Free Music From Truth & DJ Madd + More.

Posted by Bassweight Society on August 23, 2012

Bless up everybody. There has been a lot of free music given out by top-notch producers lately so I figured that I would focus today’s post around that! Who doesn’t like free music, right?

The first tracks I want to highlight are off the free album that Truth has put together to launch their new label, Defy Recordings. This duo has honestly been on one of the most consistent rampages I’ve seen. Whether it be their productions, their performances, podcasts, or the infiltration of San Francisco, CA’s streets, these guys have been carving out a very large name for themselves, and on a global scale. BWS has been blessed enough to host Truth (Andre) at one of our events and it was epic! Definitely a night that Santa Barbara still talks about. The two tracks that have been released as an album sampler are ‘Gaza’ and ‘Rain Dancer ft. Yayne‘. If you don’t follow them on Soundcloud, make sure to get on your profile and do so! They have released remixes by J:Kenzo and Perverse exclusively to their Soundcloud followers. Download the tracks below and make sure to give a massive shout to these boys. An album of this caliber for free is genuinely one of the nicest things I have seen any producer do – so please make your gratitude known to them!

This next free bit is a remix from my all-time favorite producer, DJ Madd. Ever since I discovered his productions in 2008, I have been blown away by his sound and versatility. Like many producers, he started by making drum and bass and naturally progressed into dubstep. His productions are unrivaled in my opinion. The man makes the cleanest, most diverse, and most powerful beats that circulate. This remix he did of Congo Natty – Marcus Garvey is another shining example of his musical mastery. This is an absolute spliff riddim’ that keeps things dubwise and deep. Don’t sleep on this one!

Alright that’s it for the freebies.

This next bit is a remix that Distance has done for Submotion Orchestra, taking on the tune ‘Blindspot’. Distance takes a different take on things with this track, still ending up with phenomenal piece of music. Have a listen below. Really excited for this one to release.

The last piece for today is a mix built just Bassweight Society. A good good friend of mine, that I’ve been mixing with for going on 4 years now, has just recorded, hands down, one of the most energetic drum and bass mixes I’ve heard in a looooooong time. The track selection, placement, and execution is all spot-on. Loads of fresh releases as well as a few older gems. I really urge you to set the time aside for this one! All vinyl, all love. Big up Nate.

Big up fam’. That’s all for today, probably for the next 10 days as I will be leaving for a trip tomorrow afternoon. I wish you all the best! All you Outlookers, I’m obscenely jealous, but am already looking forward to next years 🙂 Bless.

To the gods.

-Kinman

‘Cuba Electronic’ Video, KFKA, Truth, & Ghost Note

Posted by Bassweight Society on August 2, 2012

Welcome back fam’. Don’t really have much to say today, my head is out and about. However, regardless of my mental state there is always amazing music being put out so I wanted to throw up some tunes that have caught my ear today. Check….

The first piece of music I want to bring up is one I’m sure all (or at least most) of you have heard already. But, the video that accompanies the production was just released today so you might not have caught that. As I’m sure you’re aware, Mala’s ‘Cuba Electronic’ and ‘Calle F’ were released as a 12″ this week. Brownswood Recordings has just upped the video that was produced for Cuba Electronic. This was a very well produced video that shows a lot of rich culture from Cuba. Obviously it is only a tiny fraction of what makes up Cuban culture, but nonetheless, it was a very inspiring video. Lots of happy faces. Hope you enjoy! And get ready for the full album to drop September 10, 2012.

The next piece comes from the Finnish producer KFKA. I came across this mans productions a few months back and was instantly hooked. This recent bit of his, titled ‘Angel Heart’, is a dark journey through heavy percussion and druid-like atmospherics. Hope you enjoy, definitely keep your ears on this guy.

Ghost Note is on the next track – ‘Quad’. the huge punchy basslines on this one got my blood flowing!

To finish the day off I got Truth’s debut installment of the Deep, Dark, and Dangerous show that now airs of sub.mission radio. You can catch Truth live each Wednesday at 2:30 pm PST on Sub.Mission Radio. This mix is a BEAST. Just over an hour of hard-hitting bassweight and masterful blending. Filled with Truth dubs galore and also a large number of dubs from other producers. Make sure you set yourself aside enough time to listen to this one in its entirety!

