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

As many know, the leading label in electronic dance music, WAKAAN, has become the pinnacle of some of the nastiest and most jaw-dropping bass music. Their roster of artists never fails to impress with each and every track that is produced and show that is played, continuously keeping listeners yearning for more. One of the leading female artists, Ren Zukii, has unceasingly awed people with her talented sound design. Her latest track we have the pleasure of premiering for you today definitely lives up to this hype. Ren Zukii’s latest release “Momma” is nothing short of an absolute banger, and brings some downright dirty wubs from start to finish, honing in her new sound. There is no doubt that this one is going to be a staple track being rinsed out this festival season. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling Ren Zukii’s heater of a track “Momma”, a certified bop. 

“I wanted to dedicate the inspiration of this record to my mother because she taught me music as a kid and she also introduced me to metal and rock and roll while growing up, where I think my electronic music style has taken a lot of influence. “

Diving Deep w/ Ren Zukii

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?

My mother was the main reason music was a part of my life at an early age. I grew up in a very musically driven family so it was second nature to pursue it as a career. Playing instruments from a young age sparked the passion to experiment further by creating electronic music.

2. You definitely have a very unique name for your project. Does the name have a specific meaning or derived from something in your life? Is there a story fans might not know about how you came to this name for your project?

Haha, I wish there was a more interesting story here.

I’m going to try word this so it makes sense, because it is extremely random. My real first name is Ren, my last name is Snow. I’m a huge fan of the Japanese culture and the language. The Japanese word for my last name ‘Snow’ is ‘yuki’, so originally it was going to be ‘ren yuki’.  It sounded a bit bland so I just changed the y to a z – to add some zest,  added another i on the end and called it a day. Ren Zukii.

To my surprise, A ‘ren zuki’ is a method of punching in karate. I had no idea about this when I came up with the name, until years later when my manager told me it’s a well known move in Karate. I thought that was pretty funny.

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

The most frequent road block I hit is the mental health one. I’m someone who tends to get more down days than the average Joe, so I have a bit of experience in pulling myself out of it. It’s easy to be overly critical of yourself as an artistic person. Sometimes it feels like you have zero momentum.

 Talking to a trusted friend, talking to your therapist, talking to another music producer, or a family member about how you’re feeling helps. I find that the feeling passes pretty quickly and you thank yourself for not giving up. If you feel like you’re getting really stuck, remind yourself that people believe in you, & that you have options, no matter how hard it is to see it at the time.

If I feel like I can’t write any good ideas, or if I lose inspiration, I usually do something else for as long as I need to. Sometimes I find being creative in other ways gives your mind the chance to hit the refresh button. Go for a skate down to the end of the street, draw a picture, go for a run, go to the beach and realise how beautiful nature is. Appreciate the little things. Don’t be too hard on yourself. There are heaps of healthy tricks and a lot them are as simple as just getting the blood pumping through the body again.

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

In the world of EDM, there are thousands upon thousands of stellar artists teaming up together to produce music unlike the scene has ever heard before. This magic created when minds collide brings something special, featuring the ideas of not one artist but multiple, intertwined together to make an absolute banger of a track. Today, we have the honor of premiering just this, an out-of-this-world collaboration from artists Yoko and JABBS entitled “Lunar Psychosis” from our friends over at the Gradient Perspective. There is no doubt that this track is the work of two incredibly talented musical brains, with its intricate sound design, low bass, and vibrant melodies. With its almost science fiction-esque vibes, this track will have listeners blasting to the moon with its blend of sound and sonic production. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Lunar Pyschosis”, a certified bop. 

“‘Lunar Psychosis”’ is a fun bass forward tune that we are stoked to release from the vault. Emi & I explored ideas, using different techniques to create a cohesive sound – and we are excited to see what you think!” -JABBS

Diving Deep w/ Yoko & JABBS

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

I hope that I can continue to create a safe environment and space for all walks of life that have a passion for the underground, especially for my lgbtq community. Overall, I hope to bring a fresh new wave of inspiration and representation. -Yoko

Truly just want to continue pushing inclusivity and representation within our scene, and to help create and sustain a safe place for ALL to dance. If people feel safe at the Jabbs show, that’s success for me. -JABBS

2. You live, breathe and eat bass music. Do you listen to anything else when you are away from everything? What would your top 5 non bass artists be? Top 5 bass artists?

