In the world of bass music, each and every artist strives to create the perfect sound design that not only captivates listeners but also takes them on a journey from the very first measure. This has proven to be an easy task for Michigan native bass wizard, TechTonic who has taken the EDM world by storm with the release of his latest track “Spirit Animals” of his forthcoming EP, World of Illusion. There is no doubt that this track catapults listeners into a whole other universe with its whimsical melodies and gritty bassline. “Spirit Animals” is definitely not a track to be sleeping on with its intense build-ups and breakdowns that are sure to get any dancefloor up and moving. We are definitely going to have this one on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Spirit Animals”, a certified bop. 

“Spirit Animals,” depicts a helpful spirit taking the form of a fox and guiding its human companion through the nighttime forest. Lush atmospheres, playful melodies, and gritty basses immerse the listener in the story of the fox.

Diving Deep w/ TechTonic

1. How did you decide to get into making 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?

Music has been part of my life as far back as I can remember!  I started piano lessons when I was three and majored in music education in college where I honed my instrumental skills.  I actually used to write music for concert bands before I started producing. I fell in love with producing electronic music because of the creative limitlessness that comes with the genre.  Coming from a classical/instrumental background, being able to create sounds and textures from scratch is very creatively satisfying.

2. As an artist, you can experience a number of roadblocks along the way to achieving your goals. What motivates you to continue to be creative and make music even when times get tough?

There have been plenty of roadblocks in my music career!  I approach adversity as a learning experience; how can this experience make me a better human being, and in the process, help me as a musician?  I always feel like the most successful people have learned the most from their mistakes, so that is something I strive for.

3. It can be very hard sometimes to separate 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?

 As a public school music teacher by day, separating my artist life from my everyday life is a necessity.  I just remember to take breaks and have fun with the process.  I get to teach or make music all day every day, I sometimes need to remind myself not to take life too seriously and enjoy myself.

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?

Music serves to be a portal into another realm, transporting listeners into new dimensions all through sound. There is no doubt that creating the perfect sound journey can be a difficult task for many, but definitely not for up-and-coming bass wizard, Cryptochronica. Today, we have the absolute pleasure of premiering his latest track, “Next Level”, a track that will truly transport you to a whole other universe of sound. With its psychedelic melodies and intense build-ups, this track will captivate the ears of anyone who listens. With its beautiful and stylistic composition, we are definitely going to have this one on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Next Level”, a certified bop. 

Next Level is the latest neuro-trap bass track from the producer Cryptochronica. Defined by its gorgeous psychedelic arpeggios and massive builds that drop the listener directly into the heart of contemporary neuro-hop and left-field bass music. Next Level is sure to entrance all the headbangers. See you on the Next Level.

Diving Deep w/ Cryptochonica

1. How did you decide to get into making 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 got into making music when I was 18. My teenage years were weened on everything from indie and experimental rock to pop-punk, reggae, hip-hop, surf rock and the “Jawaiian” island music from Hawai’i, my home state. Right out of high school, imagining myself to be the next Isaac Brock (of Modest Mouse) I taught myself guitar and started writing songs from poetic lyrics I had scattered around the backs notebooks. It wasn’t until my 20s when I really discovered electronic music, on psychedelics at E-forest. From that point on I was driven to understand what the hell was happening on stage, and I resolved to dedicate myself to production. Like many of us, I taught myself on a diet of youtube tutorials (back when there weren’t very many) and after stumbling around blindly for a few years, I discovered ill.Gates and his music production school, The Producer Dojo. Joining that was the single best investment I’ve ever made in my musical career at that point. That gave me the technical knowledge and the direction necessary to strike out into the professional music world. I now work full-time as a mix and a mastering engineer, Ableton instructor, ghost producer, brand consultant and independent artist.

2. If you had the chance to collaborate with any artist of your choosing, who would it be and why would you choose them?

If I could collab with any artists out there it would have to be the Weeknd. I mean, how could you not want his vocals to carry your track? But yeah, as other producers go, I’d have to say KOAN Sound or G Jones.

3. 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?

Perhaps the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that anyone can learn to make the music they love and are proud of. More generally, I believe anyone can make any art that calls to them. Not only can they, but they should. Not just because making art is fun, or that it softens life’s edges, but also because it nurtures a critical part of our spirit that is divorced from us at a young age. I think a lot of society undervalues art because it’s not necessarily “productive” or commercial. That’s a shame. If someone had encouraged me to do music at an early age for the sake of having fun and because it can make you happy, I may have been steered in that direction much sooner.

