Hailing from Grass Valley CA, up and coming free form bass producer Iterate, has caught the eyes and ears of many, pushing out some incredible bass tunes. He continues this climb with the release of his latest EP entitled Buffer, serving as a glimpse into his first full length album coming the January. This entire EP is absolute stacked top to bottom with infectious genre bending energy with each track entrancing listeners with its unique sound design. Our premiere today, “Sticky”, combines glitchy synths and an overall old school hip hop vibe melded perfectly together with a driving bass line. This track showcases the unique soundscapes of the Iterate project, with its classic rolling breakbeats and wubby tune. After hearing all that Buffer has to offer, we are estatic to see what else is in store for us in January . Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Sticky” a certified bop.

“Sticky” is a track I started on Elektron boxes, and further developed in Bitwig.  It has an overall vibe of old school boom bap hip hop, but with a lot of glitch edits, and big FM basses.

Diving Deep w/ Iterate

1.How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

I didn’t really have a decision that it would be a career.   It started as a hobby, like it does for most people, and everything just kind of fell into place.  I was spending a lot of time making electronic music, and I was very immersed in festivals, Burning Man, and the psychedelic electronic music scene in the Bay Area in the mid/early 2000’s.  I had a lot of exposure to electronic music when I was young.  I was a kid in the 90s when electronic music was huge, and got a lot more mainstream exposure than it does today.  It was normal in the 90s to see acts like Aphex Twin, Orbital, Future Sound of London, The Prodigy, and Autechre played on MTV regularly.  So, I think a lot of kids growing up then were able to get exposed to electronic music.  Also, my sister and dad were involved in the psy-trance scene in San Francisco in the 90s.  I started going to electronic music events/ festivals as a teenager with my dad.  He was an artist, and showed art at a lot of festivals/ burning man etc…  Back then, in the early/ mid 2000’s idm/glitch and breaks were very popular in the west coast psychedelic music scene.  I was very drawn to that kind of music.  The music I’m making now has a lot of influence from music back then.  I took a couple of classes on how to use Reason and Pro Tools, around the end of high school.  Then, I went down the rabbit hole of exploring music production on my own.  Eventually, Ableton became my DAW of choice (it is Bitwig now).  As I was making music, I would give out demo CDs to friends/other producers at festivals, and after not much time, I started getting offered dj sets.  I played a lot at underground parties in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area.  In 2007, I met Dov from Muti Music, and we released my first EP, “Space Case,” in early 2008.  That was released under my first moniker, “Heyoka.”  From there, momentum built and I ended producing and performing music for a living.

2. It can be very hard sometimes separating music from day to day life when it’s a huge part of your life. How do you personally separate your artist life from your everyday life, and have you faced any challenges doing so?

I don’t really think about it.  I try to work on music all the time.  Of course, we all have other things to do as well, but it’s the dominant thing in my life.  I have always been a night owl.  I basically work on music all night every night, and sleep during the day.  Then, I do whatever else I need to do, and repeat.  Whenever I break the cycle to go out, or when I used to play shows more, it would often take a while to get back in the flow with production.  So, when I have chance of time to just work on music,  that is pretty much what I do.

3. If there was one thing you could change for the betterment of society, what would it be and why?

That’s a pretty big question.  I don’t even know where to start.  Everything in this world seems to be spinning out of control exponentially.  I suppose a heavy psychedelic dose throughout the world’s water supply could help, but I’m not gonna be the one to do that.  I don’t encourage anybody else to either, but it might be our only hope.

4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

That’s a hard question too.  I’m still figuring it all out.  I think what’s important for progressing in music production is to dedicate time to it.  I think constantly experimenting and exploring different techniques helps bring about a unique and original sound, and keeps you learning new things.  For me, some of the funnest times with music is stumbling onto new types of sounds through experimentation.  I think it’s good to not worry about sticking to genres or breaking “rules” either.   All of that can be pretty limiting.  So, basically, don’t do anything else with your life, but sit in your room making weird sounds, and hope for the best.  Then, either you will be a total mess,  a successful electronic music producer, or most likely some combination of the two.