I grew up listening to anything and everything, especially the oldies so my 5 favorite artists are: Ray Charles, Ike Quebec, Etta James, Lambert, and Jazmine Sullivan. 

My top 5 bass artists are: Kercha, Leo Cap, Jade Cicada, Yoofee, and Mr. Bill. -Yoko

Oh absolutely! Coming from playing in reggae and experimental bands most of my 20s, my taste is pretty all over the place. 

Non edm:

1. Rx Bandits 

2. Incubus 

3. Every time I die 

4. Childish Gambino 

5. Underoath 

-JABBS

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

Teaching lessons has been one of the best motivating factors for me this year. My students are so lovely and watching them evolve brings me so much joy, being able to pass on knowledge feels amazing and it always inspires me to keep learning no matter where I am at! -Yoko

A huge thing for me in that regard is my visuals! I try to be creative every day, but if ableton hates me  – I just jump into resolume and start having fun there. Also taking breaks. I find if I need a week off, I take it and everything is much more fun when I come back to it. -JABBS

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

The biggest struggle for me has been the feeling of imposter syndrome. This scene is heavily saturated with so much talent, and as a newer artist I’ve felt swallowed by that sea at times. At the end of the day you have to keep your eyes focused on the goal ahead and tune out your own saboteur; don’t be afraid to send your art out to your dream collectives, and don’t be afraid to fall at times. Life is too short to worry about the little things, just have fun with your friends and never stop honing your craft! -Yoko

I think when you begin a music career, most people really struggle with comparison. It’s been said that comparison is the thief of joy, and I think that rings very true here. Staying away from a famine mindset is huge. There is room for everyone at the top and you’ll find if you spend your time celebrating other peoples successes, your support system will grow naturally. Help build up, not tear down. -JABBS

If we had to name five individuals who we believe are well deserving of blowing up amongst the bass ranks for 2023 , Feelmonger would definitely be included on there. We have been personal fans of his music project for well over six years now and each release has yet to dissapoint. This individual simply does not miss, and he is here to prove that yet again with his newest heater. Florida label Wubaholics , is happy to present to you guys ” Can’t Touch This Sound Ft. Lam ” , a club banger of massive proportions. The track has just received support from UK dubstep giant UKF , a notable sneak peak to the lengths we believe this song will reach once everyone starts catching up on the greatness behind this production style. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we consider this track is what we like to call , a certified bop.

The are a number of female artists on the rise in the electronic music scene that has continuously blown listeners out of the water with each and every track they have released. One of these incredible artists is none other than bass queen, Redrum, who has continuously blown minds and entranced ears with her unique 140 sound. Today, we have the absolute pleasure of premiering her latest track “Colors”, off her forthcoming EP Butterfly Effect. This track is paramount to the wide variety of amazing sounds Redrum can produce, showing her range and love of deep dubstep. Taking influence from early 2000s deep dubstep, “Colors” truly encapsulates her distinct production techniques by fusing these influences into a sound all her own. There is no doubt that we’ll be playing this track on repeat for the foreseeable future. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “Colors”, a certified bop.

“‘Colors’ was inspired by the deep dubstep sound from the mid 2000’s – 2010’s that got me into bass music so many years ago. I wanted to put my spin on that style and fuse nostalgic sounds with modern production techniques.” – Redrum

Diving Deep w/ Redrum

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?

A number of things inspired me to pursue music as a career, though that didn’t happen till way later in my life. I grew up playing instruments and dancing so music had always been apart of my life, and my dad was a musician as well, but until I was 24 I had never even thought about trying to make music. At that time I was at a really low point in my life and going to shows was really the only thing keeping me going, and I had a realization that I wanted to give that feeling to other people. I needed a way to process everything I had dealt with in my life and writing music became that for me, turning trauma into art.

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 regard to this?

I would say the biggest challenge as a female artist is the amount of sexism that is still so prevalent in the industry. I’ve had multiple experiences of being yelled at for being backstage, not being believed by male staff when I say I’m an artist, I’ve been talked down to during soundchecks, the list goes on. I’ve been asked this question multiple times and to be honest I’m not sure how we change this. It’s 2023 and the fact that we still have to deal with the disrespect and blatant sexism in our industry is ridiculous to me. I think we have established women are quite capable of creating art and being in leadership roles but for some reason there’s still a gross imbalance in the industry.