Ultimately, starting producers need to understand they can get there. Production’s hard, and it takes years of dedication, but if you love it and persevere through the valleys of frustration that inevitably swell on occasion, you will, at some point make it. The only way to not get there is to forfeit the path. So when students of mine, or friends of mine are feeling burnout, I share with them of the things I think about when I’m demoralized: It’s healthy to take breaks; Rest your inner artist, treat yourself to something nice; Go outside, play with a pet, call a loved one. Take a walk.

Creativity phases like a sine wave, so it’s important that when you’re in a trough, set yourself up for when the wave crests. For instance, if you’re not feeling creative, watch tutorials, or fuck around in a new plug-in. You can practice finger drumming, Midjourney some images for up-coming release/promo ideas to send a human artist, research labels and promoters; do arrangement exercises, practice Dj-ing or some other instrument, and of course, listen- actively listen- to other peoples music. It’s guaranteed to spark some lightbulbs and get you back in a flow. But ultimately, the thing to remember is that the only way to guarantee failure, is to stop pursuing.

4. What’s next for your project? What plans do you have in the near future that you hope to accomplish as “Cryptochronica“?

So, there are a few things next for Cryptochronica. I’ve got a new track coming out every month of this year, with hopefully an E.P. to wrap 2023. I’ve got at least 4 remixes of some pretty big tracks coming out in 2023, but It’s probably best if I don’t name names or spill the beans on those quite yet. I’ve been doing intensive, in-person sessions with students, going in on their music with them to bring it up to professional levels of quality. So I hope to do a few more of those this year, because they’re always very educational for me as well as the student. I recently moved to Portland, Oregon, so I hope to get in with the scene here, play some shows in the Rose City, and maybe some small festivals this summer/fall. Most of all, I just want to keep investing in my craft, continue to learn and develop my sound to its utmost.

There is no doubt that in the world of electronic dance music collaborations in the form of bass music can be the most mind-bending and exciting tracks to listen to. Today, we have the pleasure of bringing forth an absolute heater, “Movin”, from two incredible up-and-coming producers, NGHT VZN and VED. This team-up has created a banger of a down-tempo track that will have the entire dancefloor movin’ and groovin’ to the beat. With it’s deep booming basslines and heavy melodies, “Movin” definitely is a prime example of the genius that is produced when different sound designs collide. Both artists have expertly intertwined their unique and downright nasty styles into one stomper that we will definitely hear rinsed out for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Movin”, a certified bop.

Diving Deep w/ NIGHT VZN & VED

1. How did you decide to get into making 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?

“At the age of 14, I picked up the guitar and played in a metal band for a few years. I then went to my first EDM festival in 2012 which was edc nyc. This was my first time experiencing live electronic music on a big stage. It was in this moment where I realized I wanted to pursue a career in music.” – VED

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

“My most memorable career achievement as an artist was having the opportunity to play a vendor booth at Okeechobee 2023 my music.” -VED

“My most memorable career achievements have been my Headbang Society premieres along with playing a surprise set at ‘Thoughts in Threads’ vendor tent at Okeechobee Music Festival. It inspires me to keep creating and seeing where this life takes me.” -NGHT VZN

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

“One cool fact about myself that people might not know about is that I love traveling to places I’ve never been and hiking mountains and exploring the unknown. This helps me stay inspired.” -VED

“Growing up, I used to be very much into the heavy metal scene. I learned to play the drums and wanted to be in a band. It wasn’t until around 2008 when I heard my first few EDM songs that put me in a trance. At that point, my love for EDM just grew. I believe that’s why the drums in my songs are some of my favorite parts.” -NGHT VZN

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 biggest lesson I’ve learned since I started making music is to stop comparing yourself to others and to experiment with new sounds and techniques. You never know what happy accidents might come up from it. I would also recommend collaborating with other artists when possible. It’s fun and so many fresh ideas can arise from this.” -VED

“Don’t hold your music to such a high standard that you feel discouraged if it doesn’t always meet your expectations. Your music is an expression. You never know which songs are the ones that people will resonate with. The key is to just keep going and enjoy it. Also, always be authentic and show love and respect to your fellow artists!” -NGHT VZN

