

Production wise, were you self-taught or did you learn from other peers?

It’s been kind of a mix of things! I was all over Youtube at first, and it led to picking up a music minor. Throughout college, I met lots of the people that are now my core friends, and they continue to blow my mind when we dive into production knowledge.

We notice you’ve worked with TYGKO and Mohawk Johnson a couple of times, tell us how those friendships came to be!

I met both TYGKO and Mohawk, along with Cam Stacey and most of my friends, through shows and music events here in Chicago/the Midwest. I was instantly impressed by both of them, both as performers and as human beings. TYGKO, Mohawk, Cam and I now live together and it’s become a really interesting melding of our creativity. I love all of these guys and cherish our friendships greatly.

Have you always felt the pure drive or connection towards pursuing a creative career?

To be honest, it took me a while to feel things out! After college I was still unsure of what I wanted to do with my life, and I had music and fencing as my core hobbies. I moved here for work and didn’t know a soul, but after connecting with the music community, I’d say that was my biggest catalyst for seeking a career in music.

Who’re some musicians you’d love to collaborate with at the moment?

That’s really tough, there’s some seriously inspiring people in our scene. Offhand, I’d love to work with Mr. Carmack, Tsuruda, Chuck Sutton, Willy Crooks, Jon Casey, Quiet Bison, Moore Kismet, Kilamanzego and HXRY.

What can listeners expect when listening to this mix?

Even before quarantine, I was in a pretty quiet and introspective place, and struggled with how to express myself musically. I eventually hit a stride, with no shortage of encouragement from my friends. This mix is going to be a fun way to share the catharsis of that process with tons of original music!

the two best things to focus on are putting in the right kind of work and making every interaction with people genuine. The recognition for your craft will come with time, but the additional reputation of your character will give it so much more impact.

Any wisdom you’d like to bestow upon listeners?

I’d say whether it’s music or any personal pursuit, the two best things to focus on are putting in the right kind of work and making every interaction with people genuine. The recognition for your craft will come with time, but the additional reputation of your character will give it so much more impact.

Do you recall a certain moment where you were completely amazed by the electronic music genre?

I think when I took the time to fully dive into Mr. Carmack’s discography, I was absolutely blown away by how unique his music is, and by how long he’s been making a crazy variety of beats. I used to go on long drives a lot, and I’d marvel at how any of those tapes could make me go from welling up with sadness about an ex, to feeling a surreal level of swagger, to hype enough to almost concuss myself on my steering wheel.

During 2020, what were some of the biggest challenges you had to face?

By far the most paramount challenge I’ve faced has been the disgusting injustice Mohawk has endured on house arrest for over a year and the ongoing ramifications that has had for myself and our other roommates. Beyond that, I’ve dealt with a lot of paralyzing imposter syndrome as I’ve spent most of quarantine isolated in my room balancing my music goals with a 9-to-5 I’m not enthusiastic about.

Quarantine was brutal, but also offered a lot of really twisted blessings.

What keeps you inspired these days to continue pushing for a brighter future?

Quarantine was brutal, but also offered a lot of really twisted blessings. It made me really appreciate the time I spend with family, friends, and my girlfriend. It also kind of gave me some time to establish a routine and good habits to balance everything. I draw a lot of inspiration from the people in my life and now think I’m in a solid place to maintain great relationships with them.

Recently, you just played your first set in over 2 years at RESET. How was the experience and overall vibe within the event?

It was incredible! The lineup itself was top-to-bottom homies from years back. It was also JKuch’s Chicago debut, and Xavi’s first time playing stuff from his recent album. I played all-originals for that set as well, which was super nerve-wracking. It ended up going over really well, and that night was one of the first times I really felt like a peer among a bunch of my idols.

If you could perform at any festival, which would you choose and why?

I would LOVE to play Electric Forest! They consistently book my favorite lineups year after year, and it really seems like it’s run with everyone’s experience and well-being as the top priority. What could be better than sharing music with friends and fans as part of an unforgettably scenic camping trip?

Knowing that other people are figuring life out and doing things they enjoy reinforces my appreciation for how their passion creates such beautiful music.

During your time in the industry, what were some things that completely surprised you?

I’ve been incredibly fortunate, and got to meet a lot of artists I’ve looked up to for years before I had much confidence in my own work, which was both an immense honor and a terrifying self-evaluation at times. What really took me by surprise was seeing a lot of them as human beings, without all the strategized perception from social media and stuff. Knowing that other people are figuring life out and doing things they enjoy reinforces my appreciation for how their passion creates such beautiful music.

