This is a story that I am sure, in various degrees, connects many of us. Before streaming platforms and related tools broke down barriers and changed the very concept of music discovery, where did we go to find new music? It was the domain of blogs and official portals like Beatport and Juno, but most importantly SoundCloud and YouTube. While the real strength of the former platform has always been peer-to-peer sharing (later “killed” by the spread of repost chains), it’s on the latter that curators have made their fortune. The triad of channels under the UKF (Unite Kingdom & Frome) banner, opened between April and December 2009 was one of the forerunners, followed closely by other (now) behemoths like MrSuicideSheep and Proximity (2010), NoCopyrightSound, and DubstepGutter (2011), Trap Nation, Trap City and AllThingsTrap (2012). Although, in terms of sheer numbers, UKF has since been largely overtaken by other players, suffice it to say that both Trap Nation and NoCopyrightSound have broken through the 30 million subscriber mark on their respective YouTube channels, the path of the network created and led by Luke Hood is certainly the most fascinating. Especially in the early years.

It’s fair to say that the then-16-year-old skipped the warmup. Already in their first year, the UKF Drum&Bass and UKF Dubstep channels were in the hundreds of thousands of subscribers range. By 2011, UKF was already making history. As Luke himself says in an interview with Dancing Astronaut, “2011 was a really crazy year for us. We released UKF Dubstep 2010 in December 2010 which in January topped the iTunes Dance charts and remained in the top 50 for years, followed by venturing into live events where we put on our first 500 capacity show in January, through to a sell-out 12,000 capacity show at Alexandra Palace with UKF Bass Culture, which tied into our first TV advertised album.” Far from being a flash in the pan, Luke and the team moved forward, starting a partnership with AEI Music and further developing the brand. That meant more uploads, of course, more channels, but also more events and an editorial platform.

These two aspects are what really distinguish UKF from most of the aforementioned brands. Not many have been able to successfully translate success from online to offline, and certainly not with the same magnitude and longevity as UKF (see their recent New Zealand tour). Having an in-house blog, which has remained a pivotal hub in the bass music world for years thanks to the involvement of professionals like Dave Jenkins, has led the whole project to have a massive cultural impact that went beyond the number of YouTube plays or the followers on Spotify. It’s precisely on this aspect that UKF has overtaken the “competition.” The purely business-oriented choices have, over the years, been matched by initiatives that have culturally enriched the entire scene.

Now, I’m aware that I’ve just said that numbers alone don’t matter. But I also know that we all like to have some clear data to debate on. While UKF is currently celebrating with the release of its new 15-anniversary compilation, we take a trip down memory lane to find out what are (at the moment) the most popular uploads ever on the flagship UKF Drum&Bass and UKF Dubstep channels.

UKF Dubstep Top 15 Songs

1) Blue Foundation – Eyes On Fire (Zeds Dead Remix) – 172 Mio views. Published in 2009.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUGzY-ihqWc?si=_FQWqO4B_hCd8LHT]
2) Flux Pavilion – I Can’t Stop – 122 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q9rewnLFYw?si=aRPooy3sGdz1F0Uq]
3) UKF Dubstep Mix – August – 71 Mio views. Published in 2009
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFu2DfPDGeU?si=ebQpMJ3quZFYoOva]

4) DJ Fresh – Gold Dust (Flux Pavilion Remix) – 60 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEbJ4qLiMu0?si=rdU9qGNFRO0ESQK6]

5) Modestep – Another Day (Ft. Popeska) (xKore Remix) (Official Video) – Mio views. Published in 2012
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EM8T5K6d8?si=CFrW1F2SI0Vz2OHj]

6) Modestep – Sunlight (Official Video) – 43 Mio views. Published in 2011
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bparw9Jo3dk?si=vmaLWUL9kwFrpdeJ]

7) Freestylers – Cracks (Ft. Belle Humble) (Flux Pavilion Remix) – 41 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1VLaXoRRdk?si=4Y-Q1q7ceGBZrdTU]

8) Modestep – Feel Good (Official Video) – 30 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r26y–evIw?si=88I33EmYe7thWKnz]

9) Flux Pavilion – Bass Cannon – 28 Mio views. Published in 2011
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3cE9iXIx9c?si=9QVsIn5AbYj4_K2c]

