For those of us who have been following Stranger Things, or at least have some knowledge of mainstream pop culture over the last few months, we all definitely have heard the iconic track “Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God)” by Kate Bush. This track has been played over and over and over and it seems like it’s been stuck in everyone’s heads since the day the episode aired on Netflix. But never fear, Star Monster is here with a new and exciting twist on the classic, and trust us when we say this is definitely not like all the other remixes. Keeping each  measure’s emotions without the addition of Bush’s lyrics, this track is packed with up tempo energy and the second drop packs an even harder punch than the first. This tune is definitely high up on the list of remixes that have been put out by Running Up that Hill, so do not sleep on it! Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling Star Monster’s tribute to “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God), a certified bop.

“This song has always had such a vibe for me. It was so cool how Stranger Things really tapped into it and re-energized it. The musicality of the song is so creative and strange to me. I really wanted to push the music to a different extreme….while also keeping the emotional pull of the song without lyrics. Was quite a fun project. A couple days turned into a month perfecting the instruments I developed for this song. Hope it takes you somewhere interesting.”

1. What has been your biggest inspiration to this day that has helped shape your style of music and why?

Honestly Burningman… it really exposed me to so many different styles of bass music. It also made me inspired to create really trippy soundscapes and fun dance rhythms.

2. What has been a personal career struggle that you have battled with the most that has helped mold your character for the better good presently?

Just the pecking order of the DJ world. The kind of cliquishness and the cooler than you attitude really rubbed me the wrong way. I’ve definitely used that as motivation to make it about music and connected interactions.

The bass scene is thriving like never before , and it’s thanks to individuals like OCTANE & LUNNARI. In a market where standing out amongst a literal sea of other producers and djs , it’s always tuff trying to make a name for yourself and your project. There is one way however , versatility. That was is what we bring forth to you today via our new premiere of their newest release titled “UP TO YOU”. This is a single off their upcoming 5 track EP that will soon be released via HALCYON tomorrow , on the 19th , named “Chemical Catharsis. This label has set a standard in what they call future riddim , although it’s still a fairly new wave of bass music,  it’s one that can’t be ignored. It’s colorful , fun , upbeat and still heavy enough to enjoy at full volume. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling today’s release , a certified bop.

Seeing some of our favorite artists join forces to create new and exciting tunes is always one of our favorite things here at Headbang Society. Huntington Beach producer, Bassgazm, and Florida bass queen, Sacred Snow, have teamed up with our friends over at DoYu to bring forth their latest heater of a track, “Outer Space”. This track will list you off from planet earth and send you through the depths of the galaxy with its intense waves of vibrations, complex basslines and capturing melodies. “Outer Space” combines the perfect levels of wubs to transport you to another dimension, guided by Sacred Snow’s intricate lyrics taking you through a far off journey of space and time. We definitely know that we’ll be keeping this one on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Outer Space”, a certified bop.

If there was one thing you could change in the bass scene, what would it be and why?

Bassgazm – If there was one thing I could change in the bass scene, I would create a platform for smaller, unrecognized artists to be able to play in front of big audiences more often. Also, I would create a platform for smaller, unrecognized artists to be able to have their music heard by the bigger more recognizable labels out there. I have found it very difficult to be recognized just based on how good your music is. These days it’s all about social media presence and who you know. If there was a better way for artists to be recognized strictly on talent, that would be amazing.

Sacred Snow – Change can be a good thing. It can be a catalyst for transformation and just like the caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly, in every ending holds a possible new beginning. I think if we figure out a way to create more personal connection through guided experiences such as meditation or yoga, this could be a beautiful way to help the world heal collectively. Having a fun care free environment to rage and release is a beautiful way to channel emotions, but in order to balance this we could also promote healthier & more sustainable lifestyles. Going as hard as possible all the time just isn’t good for your mind, body and soul in any aspect. Taking breaks, and understanding that even Artists have personal lives and difficulties too. Social media makes it easy to perceive someone as always positive or happy, but the truth is everyone struggles with something. If we set the intention to create a safe space where we can come together and transmute that pain through community and love, that’s how we can change the world 1 life at a time. Edm is built on the foundations of peace, love, unity, and respect, and I can’t help but feel like we are missing opportunities to bring these core principles to light in new impactful ways.

Who/what are the biggest inspirations in the music you create today?