Hope you enjoy the sounds! We will catch you next time 🙂

To the gods.

-Kinman

Exclusive Interview and Mix with Olie Bassweight

Posted by Bassweight Society on April 25, 2012

Welcome back friends and family. Today’s special feature comes all the way across the Pacific from New Zealand’s, Olie Bassweight. This producer, DJ, label manager and promoter is known for cultivating and nurturing NZ’s thriving bass scene via his label, Bassweight Recordings, and his own sub-heavy productions. We recently got the chance to gain some insight into Olie’s personal life, the New Zealand bass-scene and what the future holds for Olie and his label. We touch on the definition of “Bassweight”, Olie’s current ventures and the effect of last year’s devastating earthquakes on New Zealand’s music scene.

It’s not all bad news however. Poised to release the massive “The Void | Remixes” EP this Friday, 04/27, Olie gave us some firsthand experience into the essence of his sound with an exclusive Bassweight Society mix packed full o’ dubs. Keep it locked for a fun an informative chat with New Zealand’s Subsonic Ambassador, Olie Bassweight.

———————

BWS: Hey Olie glad to finally be speaking with you. Given our similar names and likewise appreciation for Bassweight music, this interview seems a bit overdue! Finding from previous interviews, your back catalog, and your label, Bassweight Recordings, it’s apparent you’re firmly rooted in the dubstep community, not only in the New Zealand, but around the globe. You must be a busy guy. Can you explain what a day in the life of Olie Bassweight consists of?

Olie: Well at the moment, I’m doing a lot of work on Olie Bassweight material trying to get my album finished, but also got a fair bit of label stuff happening at the moment, with the void remixes coming out this week, plus another 3 EP’s scheduled this quarter from Dubfonik, a new comer to the label from Melbourne. Recently we’ve signed Kaiko Neureus from Perth/London, who are an up-and-coming duo I think will turn some heads. Also a re-release of the ‘Tides Have Turned” EP I did with Timmy P MC. All this coupled with fairly consistent touring takes up a lot of time!

Promotion-wise, organizing the New Zealand Dubstep DJ competition ‘Dubclash’ is #1 on the cards at the moment, plus an upcoming tour of New Zealand next month. Its like it never ends really. As soon as one thing’s sorted its on to another task. This last year I’ve taken a big break off promotion and have been concentrating on my own music, which has been really great. It’s a breath of fresh air after doing sometimes hundreds of events a year to just doing a few recently. Promotion takes it out of you, its a dog eat dog world.

BWS: You have plenty of collabs and remixes with American artists like: Kelly Dean, TZR, Antiserum, Triage and vocalist Werd2Jah. Being a US-based blog, we’re always keen on finding out how other artists view the States. What do you think of the US dubstep community and its contributions to the global dance scene? Also do you have any collabs in the works? Or can think of a US artist you would like to work with, but haven’t already?

Olie: When the whole dubstep thing really started to form in the USA, the New Zealand scene was slowly gaining momentum as well (circa 2007ish). I was running Bassweight Recordings and was in a lot of communication with North American-based labels, producers and agencies, so I’ve had an eye on the American scene from afar for quite a while. The U.S. has contributed hugeley to the popularization of bass music in all forms over the last 5 years, its been crazy to watch how it’s developed.

BWS: Are there any other American artists we didn’t mention you find are doing it proper? Do you have any collabs in the works?

Olie: It seems the U.S.A guys were always a lot more friendly and easier to approach than alot of their European counterparts, so I’ve found myself collaborating with quite a few over the years, which has been great. Massive shout-outs to Mikey Antiserum, that guy is an absolute don of the USA scene. Seattle’s Dubtek, TZR, SelfSimilar & Lukki and the Shift Family, the Florida crew Deej from Betamorph, John at Stupid Fly Records, and the one like Werd2jah. Portland’s mighty Triage, The Bassist and SPL. San Fran’s Roommate, Antiserum, Bird Of Prey, the Hellfire Machina Boys from NYC. Also the ones like Kelly Dean & 12thPlanet from L.A. All absolute awesome people and producers I’ve had the pleasure of working with in some way over the years.