10) DJ Fresh – Louder (Doctor P & Flux Pavilion Remix) – 27 Mio views. Published in 2011
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cxgao2rYZw?si=pkHA8g3DskuCidPC]

11) Emalkay – When I Look At You – 25 Mio views. Published in 2009
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mwL6R-Z1e4?si=bkBknMoqine8hvBQ]

12) Deadmau5 – Ghosts N Stuff (Nero Remix) – 24.8 Mio views. Published in 2009
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gb3faOzvBk?si=giFNcQMV_KP_qYZx]

13) Nero – Act Like You Know (Dubstep Mix) – 24.5 Mio views. Published in 2009
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjgFYQMWtqo?si=HBuTRUGZWmLMQ_SO]

14) Professor Green – Monster feat. Example (Camo & Krooked Remix) – 23 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ZyeWjJF7A?si=Dda3ifF9wSStHwF9]

15) Zeds Dead – White Satin – 22 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWC_WZ7gd6g?si=v-L8K5yBlNfUJcLp]

UKF Drum & Bass Top 15 Songs

1) Jessie J – Nobody’s Perfect (Netsky Remix) – 34 Mio views. Published in 2012
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-jGJgKqP00?si=52kTvSg-MJmcSiTk]
2) Rusko – Everyday (Netsky Remix) – 31 Mio views. Published in 2011
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD40VXFkusw?si=udSiFJ7_weiMVCXD]

3) Sub Focus & Dimension – Desire – 29.9 Mio views. Published in 2018
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB0CFw3Godg]

4) Rusko – Somebody To Love (Sigma Remix) – 29.3 Mio views. Published in 2012
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nF7wa3j57j0?si=FNDHg8igfuaVKZvF]

5) Netsky – Memory Lane – 27 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG7cRDcPY3k?si=3ReDEiTe5BbQcVxU]

6) Macky Gee – Tour – 23 Mio views. Published in 2017
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X4iXYqxlPA?si=g65fYZ1T5FeXly3n]

7) Sub Focus – Solar System – 22.8 Mio views. Published in 2019
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRgcgcTP7nM?si=8-VNwAFbc01tayeT]

8) Major Lazer – Get Free (Ft. Amber Coffman) (Andy C Remix) – 22.5 Mio views. Published in 2012
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_8ZZtL6qmM?si=-YdbZLOR0rscQT5q]

9) B-Complex – Beautiful Lies VIP – 20 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdQhxztj8Cc?si=RWHu5nx5sBW5Dfy5]

10) Hybrid Minds – Touch (ft. Catching Cairo) – 19 Mio views. Published in 2016
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKSpPkZAuE?si=vzWVWTpb9Ovcsfyc]

11) Wilkinson – Afterglow – 18 Mio views. Published in 2013
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7PRh7ZQlss?si=tS_aID60zdiodMfd]

12) Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites (Dirtyphonics Remix) – 16 Mio views. Published in 2011
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX36Vy5qfPU?si=jmtuNwBGd8DMt9Oe]

13) Ellie Goulding – Starry Eyed (Dexcell Remix) – 15.9 Mio views. Published in 2010
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5HAveREsJo?si=bqg7rrkh-gMaMFXS]

14) Dimension – Generator – 15.6 Mio views. Published in 2017
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJzxeZ1j50?si=eCbeGLMTFLkfxH1i]

15) Wilkinson – Used To This (ft. Issey Cross) – 14 Mio views. Published in 2021
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU896nvfMy0?si=yLb4pFWsmd6plQEp]

The post Long Live UKF: 15 Years Of Bass Music And Culture appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Before talking about the song itself, I’d like to take a second to reflect on how “strange” it is to see a D&B artist releasing on  Mau5trap. A label that boasts a totally different background.  Let’s be clear, in recent years Deadmau5’s founded imprint has made a decisive turn. It added a genre-fluid selection to the niche sound to which it had dedicated itself in the first few years, becoming a much more eclectic outlet (a la Monstercat). However, this is yet another symptom that shows that Drum&Bass is indeed conquering more and more space in America. Good times ahead folks!