Bassgazm – Back when I first started making Dubstep music, I wanted to make the most heavy, aggressive, in your face dubstep possible. But these days, I am going back to my Dubstep roots which are the WUBS. I’ve been a dubstep lover since I first heard Rusko & Caspa back in late 2008. I’ve been pulling influence and have been inspired by some OG artists like The Widdler, Caspa, as well as newer artists like Peekaboo, Space Wizard, Dirtysnatcha, Shanghai Doom, Dirt Monkey, Hexed, Mersiv, Tape B as well as anything that’s being released on Wakaan, Deep, Dark & Dangerous, Wubaholics, or Headbang Society. I have also been heavily inspired to blend different genres of Dubstep music into each track that I have created, since I love almost every style of Dubstep.

Sacred Snow – Being named after the Grateful Dead’s song “Cassidy” my life has been filled with a deep love for music and self expression. As a young performer, I spent many years on the stage practicing various performing arts such as theater, dancing, singing, guitar, and piano recitals. This is where my love for incorporating live performance and vocals into my sets. I’ve been heavily inspired by a mix of experimental bass producers such as of the trees, peekaboo, lsdream, liquid stranger, yheti.  It was only natural to start incorporating my voice into everything, but I especially draw creative energy from the ethereal female vocals of artists like willow, grimes, and purity ring. My love for hip hop and rapping started after growing up in South Florida and being exposed to all different styles of lyrical rap. It only felt right to turn these poems I was writing into a song and start combining my 2 passions to create an entirely new style of project no one’s ever seen before. I believe in the power that music holds to change peoples lives, just like it played a role in shaping the person I am today, and this is why I write music with a conscious and positive message.

There are many record labels, music groups and other entities in the electronic music scene looking to leave their footprint and excel in the world of freeform bass. Our friends over at Sum R&R have been doing this for a while now, celebrating their 5th year curating shows throughout the local Tampa bass scene and being a vessel for artists to showcase their work. This month, we will be featuring a few of these talented individuals off of the 5 Year Anniversary Compilation that Sum R&R will be releasing in late September. Our premiere and the first track we are featuring, comes from three extremely talented freeform bass artists, duo Sunken Frequency and Mystic Grizzly. Their track “Origins” combines a blend of experimental design flow that pays homage to the sounds of our ancient ancestors. This tune creates a beautiful downtempo soundscape that intertwines with spiritual vibrations that will leave you wanting more. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Origins”, a certified bop.

1. 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?

Mystic Grizzly- What I would do differently is probably stick to one DAW since the beginning and would’ve organized all my file libraries and sample libraries better from the beginning, that way I wouldn’t have to backtrack years of organization.

Sunken Frequencies- If we could go back in time and start over,  we would spend less time on distractions and more time focused more on learning things quicker so we could be further along in our career, as well as proper file management/organization. Lastly having a strong consistent  social media presence. 

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

Mystic Grizzly- The message I intend on portraying through my music is one of raising the vibration of our human race and opening the minds of people to new sounds and expanding their creative minds.

Sunken Frequencies- The message we would like to portray through our music is depths within oneself. Tapping into your inner consciousness to discover your true meaning in life.

Combining some absolute heavy hitting new and upcoming freeform bass artists all into one amazing 10 track compilation, Serotonin Signals Vol. 1 takes listeners on a unique journey aiming to showcase the unique sounds of each individual into a holistic album. Featuring artists such as Mystic Rouge, BANkaJI, and Adiios, each of these tracks show off the specialized sound that we have come to love from all of these different projects. Our premiere track “Transformations”, coming to us live and direct from absolute madman, Smokestax, creates an atmospheric bouncy melody fueled by a downtempo bassline that makes this song there perfect vibe for any situation. Intended to showcase the many styles he has come to love in bass music, Smokestax hits a home run with making this track both tranquil and wubby all at the same time. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Transformation” and the rest of the Serotonin Signals VOl.1 album, a certified bop.

1. If there was an artist you had the chance to collaborate with, who would it be and why?

If I could collaborate with any artist I’d have to go with Tsuruda. He was a really big inspiration for me to combine my love for lofi hip hop and bass music together. He’s always stayed true to himself as an artist and I really admire that so much. Outside of bass music I would love to work with Monte Booker. He’s another producer who stays true to his sound and intention no matter what others think. He’s always pushing the boundaries of what I thought hip hop could be. Expressing yourself through music has always meant a lot to me personally and my musical projects. 

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

My goal with my music and project is to bring people together and be able to feel something. I dealt with a lot of trauma and loss growing up, and music was always the thing that kept me going. All my favorite music I’ve written has come out through pure raw emotion. My goal is to make at least one person feel this way and maybe brighten their day.