Tracklist

ell!psis & Blake Skowron – ID
ell!psis – ID w/ Missy Elliot & Ciara – Lose Control
Kumarion – Want It (ell!psis & American Dave Remix) w/ William Crooks & Mohawk Johnson – SEE THE LIGHT (prod. Ache)
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis – Buried [More Creativity Records]
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis & Vincebyvince – ID
ell!psis – ID w/ Princess Nokia – Tomboy
ell!psis & Blake Skowron – ID
ell!psis – ID
Baauer – GoGo! (ell!psis flip)
ell!psis – Cordyceps [ADBC Records]
ell!psis – thoughtcrime
ell!psis & Jersea – ID
ell!psis & LYNY – ID
RL Grime & ISOxo – Stinger (ell!psis flip)
ell!psis & GoldScrolls – ID
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis & Palpa – Purgatory
ell!psis & Galva – ID
ell!psis & Naughta – ID
ell!psis & Tek Genesis – ID
ell!psis, Blake Skowron & Dabow – ID
ell!psis – ID
ell!psis – ID (feat. TYGKO)

The post Guest Mix + Interview – ell!psis appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Fresh off his win in Baauer’s beat battle and the release of the hip-hop-centric 4Closure mixtape with Mohawk Johnson, TYGKO, and Cam Stacey, ell!psis is successfully laying a foundation of exceptional quality and top-tier production that continues with ‘RNA’. Tapping galva and tsou is just the icing on top, as they both bring their own unique repertoire of audio wizardry into the fold. ‘RNA’ begins your molecular strip-tease with a sultry melody that gets the neurotransmitters firing on all cylinders, any outcome equally as possible as the next. Taking a short-lived 24 seconds before breaking you down to the building blocks of life, the bass lines will reverberate throughout the entirety of your being, making sure-footing impossible to achieve. Majestic speaker purrs and lush fills wrap this piece up as a steadfast subwoofer workout plan, with sole emphasis on only the biggest of gains. Check out the madness that is ‘RNA’ for yourself below!

The post ell!psis, galva, & tsou Cause Subatomic Violence With ‘RNA’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

One such city that saw a major uptick in protests after the brutal murder of George Floyd by former officer Derek Chauvin was Chicago, Illinois. What accompanies protests against police brutality? Why, more police brutality, of course. At one such protest in Chicago over the summer, local hip hop vocalist Mohawk Johnson was arrested for allegedly assaulting an officer with a skateboard. With such a longstanding history in our country of civil rights activists being targeted by law enforcement, it would come as no surprise to find these charges a complete fabrication, but for now, Mohawk must live with the fall-out.

In times of extreme despair and anxiety, some of the greatest works of art of our time have been created. Just as diamonds are formed from carbon being put under pressure for extended periods of time, artists use their craft to express their feelings and connect with all who consume their product. In this instance, Mohawk and 3 of his other prodigious friends (ell!psis, Cam Stacey, and TYGKO) came together over the course of a single weekend to create the 4CLOSURE tape, a 4-track affair that will leave hip hop heads thoroughly satisfied.

Recently, ell!psis was chosen as the winner of Baauer‘s Beat Battle by none other than Diplo, so you already know production is going to be top-tier throughout the length of the project. The first track, ‘Abel and Cain’ is a perfect representation of just that, boasting sensational bounce and tight mixing that makes each element pop ever-so-satisfyingly. In the bible, Abel and Cain were brothers and were both forced to make sacrifices, but God favored Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s. In this instance, this title is an allusion to the favoritism and privilege that white people experience and benefit from over people of color in our society. This piece is exceptionally aggressive, engorging the ego and dripping swagger and undeniable stylistic prowess.

Starting off in a lighthearted fashion with a faded-out vocal loop that is reminiscent of old school Saturday morning cartoons, ‘Cartoons’ carries underlying youthful energy that paints a picture of Mohawk’s daily life since his start of house arrest. The dichotomy of the energetic beat with the extremely serious vocals makes the piece more palatable for casual listening but doesn’t detract from the severity of the issues that it confronts. Depression, being stuck at home eating junk food for comfort, playing videogames to mentally escape, and an overwhelming sense that the world is working against him are just some of the topics that are dealt with.

Throwing somber, powerful energy into the air so thick you could cut it with a knife, ‘Stirrups’ is one of the most heartfelt pieces on 4CLOSURE. With raw emotion at the forefront of the track, listeners will be left gripped by the story of how downtrodden black people feel today and how the people that are paid (with our tax dollars) to “protect and serve” are actually those that inflict the most pain. A thought-provoking tale told through rhyme, compulsive relistens are mandatory to get the full impact of the message.