Let’s get back to UKF, Bensley and ‘Roll The Dice’.  This is one of those songs that I call “serotonin-boosters.” It triggers exactly the part of me that wants to feel cheerful, laidback, free from my duties for a little moment. It’s an open window on a tiny escapism world where each one of us wants to jump in at a certain point of our weeks. The vocals that encourage us to “Roll the dice, let’s see what happens, when its late at night,” are extremely catchy and are a pleasure to sing along to. Sometimes they feel a bit stifled by autotune but in the end, this slight distortion makes them integrate more organically with the synths. The melody is extremely catchy as well and is instantly likable. It’s straightforward? Yes. Is this a good reason to criticize it? Hell no. As said before, it enters your head so quickly that in an instant you find yourself thinking of nothing else but dancing, running, living your best life. I love how Bensley channeled the same electrifying mood of some Netsky and Fred V & Grafix’s classics I grew up with into ‘Roll The Dice.’ Definitely a song that will stay on rotation in my selection for a while.

Listen to  ‘Roll The Dice’ below or on your favorite platform here.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1194345862″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Bensley Electrifies Our Ears With New Release On UKF ‘Roll The Dice’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

By reading these words, ladies and gentlemen, you’re witnessing history. Seeing wave featured on UKF needs to be considered an epochal moment in its own right. It seems to me that I am assisting in first person to one of those stories I read years ago. Stories of some talented but still little known producers like Tim Bergling or Porter Robinson that, found by the right people on some channels had their opportunity to change the world. The rest is history. Leaving aside the comparisons, which often risk doing more harm than good, what I’m writing about is exactly one of these tales. The story of a bright talent, whose growth has been constant, solid, unstoppable. He grew from being one of the producers trying out this new genre called wave to a widely respected ambassador at the forefront of the scene to a true pioneer that, like few others, pushed its border to new heights. The producer is: Noah B.

I believe the merits of this pivotal milestone need to be split among all the parts involved. Noah B of course, who has been steadily producing some incredible music during the years, achieving incredible results as Heavy Armor. Secondly, the movement. Internal conflicts aside, I think the wave communities are doing a good job supporting each other, pushing their artists and spreading the word to new followers. Last but not least, UKF and Pilot. They didn’t get early on wave, but they masterfully set up this debut. There are several artists that I believe would have had the potential to be featured on the label, but this was not just a matter of raw talent. Being such an institution with such a wide and multifaceted reach is a double-edged sword. Especially when it comes to introducing something new to the general public, the first step needs to be considered very carefully. A wrong choice can sabotage from the beginning what could be a long and successful story. You need the right person at the right time, and honestly, I can’t really find a better name than Noah B. He’s in a league of its own, his repertoire is filled with gems, he has proven over and over to effortlessly blend genres and in particular, he has a very golden touch for drum&bass (not a secondary detail when it comes to UKF). He’s simply the best.

I’m done with this endless preamble and I’m finally here to dive into this double release titled Remembering Home / Judgement. Since we’re celebrating wave’s debut on UKF, I’d like to start with the latest one, which is the actual wave cut in the release. First of all, I have to say I’m delighted that ‘Judgment’ brings back the “cozy cosmic beats” I madly loved in ‘Endless Sky‘. The drums in the beginning really fooled me to think this was another D&B cut, but when the beat dropped well, my jaw dropped too. This is my church. This is food for my soul. These are the moments when I really get to think music is the finest and most powerful art of all. The production here is so polished that if there’d be a sonic equivalent of satin, ‘Judgment’ would be undoubtedly made of that. You were expecting a proper technical analysis? Come on, you should know me at this point.

When it comes to ‘Remembering Home’ instead, I can’t help to become a little nerdy. Honestly, I don’t really get why some people label this tune as wave. I’m no genre-maniac, but we already have a way to define electronic music characterized by fast breakbeats, heavy bass lines, and synthesizers: drum&bass. I’m not pointing this out because I like to nitpick but because I can picture hordes of people losing the focus of the situation here only to start a genre war made of useless disquisition based on wrong premises that will never find an end. Focus that, instead, should remain on ‘Remembering Home’ which is one hell of a track. Liquid D&B at its finest. A soothing eargasm. Noah B made it dynamic like the wind that heralds a storm but light as a leaf. The groove is incessant but flows through us like a purifying English drizzle without hammering the eardrums. The amen breaks are the only elements that dare to disturb this balance for a few seconds, but even this choice is functional as it makes us appreciate the rest of the track even more.