The rise of women to the forefront of the electronic music scene has been surging rapidly as more and more female producers take the spotlight to share their unique sounds. One of these incredible artists excelling to the frontline of the freeform bass scene is none other than Deepy Sidhu, better known to many as STiX. She has come out swinging yet again with the release of her latest EP, Comic Ribbits, an immersive compilation that features the psychedelic wanderings of creatures exploring otherworldly surroundings. Our premiere track today off of this EP, “Wired” is enchanting combining electrifying synths and deep booming bass line into a euphoric melodic track that is not to be missed. This entire EP showcase the many sides to the STiX project stretching different sub-genres and sounds both familiar foreign to this project before this release. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Wired” and the rest of the Cosmic Ribbits EP, a certified bop.

Frogs, creatures & critters of mother earth are projected into space and are communicating in ways that they never knew they could. Enchanted & inspired by their surroundings, they find themselves in numerous different psychedelic states. Cosmic Ribbits is a decoding of their message – they cry, sing and rage as they dance and twitch to the dark, groovy basslines.

Diving Deep w/ STiX

1. How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

Growing up I listened to whatever my big brother listened to, which meant a lot of gangster rap and dancehall. As a kid I dreamt of becoming a rapper one day even though I was horrible at it. That dream died quickly, but more recently in 2017 my brother took me to Shambhala and that totally changed me as a person. I discovered my love for electronic music (psytrance specifically) and had my first DJ gig the year after at Bring Your Love Festival. I was just having fun, but I got to see how much my community believed that I could actually be good at this. That’s where the dream started, and I began producing the following year.

2. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced being an up and coming female DJ in the scene? Is there anything you would change within the scene in regards to this?

I am a strong believer of having control over my outcomes. I intentionally do my best not to entertain the idea of being a victim to my gender. In fact, I think it’s helped big time being a female in the scene! But what’s helped me the most in my opportunities is simply being authentic, kind & supportive towards others, while also working very hard.

4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

The world of bass music is constantly evolving and changing, bringing forth new waves of incredible bass producers and amazing music along with it. One such artists that continues to bring himself to the forefront of the freeform bass scene, ST4RFOX, has returned to bring us an huge 10 track LP, The Nexus to start our month off right. Each of the tracks on this compilation bring new and exciting side to the project that have never before been heard, alongside the tradition soundscapes we have come to love from thus far. Our premiere of The Nexus, “Welcome to Existence” makes listeners question their own reality with is psychedelic synths and driving wubby bass lines. This track is definitely a do-not-miss, with is full spectrum sound and infectious melody. We know we will definitely be keeping this whole album on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Welcome to Existence” and the rest of The Nexus album, a certified bop.

“Scanning the radio waves, an outer-realm cassette tape from an alternate timeline appears and slaps into the stereo. Full-Spectrum, psychedelic sounds saturate the air, echoing the chaos of an overstimulated and hyper-sexualized world. “Welcome to Existence”, now what will you do with your time?”

Diving Deep w/ ST4RFOX

1. How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

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?

The biggest difference between when I started my solo project, and now, is my super talented community of producer friends I have to bounce ideas off of, my built up folders of self made sample packs/sound design and the more focused direction of each studio session. 

3. It can be very hard sometimes separating music from day to day life when it’s a huge part of your life. How do you personally separate your artist life from your everyday life, and have you faced any challenges doing so?

Yoga, meditation, nature, hikes, videogames, cooking, reading and watching comedians live and on tv, are my escapes. Comedy especially is a favorite, because it’s an art form that despite me dissecting it, I don’t over analyze like music, which after decades of building a discerning ear, sometimes makes music difficult to enjoy purely. The mindfulness, and healthy activities above keep me balanced, while tasty food is always rewarding. Favorite Books: The Alchemist, The Four Agreements, Be Here Now and The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy. Favorite Food: Pho, Pizza and Gnocchi. Favorite Comedians: Mitch Hedburg, Bill Hicks, Dave Chapelle, Duncan Trussel.