Ending 4CLOSURE with an ethereal flare, the electricity created by the underlying beats in ‘Balance’ exceptionally highlights the undeniable prowess ell!psis has as a producer, while simultaneously throwing massive verses over the top to create a truly impressive concoction. It opens with a heavenly soundscape that commands attention before beginning the last chapter in this story. Imploring people to do more than just say they want change to occur, it demands a call to action for support in the form of actually showing up and amplifying the voices of the oppressed, not just simply stating that you support the cause. A piece that challenges people to do more than just voice their opinions on social media, ‘Balance’ aims to get people to truly achieve balance, and to actually be about it, not just simply stating that they are.

4CLOSURE is such an important body of work that encapsulates the overarching struggles of modern society through the eyes of POC. This tape wears its heart on its sleeve and pulls no punches when confronting the real truths in our culture and the dire changes that need to be implemented. In order to gain more insight into the collection, we took the opportunity to ask the group a few questions about the project itself, Mohawk’s story, and how we can collectively come together to support him in these trying times. I highly urge you to read the interview below, donate to his legal fund, and call the Illinois state attorney’s office to demand his charges be dropped.

What’s the meaning behind the name 4CLOSURE, and what was the intention behind the project?

TYGKO: the title of the project reflects our feelings of being ordered to stay inside while, simultaneously, being kicked out of the house when we got doxxed by Chicago PD. This time led to a lot of the thoughts and feelings expressed on the project. The intention was to get all four of us on one project and to see how much we could do in a couple days if we tried! These four songs are that effort. 

ell!psis: When we met to come up with names, we realized this had a lot of layers to it. On a surface level, the project has 4 tracks, and there’s 4 of us living together. As you’ll notice throughout the work itself, all of it explores the idea of coming to terms with all that’s been going on, between COVID, missing the homies, seasonal depression and of course, Mohawk’s current situation.

Every piece of music carries with it a piece of the people that helped put it together. What do you believe 4CLOSURE carries from you all?

TYGKO: When I listen to the project, I can hear most obviously the pain of being stuck inside with no relief. I think it carries our will to keep thriving in a situation that begs us to give up. Every step of the way we were fully focused on the task at hand, immersed in it. That energy carries through the full tape. 

Mohawk: Something I find prevalent throughout the project is a longing, even in the moments of levity. We all want to go outside while acknowledging that we can’t. That is particularly difficult for me being on house arrest and awaiting trial. We all want to return to a sense of normalcy, safety, security, and change. I believe that is something consistent throughout the release.

Walk us through Mohawk’s story, and how the average person can help bring awareness + support to him in these trying times.

Cam: Mohawk was arrested at a protest in Chicago in August on allegations of violence toward a police officer. Within twenty-four hours, Chicago Police disseminated Mohawk’s mugshot alongside our home address, implying “Look at this scary, black man arrested from a protest against police! Lock your doors!” before we even knew where he was being held. Since then, Mohawk has dealt with violent threats, denial of his right to counsel on a couple occasions, a faulty GPS anklet that tells the system he’s violating house arrest while he’s sitting on the couch, and combating a false narrative that he’s a threat to society when he’d much rather be putting in hours on Zelda and writing/rapping in peace than swinging on cops… all before he’s even stood trial.

You can support Mohawk in many ways, monetarily and otherwise, at this link: https://linktr.ee/FreeMohawk

All money made at the PayPal as well as the Venmo @Free-Mohawk and CashApp $releasethebeanz goes toward Mohawk’s legal fees and living expenses while he looks for work.

Mohawk: I was arrested for allegedly hitting an armored riot cop 3 or 4 times on the helmet. I am being charged with 8 counts of aggravated battery, which is double the amount of times I allegedly struck the officer according to my prosecutor. I was beaten, pepper-sprayed, slurred and arrested. I am essentially being charged for allegedly doing to a cop what they do to us regularly often for no reason. I was placed on house arrest despite white people with the similar, sometimes worse, charges being allowed to walk free and often have their charges completely dropped. I have been receiving death threats regularly. My ankle monitor reports that I am not home while I sit on the couch watching Ben 10 or playing Pokemon. My prosecutor uses these reports in court despite notes from the monitoring company stating that I have indeed been at home. My case is not about justice. It’s about police proving that they can beat you in public and that if you dare consider retaliation, they will actively ruin your life.