The airy melodies and otherworldly chords Noah B puts on top of this classy groove are masterful as always and don’t resent the lack of vocals at all. Not that it’d be bad to have someone singing over it but I like how this states loud and clear that emotions aren’t tight to words. If we want, if we need, we can shut up and still be able to convey emotions in many other ways. With a look, a hug or, if you’re lucky, by composing a song. In this regard, Noah B stated: “I’ve always used music to express feelings I have a hard time articulating in my day to day life. With Remembering Home and Judgement, I wanted to convey a feeling of hope & optimism. Over the last two years I’ve experienced a lot of changes and ups and downs in my life, but through all of it I’ve been able to remain positive and motivated by the support of my fans, friends and family. Their support is what keeps me going and these songs are a reflection of the hope they’ve instilled in me.”

The last thing I’d like to point out about both the tracks is how much I love that they open and close with the same arpeggios and chords, in almost a perfect loop. Now I’m only waiting for someone to upload a Noah B – Remembering Home / Judgement  (10 hours) video on YouTube. Meanwhile, you can stream this historic release below, on UKF’s YouTube channel, or on your favorite platform here.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/1334199679″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”300″ iframe=”true” /]

The post Listen To Noah B’s Historical Debut on Pilot ‘Remembering Home / Judgement’ appeared first on FUXWITHIT.

Banguers with Benzi

Banguers with Benzi is a weekly radio show on SiriusXM Radio, which began two years ago back in March of 2018. Hosted by Benzi every Tuesday, he has had a massive list of artists come through and deliver electrifying guest mixes. From large names like TYNAN and Cozway, all the way to up and coming artists, like Saka and FLY, Benzi has curated an impressive radio station that definitely belongs on your radar. Every episode is worth the listen and you’ll be leaving each week with a new stack of favorite tracks.
-ZB

Beat Lab Radio

Based in Oregon, Beat Lab Radio broadcasts new guest mixes and uploads them on their SoundCloud every week. One of the best sources for bass music mixes, Beat Lab Radio brings fans the hard-hitting, the wonky, the dark, the dirty and everything in between. Their roster of guests includes AZTEK, sfam, Jon Casey, TVBOO, Adiidas, OAKK, LEViT∆TE. and more. With nearly 300 episodes to date, they’ve been killing it for a minute.
-CV

bitbird radio

San Holo’s record label, bitbird, began back in 2014. The label is known for releasing future bass, but they have also released a wide variety of genres, including classical music, R&B, and trap. The radio show follows the same format as the label, giving us a lush and lavish listening experience since 2016. With some of the recent episodes having Jaron and Manilla Killa as guests, you can expect to have your mood lifted instantly when you put on bitbird radio.
-ZB

DEADBEATS Radio

In the realm of discussing bass music legends, you are legally obligated to bring up Zeds Dead. With over 140 episodes, DEADBEATS Radio has provided major contributions to electronic music culture. Their catalog includes a variety of guest mixes as well as special radio features such as an All Drum N Bass Special, an All Dubstep Special, a 10 Days of Dead Treats, which was a Halloween mini mix edition, just to give an idea of what listeners can expect from what they showcase. The variety provided is incomparable as they introduce mixes from the up-and-coming producers like Cozway, Klutch, Floret Loret, LICK and more, in addition to a deep archive from legends including Rusko, Delta Heavy and Ganja White Night, to name a few. Along with these incredible inclusions they also incorporate Dead Heat which is the track of the week, Raise From The Dead which is a throwback track, a fan pick and catching zzz’s which is a song on the more melodic and chill side. They have so much to offer and have a great grasp on what they provide to their followers.
-TL

Eclectic Imprint

Eclectic Imprint is labeled as SoundCloud’s best kept secret and I could not agree more. With a focus on up-and-coming producers spanning across a variety of genres, it was only recently that I discovered this page and found the fire they had hidden. They are an independent record label and artist/event management agency that drops a monthly Eclectic FM Mix Series. Represented on their management roster is Samsara Family, Super Future and Mighty-Mozaic while their mix series features top of the line underground artists such as thook, Capshun, Creighfish, leet, G-Space, HMU, L*O*J and Take/Five to name a few. If you like keeping up with what the sounds of the future will be like, I highly encourage giving Eclectic Imprint a follow.
-TL

