English dubstep producer and DJ Joshua Steele (known professionally as Flux Pavilion) is one artist who — if you’ll pardon the play on the track title — really knows how to “Blow The Roof.” He’s best known for his 2011 single “Bass Cannon,” which I used as my alarm clock for quite some time. And I suspect this latest offering is going to become my new start to the day. It’s one of those tracks that will definitely “Blow The Roof” — sorry, had to go there again — off just about any club. Young Joshua’s career is in, you could say, a state of “Flux” — OK, I’ll stop now — and I am officially a fan!
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
As a DJ, producer and mastermind of the renowned Night Slugs imprint, South London’s Bok Bok (a.k.a. Alex Sushon) has emerged as one of the most influential figures on the UK bass music scene. Tireless bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala tracked him down recently for a quick one-on-one chat about his musical passions.
Gosia Mrugala: Hello, Alex. What have you been up to lately?
Bok Bok: Lately I’ve been moving studios, lining up some new releases for my label and, as always, playing DJ sets. The last batch of shows were in Paris, New York and Brighton UK.
GM: What’s the meaning behind your alias “Bok Bok”?
BB: I’ve had that name for a long time, way before I was fully focused on music. So it’s a bit hard to remember, at this point, what I was thinking when I conceived it. But I think it’s just supposed to be two quick percussive sounds, like onomatopoeia. I’ve since found out it means a weird variety of things across several languages.
GM: How would you describe your musical style?
BB: Grimy, modular, often stripped-down music for the club.
GM: In your own words, how would you describe grime?
BB: One of the most inventive music genres around, which at its best channels both hip-hop and techno via a collective consciousness. It’s the music style that got me doing what I do today and remains my biggest inspiration. In its early heyday, grime producers were working with no rulebook whatsoever — it was sheer freewheeling creativity in an urban setting. The key to grime is a nervous energy which is undeniable in the club.
GM: When you’re not producing, DJing or working on graphics, what do you like to do on your spare time?
BB: Just normal things like like try to see my friends, catch up with everyone’s latest YouTube favourites, read or watch movies or reality TV. I also like to ride my bike. And I like to go to clubs and not DJ when I get the chance.
GM: So tell me about Night Slugs.
BB: Night Slugs is the crew and label that me and L-Vis 1990 started back in ’08. In 2010 it became a record label, home to such artists as Girl Unit, Kingdom and Jam City. Since the start the focus has been on club music in all its forms, presented with a sensibility learned from raving to grime, garage and early dubstep. The whole thing is very DIY and feels like a family. It’s really special to me.
GM: How much time do you spend on your own music versus running Night Slugs?
BB: Almost the whole of the last year has been taken up with mixing the releases we put out, but lately I’ve refocused on my own production and have been spending a lot more time in my bunker. Balancing the two can be a challenge.
GM: Your top three tracks at the moment?
BB: Jam City – How We Relate To The Body; L-Vis 1990 – Ballad 4D; Fiedel – Andreas
GM: What is one aspect about the music scene you would change?
BB: In general I love that it’s even possible for me to do what I do, so I’m not one to complain. But at a push I’d say: it would be great if, instead of trends being driven so much by genres, we could see more people (especially new producers!) approaching club music in a more abstract way as just different arrangements of interesting sounds.
GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?
BB: Hopefully doing what I do now — but better with another five years of experience; that’s a lot of time to learn and improve. All the mixing and creative direction I’ve done with Night Slugs has made me open to the idea of working with other artists in production and mixing, especially for longer projects where we can really craft something together.
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
In which Toronto’s Warrior Music goes dubstep all over “Zia’s Theme,” a folky tune from the soundtrack of the video game Bastion, and makes vocalist Ashley Barrett‘s promise to “build that city on a hill” sound ominously like a threat. You can download for free at warriormusicbass.com. Level up!
Lately we’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Canadian artist Datsik and his debut album on Steve Aoki‘s powerhouse label Dim Mak. Now, those of us who live and breathe bass go to sleep at night grinding our teeth at the thought that Datsik isn’t already crazy famous. Sad to say, there are lost souls out there who don’t eat bass for breakfast — and it takes a special kind of sound to get these folks sitting up and really taking notice of bass.
Datsik has that sound.
This B.C. native has been ripping up dancefloors for a while now with his patented mixture of glitch, synth and bass, and his followers now are growing in number. For the past three months, I’ve been raving like a madman about “Lightspeed,” his collaboration with Kill the Noise. At an astonishing 128 bpm, it’s the absolute Platonic ideal of a bass track.