Being able to transport listeners into a different time and space using the emotions and sounds music brings is a gift many artists possess especially within the EDM community. One simple song can take listeners from the dance floor to ultimate realities, dimensions, and universes that have never been heard before just with a melody and a beat. Wiscoinson-based producer, Molokai, has proven to be especially skilled in this aspect, as he continuously creates music meant to lead listeners on a journey. His latest EP release entitled Other Dimension is a true testimate of this, building a journey through sound with each measure. Today, we have the absolute pleasure of premiering the title track off this 6-tune EP, which showcases the new level of production this artist is unveiling to the bass music world/. With its downtempo style and deep dark bass line, there is no doubt that this track grabs listeners from the first measure and leaves them captivated until the very end. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling the whole Other Dimension EP, a certified bop.

“This EP is inspired by fiction and all the world’s and places that we will never get to experience.”

Diving Deep w/ Molokai

1. How did you decide to get into making 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 always listened to electronic music & instrumental beats & was a deep scavenger of soundcloud back in the day but never thought about making it until one of my friends showed me ableton. Been creating ever since. I never really thought about the career side of music because I was more into production for fun but after posting music online for a while I started getting inquiries to play shows so I had to learn how to DJ & it kinda snowballed from there.

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?

Didn’t really go to shows a lot when I started out producing but it is interesting to see the differences in styles of electronic music change over time & how a lot of what may be considered new & popular is just music from the past. I think learning the history of music/genres is important for this reason.

3. 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?

Biggest lesson is probably to not buy a ton of plugins that you don’t need. My advice for aspiring producers is to learn, grow & collaborate with your friends & peers. I learned a lot from collaborations & beat battles & asking friends/strangers questions on discord.

4. What’s next for your project? What plans do you have in the near future that you hope to accomplish as “Molokai“?

I really want to collaborate with more photographers/graphic designers/film/3D artists & create a visual world + A/V set for my live shows.

In the world of music, there is no doubt that when artists team up to collaborate on new releases, some absolute heaters are the results of creative minds coming together. This is especially true for today’s slam dunk of a premiere that we are stoked to present to you today, brought to you by none other than heavy-hitting producers BASSFACE and AZASSIN. Their latest track “IT MUST BE” is a true example of how collaboration produces some of the sickest drops and wonkiest sound designs. Both artists’ sounds shine through in their own way while simultaneously intertwining with each other to create this stomper of a release. This is definitely not one to sleep on, folks! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “IT MUST BE”, a certified bop.

DIVING DEEP w/ BASSFACE & AZASSIN

1. How did you decide to get into making 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?

“The moment my life started to shift over to music was 2018 when I saw Excision on his Paradox tour. At the time I was studying kinesiology at community college planning on being a personal trainer. But after that concert I could not stop obsessing over the music. Every day I’d wake up find new music and search to find all the songs I heard live.  Eventually, my obsession turned into a lifestyle and this love of music evolved. I found my girlfriend on X’s tour in 2019 and she told me to pursue music. My parents weren’t very confident in me changing my entire career but I pulled the trigger and here I am the happiest I’ve ever been.” -AZASSIN

“The decision to make music was always in me, but was realized very suddenly and abruptly at work one day. I had already been listening to bass music everyday and had a great ear for it. I just stopped and asked myself “what is stopping me from doing it myself” The answer I found, was nothing at all except myself.” -BASSFACE

“I find it really hard to separate my personal life and music career . I am also pursuing a sound engineer career so I am always around music. I would say that the only way my brain gets a break from the thoughts of music is when I’m with my girlfriend. She really helps me focus on enjoying life whether it’s going out, watching a movie, or just smoking and relaxing.” -AZASSIN

“Although this may not be the best advice for everyone, I don’t separate day to day life from music to any large degree. Bass music IS my life, end it takes priority over many other things. Within reason of course.” -BASSFACE

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?

“The biggest lesson I have learned from making music is that I am my biggest enemy. I am always holding myself back, getting in my own head and bringing myself down. There’s always gonna be that voice in the back of my head with negativity. But overcoming that negativity and doubt is when I’m at my best and happiest. Doing this and finding artists that will help you develop and further your skills whether it’s lessons or just advice on the scene is the biggest advice I have for upcoming produces.” -AZASSIN