FUXWITHIT

It may seem a bit biased to put our own mix series on this list, but it would also be irresponsible not to. Spanning 100+ guest mixes to date, our FUXWITHIT Guest mix series simultaneously showcases the future of music alongside DJ legends. We’ve had everyone from Thook, Dabow, Rome In Silver and Laxcity, to icons and world champions like UZ, Craze, Four Color Zack, ESKEI83, Dj Ride and THUGLI. Trap and bass music with an underlying hip hop influence tend to be most common, but don’t be surprised hearing future bass, future beats, dubstep, house or mixes that span all of the mentioned genres and more. As the series grows expect FUXWITHIT to continue be the Champions Of The Underground with a few big name surprises thrown in.
-CV

Noiseporn

If you’re a fan of the FUXWITHIT mix series, you’ll love what Noiseporn is doing with their own series. A platform that’s been riding for the underground, their mix series puts this on display properly. With over 50+ episodes ranging from Code: Pandorum, to Floret Loret, Holly, STUCA, G-REX, Peekaboo and more, these mixes are an absolute must for bass heads.
-CV

Noisia Radio

Noisia Radio is on its sixth season and through years has become a one-stop-shop for everything bass music. These three legends have already made a tremendous impact over their twenty-year career, with a discography that’s beyond impressive and the founding of three major labels under their belt (Vision, Division, and Invisible), they decided to take supporting the underground one step further and created Noisia Radio. The show itself consists of tracks from all Noisa’s labels, which have recently seen releases from a few FUXWITHIT favorites like Tek Genesis and Holly. Noisia Radio serves as an excellent entry point to the Drum & Bass scene, as Noisia provides expert curation of the best Drum & Bass records coming out and also provides entertaining and insightful commentary before every track. In addition to all this, the group sometimes invites their peers on the show to drop off a guest mix, which over the years have seen the likes of Machine Drum, Huxley Anne, and Ivy Lab.
-VL

The Prescription

Sure, FUXWITHIT is all about promoting the trap and bass underground, but real recognize real and The Prescription is your destination for all things house. Providing a remedy every other Monday on Insomniac Radio and DASH Radio, The Prescription is a series hosted by Dr. Fresch. Typical fashion for the show is Dr. Fresch himself laying down a 30-minute mix and is then followed by a 30-minute guest mix. With 89 prescriptions administered so far, the growing catalog includes names such as QLANK, Ghastly, Bijou, Blossom, Gerry Gonza, Angelz, NuKid, Matroda, Hotel Garuda and heaps more.
-TL

Soulection Radio

Over the years Soulection Radio has become synonymous with the ‘SoundCloud Culture’. Hosted by expert audiophile and DJ Joe Kay, Soulection Radio is aired every Saturday on Beats One radio and features almost every genre in the electronic space, R&B, Hip-Hop, and new wave Jazz. Soulection has become a staple in so many radio shows rotation due to Joe Kay’s world-class curation and his non-stop digging on SoundCloud, the platform that made this all possible. You never know what to expect when tuning in to an edition of Soulection Radio. With over 450 episodes the show is very vibe-oriented, as the genres played may vary throughout the episode, but the energy is always constant throughout the movement.
-VL

Too Future

Run The Trap’s Too Future Mix series is practically the gold standard for blog curated guest mixes. Although they aren’t as active as they used to be (their last mix was from graves was several months ago) we’re hoping that doesn’t mean that they’re done. Looking back through their hundred plus episode catalog they’ve featured some of the best producers in electronic music including: KRANE, Alexander Lewis, QUIX, Party Favor, Ekali, josh pan x Y2K, Doctor P b2b Funtcase and more. Start digging through the goldmine that is their series below.
-CV

UKF

Likely the YouTube channel that got you into dubstep, drum & bass, or bass music in general, UKF is a true OG in the game and has evolved into a top taste-maker in the electronic music scene. As everyone holds UKF in such high regard, it comes as no surprise to see the plethora of legends that have graced their The UKF Podcast mix series. From genres spanning the aforementioned, to bassline, house, and just about everything in between, and artists such as Flux Pavilion, Herobust, AC Slater and so many more gracing the stage over the course of over 120 mixes, one certainty with UKF’s mix curation is quality.
-SC

Words by Colin, Steph, Tony, Victor & Zach

The post The Best Electronic Mix Series And Radio Shows appeared first on FUXWITHIT.