And then there’s “Fully Blown,” his track with Snak the Ripper. It’s got a sound that is recognizably Canadian: grimy in every sense of the word, and blending rap and bass with a facility matched only by fellow Canucks Zeds Dead.
While “Fully Blown” is very slightly dated, there’s a great reason to be checking it out now: the ever-innovative minds at Dim Mak recently ran a contest to see who could come up with the best remix of the track. These are some of the top dogs:
Posting has been a little light these last few days, but never fear: things are about to get very, very heavy. Today, some bass for your earhole. Seems the legendary long-haired freak known as Bassnectar is back with a new album packed of must-hear cuts designed to reduce your subwoofer to a cringing, weeping wreck. (No mas! No mas!) The deliciously titled VaVa Voom is a a collection of sounds that Bassnectar (a.k.a. Lorin Ashton) has been compiling for some time, all crafted with the same motive: to rock your brain into a coma. The illustrious likes of ill.Gates, Jantsen, Tina Malia and Lupe Fiasco all make guest appearances.
The title track showcases the sound that Bassnectar is so justly proud of: the climbing steps and low voice at the beginning make it feel real Dirty South, and for a second or two you have to remind yourself it’s an EDM artist who made this beat. Once the bass kicks in, the track is unmistakeably Bassnectar, and with Lupe’s philosophical flow and street fluency, it all blend together perrrrrrrrrrrfectly.
The rest of the album is equally essential, so be sure to check it all out.
ANDY C + DOCTOR P @ THE GUVERNMENT, TORONTO – MARCH 23, 2012
HIGH CONTRAST + NETSKY @ KOOL HAUS, TORONTO – MARCH 24, 2012
He said, she said. Got to say, I couldn’t agree more with Scott Willats’ recent comments about Canadian Music Week. And as for Winter Music Conference in Miami … well, take my advice: always consider the trade-offs when flying out of Buffalo on an unknown charter airline. Seriously: the carrier I’d booked with went out of business the Monday before I was to fly down to WMC.
So what’s a disappointed bass music lover to do in the circumstances? Well, thankfully, there was an alternative: Destiny Productions was at it again with a lineup for its Bass Week 2012 that rivaled any Miami party in size, scope and energy.
Friday March 23 was the legendary Andy C at the Guvernment. Oh, and did I mention that Doctor P opened, rearranging our organs with devastating bass from choice dubstep selections, so that by the time Andy C got on the decks, the crowd had been whipped into a frenzy of excitement, renouncing any social norms and opting instead for hedonism.
For those who craved more, High Contrast with Netsky took over Saturday night at Kool Haus. Legions of fans prayed to these mighty gods of drum and bass and the deities reciprocated with fresh mixes and a flirtation with some old school tracks. Netsky did NOT disappoint, keeping it melodic and soulful, pulling the ladies onto the dance floor with his selection and ending his set with a stage dive into the crowd.
I was DONE at that point, but the festivities continued. I may have to start rethinking my annual pilgrimage to WMC if Destiny continues to book solid nights like these for Bass Week at the same time.
This week we see the continuing evolution of bassssssss, as Feed Me and Gemini team up on “Whiskers.” Even heavier and nastier is the newest remix from Adventure Club, who are quickly becoming big dawgs in the dub world. So what if nearly all of what they put out is remixes? All of them are fire. This remix of Foxes‘ “Youth” might just be their best yet. Like I said, heavy!!!!
We also had the release of Steve Aoki‘s “Ladi Dadi” remixes, featuring some of our favourite artists. But the highlight of the week had to be the return of Bob Sinclar. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard anything new from Sinclar — so long I’d practically forgotten he used to hold a top five position on the DJ Mag 100. But on the evidence of these two new tracks — both fun and easy on the ears — I have a feeling that come the middle of summer he’ll be headlining once again at all the big events.
By the way, WMC 2012 in Miami is just around the corner; look out for some announcements next week. Keep it locked!
Also in the pipeline for a late-June release: the self-titled debut album from mysterious South London producer SBTRKT, one of the fastest-rising stars of the UK bass music scene. If you want a taste (avec Canadian content!), check out this remix of the album’s lead single “Wildfire,” featuring Toronto’s Drake and Yukimi of Swedish electro-poppers Little Dragon.
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