3. 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?

Sometimes, it’s really hard! I deal with bipolar disorder and go through manic episodes where I’m writing really great music, and then on the flip side there are long periods of depression where it’s hard to even get out of bed. Because I feel things so intensely that’s where I draw a lot of my inspiration from, especially during the depressive episodes. I try to write something that people who are feeling the same feelings I am are going to relate to and resonate with.

This year I’m really focused on creating as much as possible, collaborating with other artists and evolving my sound. I feel like there’s a lot of pressure on artists to constantly be putting out new music, especially if you’re an up-and-coming artist. I want to write music that is timeless, and that people are still going to resonate with 10 years after it’s been released. So this year my goal is to write as much as possible and push myself creatively to really grow as an artist.

There are numerous tracks circulating that are almost guaranteed to be rinsed out by artists far and wide. Creating the perfect dancefloor banger can be challenging, but does not seem to be a problem for up-and-coming bass wizard Skinny Limbs. Hailing from Denver, CO, Skinny Limbs has made a name for himself producing a wide range of tracks that have caught the scene by absolute storm. His latest release, “That’s 3”, which we have the pleasure of premiering for you all today, is nothing short of an banger. With two perfectly timed drops sure to get listeners on their feet, “That’s 3” has a catchy sound design like no other. There is no doubt that this one will be joining some of the iconic festival bangers we hear throughout the season. Let’s take a deeper dive into why we are calling “That’s 3”, a certified bop.

“That’s 3” is an etheric journey into the higher vibrational energy that lives inside of us all. The first drop represents the lower chakras and the importance of doing the work that makes us feel grounded and safe. The second drop represents the higher chakras and the light, playful energy that comes once liberated from your own limitations. Overall, “That’s 3” is a reminder of the divinity that we can experience each day, while also having fun and not being too hard on ourselves.”

Diving Deep w/ Skinny Limbs

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?

When I was about 13 years old, I remember discovering the sounds of future bass, trap, and dubstep on SoundCloud. I was captivated by this new futuristic sound that I was hearing. I had never heard anything like it and it completely changed my perception of what music could be. I desperately wanted to learn how to make those sounds. I remember writing a bucket list a year later when I was 14. One of the goals on that list was “make a dubstep song”. I got my first DJ board as a birthday present and I bought fl studio the following year. I started teaching myself how to make simple hip-hop beats as I knew absolutely nothing about sound design. My friends would come over and I’d record their vocals in my tiny closet that was covered in sound foam. This was the begging of the Skinny Limbs project. Eventually, I realized that hip-hop beats were fun, but it wasn’t the reason that I started producing in the first place. I wanted to make EDM. I bought Ableton and started to focus on electronic elements. They day I moved from New Jersey to Colorado was the day I released my first electronic project. “Glass splinters and sunburn”  was a 12 track album full of soothing electronic elements. It’s what I could create at the time in 2018 and I was really happy with it. Since then my production techniques have grown exponentially, and here we are now.

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

Really it just comes down to passion. I love producing, I love bass music, I love the community and I cherish all of the amazing experiences I’ve had simply through music. When times get tough, I know it’s necessary. I know that there’s some sort of lesson that I need to learn in order to keep progressing. When I’m feeling down, one of the best things I can do for my mind is to sit down and do something creative. I take that energy and put it into my art. One thing that motivates me is to look back and see how far I’ve come and to be thankful for where I’m at now. 

I think 2023 into 2024 is going to be a huge year of growth for the project. Getting signed to one of my favorite labels is definitely a huge goal of mine. As time passes, it’s beginning to look more and more like that goal is going to be achieved. I now have a small team of really amazing people that have been helping me with the more professional side of the music world. They’ve been helping me with bookings, press releases, media coverage, artist press kits… etcetera. Pretty much all the things that have been unfamiliar to me being an independent artist for the last 9 years. I have hopes of releasing with some major labels this year that we all know and love. I have hopes to play more shows across the US and get my sounds into the festival world. I’m focusing on legitimacy this year and doing things the right way. I’m really looking forward to this next phase of the project.