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.