It is always an inspiring twist when artists decide to take their project in a new direction and change the game. This includes the switch from releasing on major labels to curating releases on their own; an important part of an artist’s development in music. One of the latest artists in bass music to initiate this change is producer Hydraulix, also known as Damien Williams. 

      Hydraulix started out producing and playing live shows in his homeland of Australia, quickly expanding to the U.S. market and eventually collaborating on music with the likes of PhaseOne, MoodyGood, and Doctor P. As of late, the Aussie producer has made the decision to start a new adventure as a self-releasing artist and has dropped his first independent release, “duCk hUNT”, a certified weapon of a track where wobbly bass and trap intersect in the most divine way to create a straight banger; meant to be rinsed out at every function (or on repeat during your morning commute to work, as we’ve been doing). 

      Speaking on “duCk hUNT’s” release, Hydraulix says he plans for many more of his tracks to drop in the near future so fans like us can get their fix, and we absolutely cannot wait to listen! For more insight into Hydraulix’s transition to being an independent artist and thoughts on the current state of bass music, check out our exclusive Q/A below!

“Being as this is my first self release I’m super excited for Duck Hunt! I think this tune is a turning point for me and makes me excited to take control over everything and bring you more music than ever before!

Duck hunt is just the start! So get excited..” -HYDRAULIX

1. “Duck Hunt” is an absolute banger; what inspired you to put this track out as your first independent release? 

Thanks so much mate! So stoked you like it.. Honestly there wasn’t anything in particular that made me pick Duck Hunt. We just really wanted to take back control of the music and put things out on my timeline rather than a labels. Duck Hunt is one of the tunes I’ve written more recently and has been getting good reactions live and from friends I’ve sent it to, so it seemed like a good place to start. But it is just that, the start. I have so much new music and I’m beyond pumped to be able to be consistent. 

2. What do you feel is next for experimental music; what trends/movements do you hope to see take place over the next few months? 

For me personally I’ve been really fucking with UKG and Speed Garage. Defs some coming up from me soon enough. I feel this is great direction it’s fun it’s dancey and has the ability to get weird AF while still locking you into that groove! Plus reminds me of my early bass music days with Fidget house.

3. If you could travel back in time to when you first started making music, what is one piece of advice you would give yourself? 

Damnnn that’s a tough one. But I’d say,  Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone is on their own journey and have all different circumstances. But it’s so easy to get caught up in “why didn’t I get that opportunity” or “damn I deserve that as well”. The sooner you let that go the better your music and life will be. 

4. What’s next for the Hydraulix project? Any upcoming shows fans should be excited about?

Mate ATM I have no fuckin idea. I’ve been really focusing on writing some of the best music I can. Got a whole bunch of stuff in the works including an EP with Oski and a few bits with Moody Good which I’m super pumped for. And show wise I’ve got a show with Ganja White Night at Mission Ballroom and also doing Bass Ribbon Pines which will be a lot of fun.

Innovative experimental bass producer VEIL, is dropping an absolute banger of a compilation via her self-owned label Street Ritual. The compilation, titled “Revelations” features tracks from some of bass music’s most up and coming artists including Lingual and Bassface, and is sure to keep you in a trance all the way through. The premier track, The Hollow, produced by VEIL herself, is a continuation of the sci-fi meets cyber-world lore that serves as a catalyst for one of the forefront goals of the VEIL project, the discussion of real-world issues through art mediums. The track itself is wonky and weird, yet refreshingly light, featuring VEIL’s signature sounds that keep fans coming back for more. Now it’s time to take a deeper dive as to what makes this track what we like to call, a certified bop.

“Imagine learning how to control things you never thought you could control. Plans within plans. AZAL has entered THE HOLLOW. ” – VEIL

Being the owner of the Street Ritual label, how does it feel to be able to release yet another compilation with such amazing artists?

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What an honor it is to showcase my team and I’s favorite tracks at the moment coming from the underground sphere!  Very grateful for all the artists’ trust, patience, and amazing contributions to incredible body of work it turned out to be~  We love to dig deep and build a compilation of artists from all over the globe with various takes on bass music in general. This happens to be our 201st release, which reminds me how darn special it is to have had the opportunity to work with that many like minded artists and creators. I absolutely love to curate and what a better way to do it than through music! If you could choose one word to describe “The Hollow”,  what would it be and why?

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Well, The Hollow is where AZAL finds herself in this next body of music. She’s learning how to tap in and out of the cyber world and control things she never imagined she could control! The feeling of the song is laid back, lush, spooky yet inviting, sexy but a little scary? 

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What’s next for the VEIL project? How do you hope to grow as an artist in the future? 

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Lots of exciting things in store for the remainder of this year!!! I’ll be embarking on the 140 Warriors Tour with Boogie T and a bunch of other legends throughout the Spring and Summer, then working on some very special headline plans for the fall and winter. I have been working on my debut album so that will be a large part of my focus this year and continuing to push the boundaries of my sound! Oh and Shambhala! The best gathering on earth, cannot wait to perform there again this July!

While few artists are able to master the ability to produce tracks featuring multiple genres so consistently, up and coming artist, STRVFE, has once again proven himself. Rising quickly in the scene and gaining notoriety, his newest release, “DKMV” is an enchanting club inspired bop mixed with nuanced bass that is an absolute must-listen. 

The track masterfully bridges the divide between the earlier days of the EDM scene and the shift over to bass music seen in more recent years, while heavily showcasing his ability to submerge himself in genres outside of his signature sound. Overall, “DKMV” shows his development as an artist throughout the span of the STRVFE project, and we can’t wait to see what this means for future releases. Stream “DKMV” today on SoundCloud, and check out our exclusive Q/A with STRVFE below!