4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

With the latest increase in popularity among the U.S. EDM scene, Drum & Bass has taken the electronic world by storm, flooding the charts and being released by some of our favorite artists more and more frequently. In light of this, upcoming Italian bass producer Mazare has teamed up with singer, Heart Of Gold, to bring forth an absolute stomper of an infectious DNB track for all of us to start the month with. With its rolling bass lines and upbeat vibrant soundscape, this tune definitely is a stand out tune for anyone who loves drum and bass. There is no doubt this one is going to be rinsed out all over in no time! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling this heater “Drive”, a certified bop. 

“Working on a track together with an artist I’ve been following for a while is always incredibly fun, and this one was no exception. As soon as I discovered Heart Of Gold I thought that our sounds combined could result in something special, and I am super proud of the outcome!

Diving Deep w/ Mazare

1. How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

I believe it was not a specific moment but rather a chain of events. I grew up in a very musical environment, my parents have always been big fans of 60/70/80 rock and I remember that there was music playing at every hour around our house. It was a very happy time for me, and that’s probably where the rock influences in my songs come from. One day, I believe it was summer of 2008, I was zapping around on the radio and a song came on. And that changed everything. I’ve never heard something like that before and from there I started getting into dance music, then into DJing at birthday parties, and ultimately into producing. That song was ‘When Love Takes Over’ by David Guetta.

2. What kind of impact do you wish to have on the scene 1-2 years from now with your project?

That’s a great question! You know, I have this ‘world’, this story that have been stuck in my mind since I started this project. My purpose is putting all these ideas together, and bringing that world to life through shows, visuals, comics, animation and any other possible media. That’s my biggest career goal right now.

3. What has been one of the most memorable career achievements so far as an artist and how did that impact you moving forward?

I think the biggest moment in my career so far has been playing at the Monstercat Showcase at ADE 2019, right before the pandemic hit. I had the honor to share the decks with two pillars of drum and bass such as ShockOne and Protostar for a huge B2B. It was my first time playing in front of so many people, and the event was at the legendary Melkweg, in Amsterdam. I had such a great time! In hindsight, I honestly think that night has been the fuel that kept me focused and inspired during the multiple lockdowns, resulting in a LOT of new music, ideas, concepts. Somehow, I managed to get the best out of those heavy days and that’s all thanks to the energy I felt that night!

4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?

I’m not the right person to speak words of wisdom, ahah! But the BIGGEST lesson I’ve learned in the industry is that you actually never stop learning. You never stop learning about the craft, about the industry, about people. The best artists I’ve met trough the years are incredibly open minded and humble, and always ready to learn new stuff, grow and improve, even if they could easily see themselves as ‘established’. So yeah, keep your mind and ears open, stay curious and trust me…great things will follow!

In the ever changing world of electronic music, sounds are continually evolving and changing with each and every passing day. Standing out can be challenging in a scene so large, but this never has seemed to be an issue for Florida producer, NGHT VZN. Today, we have the honor of premiering his latest tearout heater, “GTFB” which will have you on your feet and headbanging from the very first drop. Adding his own unique style and sound to this popular subgenre, NGHT VZN has jam packed a ton of dark infectious energy in every bar of this tune. We know we are going to be blasting this one for the foreseeable future! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling this stomper, “GTFB”, a certified bop.

Diving Deep w/ NGHT VZN

1. How did you decide to get into music? Was there a certain event in your childhood/life that made you stop and realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

2. What kind of impact do you wish to have on the scene 1-2 years from now with your project?

3. If there was one thing you could change for the betterment of society, what would it be and why?

4. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned since you started making music? Do you have any words of wisdom for aspiring producers hoping to follow in your footsteps?