SHLUMP Delivers Hallucinogenic Single ‘Psychedelic Explorer’ via WAKAAN

SHLUMP Delivers Hallucinogenic Single ‘Psychedelic Explorer’ via WAKAAN

by | Jun 14, 2022 | PREMIERE

Your favorite freeform electronic music label is back once again to deliver the best the bass scene has to offer to the limelight of the everyday basshead. Wakaan champion SHLUMP , is here to ring the memories of those who were here from the early days of when the whole label project first started from. A reminder that has helped solidify WAKAAN and those who release within the project why their sound style and approach continues to pave the way for those who will come after. Today’s premiere is a showcase of SHLUMP’s ability to demonstrate just that. A soothing deep state of mind journey through the ever expanding world of psychedelic bass music. Now it’s time to take a deeper dive as to what makes this new release what we like to call , a certified bop.

“I wrote Psychedelic Explorer during a time when I started experimenting with microdosing psilocybin. I have been a psychedelic explorer for many years but taking microdoses was a new experience for me. I wrote a series of tunes that reflect what I was feeling and going through at that time. More of a melodic laid back feel to this one. There was a sense of novelty to writing something with a chill rhythm and melodic atmosphere. I sampled a few minor vocal clips from a lecture about psychedelics that I felt were appropriate. “What it does is break down boundaries” is referring to the boundary of our ego or identity that seems to separate reality. There is a sense of merging with a large energy of universe that I feel really reflects the psychedelic experience.” -Shlump

DIVING DEEP W/ SHLUMP

If you could go back in time and start over given what you have learned in your career so far, what changes and approach would you have done differently?

I am happy with the process I went through in my early days even if I released cringeworthy tracks. I do wish I honed in on my art and merch aesthetic sooner. I feel like I really didn’t understand the importance of graphics and artwork representing my vision and having a high caliber on their own.

What has been the biggest difference you’ve noticed when first starting off as an artist vs now after experience playing events , doing releases etc?

The biggest difference is the scene itself. I started off like ten + years ago in the height of the west coast bass music scene. I was playing small parties and renegade type situations. It’s such a massive difference with the huge, expensive festivals and events I am now playing. The electronic music scene has grown so much it’s almost morphed into a new creature.

Yonderville Music Festival Founder Dives Deep on Lineup, Sound Production & Plans for the Future [Q&A]

Yonderville Music Festival Founder Dives Deep on Lineup, Sound Production & Plans for the Future [Q&A]

by | Jun 8, 2022 | Exclusive

Are you looking to transport your mind, body and soul beyond the confines of the ordinary life style? The solution you seek lies within the foothills of the Blue Ridge Montains. Here you will discover a portal that leads you to West Virgina’s most premiere music & arts festival experience , Yonderville. After having a few past succesful runs of the festival project , the crew has united once again to showcase some of the scenes hottest and best electronic bass acts that will help further elevate the experience set forth from previous line ups.

“We deploy the worlds most advanced point source sound systems as well as the industries most efficient, deep, loud and impactful subwoofers to create an experience that is second to none.” -Yonderville

This years line up is every basshead’s wildest dream lined up perfectly into four days of absolute madness. Leading the charge as this years main headliner is WAKAAN‘s own founder , Liquid Stranger. Followed by the likes of other popular bass acts such as Truth , Yheti , Esseks , Wreckno , Of The Trees  and more ! If you’re a big fan of the underground like us , there are PLENTY of those fast rising producers that you’re not gonna want to miss. Some honorable mentions we reccomend includes Kirby Bright , Kozmic ,Smokestax ,Ujuu, Engix, Humorme and more. Now it’s time to take a deeper dive into what makes this festival quite the dream experience for any event attendee by getting to know how it’s all done and coordinated thanks to the founder of Yonderville , Max Stone.

DIVING DEEP W/ MAX STONE

First off, hello and thanks for chatting with Headbang Society. First off, could you start by introducing yourself and your involvement with Yonderville?
 
Hello, and thank you for having me. My name is Max Stone, Yonderville’s Founder.
 
Where did the idea of Yonderville originate from? What’s the vision for this festival?
 
The name Yonderville originated while on the way home from an outdoor rave in Baltimore. My friends Taylor and Matt were headed back out to the countryside and thinking about throwing their own event. Matt said “it might be hard to get them to drive all the way down Yonder” and my other friend Taylor said “We’d call it Yonderville”. 
 
Then, in 2017, I was given an opportunity to start a music festival after losing a close friend, Bobby Satre. Bobby and I connected through music and became close friends while playing shows and DJing. After Bobby passed, his mother started a non-profit called CAYA, Come As You Are. At one of CAYA’s 5k runs where I volunteered to play music, I was introduced to the venue’s Management and talks of a festival began.
 