Black people went to that protest to demand that police stop murdering us and that ICE stop caging children. Police showed up to that protest to tell us, “No.” They even laughed while they beat us. They are currently being sued federally for their crimes but that and a plethora of recent police scandals has had little effect on my case. Too many people are willing to take a police account of events at face value even though they have been caught lying multiple times in the last few months.

Calling the state’s attorney’s office 312-603-1880 and demanding my charges be dropped is helpful. They need to know that they can’t do whatever they want to people. They can’t murder people and then crucify protesters publicly in order to scare us away. 

What’s next on the horizon for all of you both collectively and individually?

ell!psis: This project came together in the span of one weekend right after the holidays. It was a really fun way for us all to bond in a self-imposed pressure cooker and capture a moment we shared. Moving forward, I think I speak for the whole house in saying we each have LOTS of music on the way individually. Beyond that, we’re pretty much just waiting for vaccines and doing all we can to help Mohawk be free.

Cam: No announcements, just drops. Follow all of us, we’re always putting out new stuff.

The post ell!psis, Mohawk Johnson, TYGKO, & Cam Stacey Combine For Swagger-Laden 4CLOSURE Tape appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Be sure to check out ‘fifty below’ from ell!psis, out now below!

The post ell!psis Christens the New Decade with ‘fifty below’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

“I was devastated when the stories of the fires in the Amazon went viral. Though it wasn’t new information that man-made destruction of the Amazon and other places was altering our world, immersing myself in the coverage of it all made me feel completely powerless. Kael (Palpa) and I shared our grief with each other and initially posted some knee-jerk reactions of how we felt on social media, but it didn’t feel like we were doing nearly enough,” Reset co-founder ell!psis shares regarding the horrific mass media coverage that initially fueled the inspiration for the project.

Composing 13 individual tracks that feature an exceptional roster of creative fortitude including, but not limited to, William Crooks, VALENTINE & underscores, ell!psis, POINT CLARE, Shhh, and PALPA, Forêt spans a multiplicity of genres and preferences, resulting in an eclectic sonic offering that rests easily on the ears and genuinely upon the heart.

“It makes me overwhelmingly happy to see artists I look up to contributing to such an important cause, and it really shows the character of these artists and the kind of people they are beyond their craft. The reception has been great not only in our artist network but also through family and friends. People are getting a new experience and making a difference— this is the kind of power music has, and I’m so grateful to know these individuals,” PALPA reflects regarding the overwhelmingly positive response that has resulted from the team’s cooperative efforts.

Needless to say, music has the untold ability to inspire hope and consolidate an altruistic goal. Forêt is a true embodiment of a selfless initiative and a shining beacon of conviction toward the impact that can be achieved through a collective, creative mentality. Check out Forêt, available in entirety today via BandCamp as well as the Minimix courtesy of Reset Presents that features each track from the compilation woven into a diverse 20-minute set.

[Artwork Courtesy of vos & PALPA]

The post Reset Presents Embrace Charitable Initiative with ‘Forêt’ Compilation appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

‘Off Guard’ features the absolutely smacking low end that is a trademark of Big Red’s production coupled with the much more traditional trap feel of Ell!psis. The track combines and chops these elements creating a veritable hip-shaking head-nodding frenzy. The bass from the low frequencies gets the largest areas of your body grooving while the melody accounts for much smaller, finer movements, much like Geppetto controlling Pinocchio. The hollowed bell sounds create an almost mischievous air, like these 2 sound configurators knew precisely that their work would take hold of untrained minds. If there’s one thing to know about this track, it’s that it will surely catch you ‘Off Guard’.

Check out the collaboration for yourself below!

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The post Big Red and Ellipsis Unveil Sonic Puppet Master ‘Off Guard’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Hands down his most complex introduction to-date, angelic humming woven seamlessly with tactful metallic whirring provides a mesmerizing welcome to ‘empty spaces’. A taut snare drum strikes crisply as a captivating riser unearths a rhythmic clapping pattern, which leads effortlessly into the first digitally-infused drop. A cascade of liquid electro-synths gushes from the spout amid surges of trembling bass, while eclectic percussion keeps the cadence of the tun rigidly in check, despite the nearly extraterrestrial aesthetic the song adopts.

2019 presents a completely blank canvas for ell!psis, newly equipped with an insatiable style that borders upon freeform bass and hybrid trap, we heavily anticipate a bright future of releases for the Chicago-native. Check out some of his earlier releases and grab the free download of his latest here.

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The post Let ell!psis Fill in the Blanks with ‘empty spaces’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.