“DKMV” features both hard-hitting bass, as well as elements of jungle and club-music; with that being said, what inspired you to take this route and combine these specific aspects of electronic music?

Well everyone knows a techno break is trendy right now. But in all seriousness ive been heavily inspired lately by the wave of heavy trap that has been taking over. On top of that, the aesthetics paying homage to the nostalgia of the 2000’s rave scene have always been a soft spot for me.
 

If you could choose one word to describe this track, what would it be and why?

Energy, because its constantly moving forward and its over before you know it. Just a constant build of momentum.
 

Most of your newer ID’s you’ve played out have been more oriented towards intense bass, why did you decide to switch it up with “DKMV?”

Personally i love experimenting and i think every artist should evolve and incorporate new styles to blend with their own. This track actually came out of a daily production challenge, where the goal was to write a drop every day of the week for 1 week.

What’s next for the STRVFE project? How do you hope to grow as an artist in the future?            

           Next up is more and more releases, and travel. This year im confident in my sound more than ever before, and i feel ready to show more range than i ever have.

Time for dubstep fans to rejoice as we are being blessed with some deep 140 greatness thanks to heavy hitters Klinical and MYTHM. Today’s premiere is titled 1THOUSAND, a testament to how many times you may replay this once this tune hits your ear drums. We can already envision the mayhem this track will induce once it’s played in front of large crowds, the screams and roars will be like no other. This track is also part of a 6-track EP from Klinical called Violent Castles which features other collaborations with Killa P and Spektiv on the renowned Overview Music label. Although Klinical is primarily known for his consistent heat within the drum & bass circuit, he now plans to showcase his vast production talent amongst other bpms and beyond.  Now it’s time to take a deeper dive as to what makes this track what we like to call a certified bop.

“Klinical drops one of the most anticipated releases of 2024, his debut 140 EP on Overview Music entitled ‘Violent Castles’.

Switching it up entirely from his Drum & Bass background, Klinical embarks on this new chapter seeing nothing short of astounding results.

With the EP also featuring collaborations with Killa P, MYTHM and Spektiv, all these tracks have caused a sensational reaction across the board, and shows exactly why Klinical is such an important artist right now.” -Overview Music

You’re on your deathbed and can listen to one last song, which one would it be and why?

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Thats a hard one. My initial thought was Nude by Radiohead as it gives me a sense of remembrance and nostalgia, especially with the reverse chords in the intro feeling like you’re going back in time, however I think that song would be way too sad to listen too on my deathbed haha! I am going to go with Shuffle by Bombay Bicycle Club. They were my favourite band when I was younger and the song reminds me of being at the skatepark skating with friends, a simple time in my life which I always look back on fondly so I wouldn’t mind going out on those memories.

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Drum & Bass has started making its presence known more and more in the United States, as this genre continues to flood its way into mainstream EDM. With more and more DnB artists getting booked for festivals, more DJs incorporating DnB drops into their music and more, there has been a huge increase in talented local producers pushing their names into the Drum & Bass spotlight.  Today, we have the honor of premiering “Starfall” off his heavy hitting new Legacy EP. With its high energy breaks and heavy bass, “Starfall” is definitely not a track to sleep on. With a gradual build in intensity from start to finish, this tune will make any listener feel like they have been blasted straight into an interstellar dimension. There is no doubt that this track is going to be rinsed out all over the place very soon. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Starfall” and the rest of the Legacy EP, a certified bop.

“I wrote Skyfall to capture the feeling of weightlessness and euphoria.  With an emphasis on vocal chops and a heavy hitting bass line, this track brings something beautiful, unique, and energetic to my most recent EP.”

You’re on your deathbed and you can listen to one last song, which one would it be and why?

If I was on my deathbed and could listen to one last song, I would listen to “Fire Away” by Skrillex. I have a deep emotional connection to this song, and I feel like it captures the feeling of leaving this world and starting a new journey. 

If you could change one thing about the electronic scene, what would it be and why?

I wouldn’t change anything about the electronic scene. It’s driven by the people, which gives it its culture. Our community is always changing and evolving which keeps it new and exciting. Being a part of the music industry has always come with its challenges and difficulties, but learning how to adapt has helped me grow as an artist.

If you had one message you could share with the world right now, what would it be?

One message I would share with the world right now would be to be in the moment. Time flies, and it always seems to pass by faster and faster. Enjoy all of your successes as an artist. Treasure the moments you get to spend with your friends and family. And take a moment to go out on the dance floor and have a good time. We won’t always be here, but these memories will last a lifetime.

As many know, leap years are an extremely special anomaly that happens only once every four years, adding an extra day to the shortest month of the year. With its rarity, the day is almost filled with its own magic, warranting extra special celebration. There is no better way to encapsulate the fascination of this extra day than with an outstanding tune from none other than Tampa local bass producer, KPUFF. Those who have experienced the incredible heavy hitting experimental sounds that have emanated from this project in the past know the caliber of bangers that KPUFF puts out on a regular basis. He truly captured the whimsy of the leap year through his use of deep grimey dubstep sounds and drop switch up that will leave any listener wanting more. KPUFF has definitely taken his track “Leap Year” and packed a punch you can only find on rare days such as today. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Leap Year”, a certified bop.

“Been working on this track for a couple months and the main goal was trying to do something new. I like to do two different style drops in my track if it fits” -KPUFF

You’re on your deathbed and you can listen to one last song, which one would it be and why?

“Rusko – Hold On (Sub Focus Remix)” because it is one of me and my pops all time favorite songs.”

If you could change one thing about the electronic scene, what would it be and why?

“I would like everyone to be fully themselves through their music and not compare themselves to others.”

If you had one message you could share with the world right now, what would it be?

“Show appreciation to your people.”