I struggled to come up with a name for the festival and was considering “Camp Wilderness.” After speaking with his friend Taylor, who was also a friend of Bobby, about what he had come up with Taylor suggested “Yonderville.” I personally dedicate Yonderville to Bobby and credits him for inspiring and motivating It’s creation. 
What kind of experience/background does the Yonderville team bring to the table / how is this team uniquely experienced to curate and produce this type of underground event?
 
Everyone involved with booking and curation has experience with this type of music. We work with many different people from within the industry which gives us lots of varying perspectives.
 
Austin Trout is our lead talent buyer this year and hosts events in NYC and beyond w/ Sermon. Wade Appleton and Hunter Guire are two of our support talent buyers who help us keep an eye on the hottest up and coming underground producers in the game. Wade has his Dice Man Project as well as Dub Day which is a national events brand. Hunter Guire curates and hosts events in the Morgantown / Pittsburgh regions with his Appalachian Sound Culture organization.
 
Yonderville also works with many different collectives and labels both regional and national. Artists from Aspire Higher and The Gradient Perspective for example are staples in Yonderville lineups. Ryan Karolyi being with AH and Jared Oppenhiem with TGP. 
What stands out about the festivals venue, Marvin’s Mountaintop? Why was this chosen as the host site?
 
Marvin’s Mountaintop stands out because of It’s rich history as well as It’s incredible landscape. The Hilltop VIP Area and the Hilltop RV Camping are both amazing spots to chill out and experience live music. It really is an amazing vantage point. You can see the entire venue, distant mountains and the sun set perfectly behind them. We also like Marvin’s because It’s off the beaten path a bit. It takes a little effort to get there. It kinda makes you appreciate life a little more. If it was just another exit off of a major interstate then it wouldn’t feel like as much of a journey. After returning from 3-4 days onsite I feel like I’ve grown, learned something about myself and are more confident in my own skin. 
Addressing the concerns about local authorities intruding on 2021’s Resonance festival, hosted at the same site, why will Yonderville 2022 be different and what has the team done to address these issues?
 
Yonderville is a boutique festival experience with quality over quantity in mind. By keeping attendance to a more manageable size, we avoid a lot of the problems and headaches festivals experience when growing beyond 5k-10k. Being boutique means we make less of an impact on the local community, use fewer limited resources and put less pressure on the local government to perform. We’ve also spent the last 2 years at Marvin’s showing the local community we’re here for the long haul and really do care what sort of impact we make. This has been achieved through transparency and straightforwardness in regards to attendance figures and long term goals. In 2022 we’re also working with more WV local businesses, vendors and artists than all previous years combined. We believe whenever possible you should support local and nurture those relationships. 
2022 marks the 5th festival in Yonderville’s history. How does this year’s lineup and production celebrate those milestones?
 
In 2020 we planned to expand the experience but because of Covid, those plans had to be put on hold. 2021 was about bringing the team back together after an extended period of absence so this year we’re taking Yonderville to a whole new level. This will be our biggest production to date and will feature more of our favorite artists than ever before. 
 
We’ve elevated “the Monolith” Mainstage production to include incredible Danley Sound from The Sound Live LLC. This will feature the extremely rare Danley Sound Labs BC218s which defy all logic. These subwoofers are directional without the need for a cardioid configuration or the use of an additional speaker. When deployed each pair of BC218s is 10’ long and 5’ tall and resemble a cat eye. These have significant response all the way down to 22hz and sound amazing. “The Monolith” Mainstage will also feature stunning visuals courtesy of Guerrilla Productions. We’ve worked closely with their team and have a deployment that will surely impress even the most seasoned live music fan. Lights, lasers, video wall and stage decor will culminate into an incredible experience you won’t soon forget. 
Rumor has it the 2022 event will feature a never before used sound setup. What can you tell us about that?
 
That’s right. The Sound Live LLC recently acquired the countries largest touring Danley Sound Labs inventory including 8 of the Monstrous BC218s. Like we described earlier, these are some of the rarest touring subwoofers on the market and are designed to be directional. Danley refers to this as their “Boundary Coupled” or BC Series Design. This helps keep unwanted energy off the back of the cabinet and more where you need it – out front. They have significant output down to 22hz and produce an insane amount of energy per cabinet. For example 8 BC218s are equal to approximately 32+ single 18” folded horn cabinets. With tremendous output and no need for a cardioid deployment these make for a relatively quick and easy setup for massive crowds. These are especially good for venues with neighbors close by, when directivity really counts. One of the best attributes about the BCs are the drivers. They use 18s so the kicks are real punchy. The massive cabinet volume and proprietary design help with low end extension. Essentially you have the best of both worlds. 
What is Yonderville most excited for about its 2022 lineup?
 
Thats a tough question, It’s all fire. The DDD Showcase on Sunday w/ the likes of Isded, Coltcuts, Mesck, Hypho, Distinct Motive & Truth leading into a set by Liquid Stranger cannot be ignored.
Friday and Saturday have incredible blocks of sound including sets from Lab Group, Of The Trees, Yheti, Esseks, kLL sMTH and Wreckno. We’re particularly excited for the legend that is Joe Nice to close out the Temple Stage on the last night. Joe closed the festival out in our inaugural year 2017 so we’re coming full circle with this one. 
 
Abelation, Black Carl!, Bricksquash, Jason Leech, OAKK, ONHell, Secret Recipe, Templo, Tsimba, Canvas, Chmura and UJUU all have debut sets this year so we’re pumped for those. Seeing Tiedye Ky return along w/ a set from 5AM + Trio always makes us happy. The Thursday preparty w/ the Undergrowth feat: Kirby Bright, Zeplinn, Cutrugs and Makak is definitely worth checking out as well.
What our Yonderville’s goals for 2022 and beyond?
This year the goal is to scale the festival and provide an incredible experience. We have lots of ideas and things we’d love to accomplish with the festival so growing the attendance is an important part. It’s always been our mission to inspire and make a positive impact beyond a great experience so starting initiatives like the one Excision recently launched is on our list of things to do. Non-profits such as Hungry for Live music, which helps to put musical instruments in the hands of underprivileged children, also inspire us to one day be able to give the gift of music. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE YONDERVILLE INFO & TICKETS

Moon Lotus X Eyetrip Make Waves w/ New The Moontrip EP

Moon Lotus X Eyetrip Make Waves w/ New The Moontrip EP

by | Jun 3, 2022 | PREMIERE

Come take a trip to the vast reaches of outer space with insanely talented producers Moon Lotus and Eyetrip as they bring forth their newest EP, The Moontrip. Combining their musical sound to bring forth a combination of nostalgia fueled melodic bass music, these 4 tunes carry the right amount of heavy bass lines with celestial melodies for an out of this world EP design. The track that we bring you today off this EP, “If Only For A Little While” pushes the boundaries of what we have to to know from both of these artists, combining both sounds into one to guide us on this otherworldly journey. This track not only captures the essence the ethereal vibe the entire EP brings, but its whompy bassline paired expertly with a downtempo soundscape makes for a unique listening experience that you should not be sleeping on. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “If Only For A Little While” and the rest of The Moontrip EP, a certified bop.

“Conceptually, this EP tells the story of personal discovery and dealing with the feeling of always ‘yearning for more. It is an EP dedicated to all of those who feel like they are always caught up in the search for ‘home’, but never realizing that home is created within us all along. In many ways, ‘The Moontrip’ represents the path one walks to find one’s own safe haven which at times can be scary as it is beautiful.  We sincerely hope this EP finds you well as you traverse along your own pathways home. Thank you for walking this path alongside us .”

-Moon Lotus & Eyetrip

  1. If you could go back in time and start over given what you have learned in your career so far, what changes and approaches would you have done differently?

 

Moon Lotus:

There’s a couple of things actually, I wish I would’ve had more confidence from the very beginning and truly learned how to not care about what people think. I think learning to trust that inner vision and bringing your own story to the table is the biggest thing artists need to focus on; the rest is all just noise. Also, choosing to align yourself and your vision with those who share a similar value of the same things will naturally introduce you to the right spaces and places you need to be in. All you need to do is focus on your own path and craft.

Eyetrip:

I would’ve started music way earlier in life. I was always so apprehensive about learning something as daunting as music production, but once I started I knew immediately that this is my passion in life. I always think “Man, what if I would’ve started when I was like 16” and kinda imagine the skills I would have by this stage in my life. I only started producing 2 or so years ago and have learned SO much, its crazy to think how much I would have learned if I was doing this for 10 + years. I guess I’ll be there someday though haha.

  1. Is there a message you would like to portray through your music, and if so, what would it be?

 

Moon Lotus:

My music has always been about giving back the love that I have received. I think sharing a space of healing and growth amongst my friends and family is my number one priority as a musician. I would not be where I am today without the community around me and this project is built off a foundation of gratitude for all of those who have guided me. Fundamentally, the project tells the story of rebirth through the divine feminine and her intuition, but broadly it is about the journey one takes to grow a ‘lotus’ garden within; A safe-haven from the world around us.

Eyetrip:

I try to add some sort of experience or emotion I feel to every track that I produce as a way to express myself and to put something out there that someone might resonate with. I don’t know if I have a specific message, but I hope people can relate to the storytelling I try to portray in each track. Music is healing and I hope my music can be something that people can use to get them through a tough time or help them find a moment of solace in this crazy world we live in.

 

Dream Tonic Dives Deep w/ New Essence EP

Dream Tonic Dives Deep w/ New Essence EP

by | Jun 3, 2022 | PREMIERE

San Diego singer and music producer, Dream Tonic, has transported us to a new beautiful and celestial world with her newest EP, Essence. Taking us on a journey through an ethereal downtempo soundscape, we get the chance to peer into a hopeful world like no other that this artist has skilfully crafted through these new 5 tracks. The tune we get the pleasure of premiering for you all today, “Stranded” takes a deep dive into the infinite boundaries and ebb and flow that we experience in relationships. The combination of vocals with the wubby, otherworldly melody flow beautifully, making this track a do not miss. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Stranded” and the rest of the Essence EP, a certified bop.

“Stranded” is a deep dive into the inner conflict that arises due to power dynamics in a relationship. This song is a nod to the delicate balance of staying grounded in oneself while remaining open to connecting with others while riding out the wave of uncertainty.”

DIVING DEEP W/ DREAM TONIC

  1. What’s one cool fact about yourself/or your project that not many fans know about? 

 

This Essence EP project has been two years in the making. I made this EP in the midst of covid lockdown, while mothering two young children that were home all day. It took an extreme degree of commitment, discipline and methodical planning in order to take it to where it needed to go. A huuuuuge shout out to my collaborator and mentor ill.Gates for seeing the potential in this project and helping bring it to fruition. Also, in the middle of producing this project, the opportunity arose to write music for the new Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Adventure and a whole bunch of my music is now in the hotel.

 

  1. What are the inspirations that helped push you into wanting to pursue a career in music? 

 

Since the age of 6, I knew I needed to create music. I used to invent graphic notation in order to capture the musical thoughts that swam through my mind before I actually knew how to read and write musical notation. I then became a classically trained pianist, playing in concert halls all over the country, went on to study ritual death music ini Bali, studied Brazilian percussion and dance and electronic music. I think ultimately, all of these experiences led me to the path of music production, giving me the opportunity to synthesize all of my various influences.

Star Monster, Xotix and Dalfin Join Forces For New Spicy Track “Wagmi”

Star Monster, Xotix and Dalfin Join Forces For New Spicy Track “Wagmi”

by | Jun 3, 2022 | PREMIERE

Collaborations in the freeform bass world are the best way to both showcase the individual sound that we love from the artists we listen to but also create new and unique tracks that would have not have been possible without a team effort and multiple pairs of ears. Some of our favorite producers are doing just this, back at it again to bring forth an absolutely massive collab to bless us today. Star Monster, Dalfin and your favorite boy band, Xotix have teamed up to deliver “Wagmi”, a heater of an uptempo bass track that is sure to blow your mind. With its fast paced melodies, heavy bassline and insane tempo changes, this track pushes the boundaries of what we have seen from these artists previously. We know we’ll definitely have the track on full volume and know you will too! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling the stomper of a tune,“Wagmi”, a certified bop.

“So we collabed on the track back in Santa Rosa at the studio/house of Xotix and Dalfin. We had just played a Whomp show together in Arcata. Was really fun to see Xotix go to work in their home environment and it seemed we all were brimming with ideas so the tune literally flowed out in one day.”

DIVING DEEP STAR MONSTER , XOTIX & DALFIN 

1. What has been your favorite memory this far having been part of the EDM scene prior to successfully launching off as a reputable bass artist?

Star Monster:

My favorite memory was showing up to Burningman having not really ever heard Dubstep on a real system and riding Artcars and winding up in random camps for the next week dancing my ass off.

Xotix:

My favorite memory of being part of the scene before Xotix really started was Enchanted Forest 2018. It was my first festival, and my first time hearing bass music on a good system. I came home so inspired, and have been making this shit ever since.

Dalfin:

My favorite memory was probably going to this festival in Maine called Great North years ago and diving into the weirder side of bass music at the time. Seeing artists like Tipper, Freddy Todd and Sixis really inspired me with their wild sound design which pushed me to start producing.

2. What has been the biggest difference you’ve noticed when first starting off as an artist vs now after experience playing events , doing releases etc?

Star Monster:

Biggest difference is actually learning how things work in the music industry and being surrounded by artists who I used to look up to.

Xotix:

I think the biggest difference we’ve experienced growing as artists is really represented in who we talk to and surround ourselves with. The people we’re chatting and working with today were our idols like 2 years ago, so it’s been really amazing to kind of step into the shoes that we wished we were in a couple years ago

Dalfin;

The biggest difference I’d say is I keep my circle of people a lot smaller now. I surround myself with other artists or creatives for the most part and my free time instead of attending shows nonstop might be working on music with friends on a Friday instead.