BWS: Much love! Can you think of a U.S. artist you would like to work with, but haven’t already?

OB: Ones I’d like to collaborate with in the studio that I haven’t already would definitely be Dean Grenier aka DJG & Grenier from San Fransico. The guy’s music has always been amazing and the places he’s taking it these days is going to a mind-blowing new level. San Francisco is a hub of amazing music in all forms and is putting out amazing stuff into the world. Another one of these dream collaborations would have to be Eskmo also from San Fran. He really influenced my tastes and his musical journey has been another one I’vebeen following for years.

BWS: Given we both rep the name Bassweight, could you give us your interpretation of “Bassweight” or what “Bassweight Music” means? Also, what was your most heavy “Bassweight Moment” at a club or show?

Olie: I think we can all agree it means proper sub-bass vibes. The term was originally quoted by Mala, he was the guy that really got me into this whole thing in the way I am today.

The first show he played in Wellington, New Zealand was seminal. On the same note, the next time he came and played 4 years later at a Bassweight Recordings night in Wellington with Coki. We had our super-boosted Gardenclub System, was deft a highlight for me thus far. Amazing vibes that night.

BWS: Sick! In a previous interview you mentioned your debut album for Bassweight Recordings is in the works. How is that coming along? Also, how does a busy guy like yourself find the time to really sit down and get in the zone? And when you’re there, do you have any rituals or systems to making tracks?

Olie: Yeah the album is getting closer and closer. I’ve had a lot of hold-ups and have changed a lot of the tracklist so I’m hoping to have this out by August now. I want it to be the best debut LP it can be, so there is a lot of deliberation going into it.

With writing music I find it really can’t be forced, if I’m in the mood, I’m in the mood, and if I’m not, I’m not. I try my hardest to adhere to my own creative juices and work on things when I really feel like its flowing. That’s when I write my best stuff.

BWS: EZ. For us foreigners, what is the dubstep scene like in New Zealand and where do you see it going?

Olie: The scene down here is as solid as you could get with such a small country. We have an abundunce of events all over the country every week. The type of stuff thats the most popular is still definitely the heavy “bro-step” vibe, but I feel like that paradigm is changing rapidly and people are opening their ears to a much deeper vibe again when it comes to dubstep, not just in New Zealand, but from what I can tell it’s a global regression, which is very exciting!

BWS: Our hearts go out to New Zealand in the wake of those massive earthquakes that were hitting last year, and we have the understanding that they literally effected everyone. Is that true? And how do you think they affected the musical community as a whole? We really hope you all can recover swiftly. In the states we hear nothing but good things about New Zealanders and know a couple really awesome Kiwis personally.

Olie: The earthquakes have affected everyone in this country. We have just under 4 million people here, and our communities run deep. It’s been a real challange and it still is. Right now, there’s alot of people in Christchurch still not knowing what is happening with their lives and their homes, and it’s heart-breaking. It’s been over a year since the big one and rebuilding is still happening, as it is still occasionally shaking.

The earthquakes affected the New Zealand dubstep/bass community hugely. Christchurch was a hub of the scene, always has been since the early nineties and the rise of drum & bass down there, and when Christchurch lost all its venues and couldn’t have events it put huge strains on international and local touring agents that found it even harder to bring artists to NZ. It’s still ridiculously hard to find good active venues down there now over a year later.

BWS: Going forward, what does 2012 hold for Olie and Bassweight Recordings? Got any travel plans or releases we should be excited about?

Olie: Well I actually have to make it over to the Americas sometime soon, its been a long time in the works, but after i get my LP out. Catching up with my American buddies is something definitely at the top of my list, so expect me over there sometime in the next year.

We’ re making a music video at the moment. Very excited to have locked down the multi-talented guy Capper to do a plastercine animation video for us for the tune I did with Timmy P MC called ‘Tides have Turned’. It’s a deep reggae-steppa number. Jermaine Clement from The Flight of the Concords is going to appear on it. We’re hoping to have it all wrapped-up by August, so very excited! I also started a collab recently with Truth and Bulletproof with MC Rugged Tek that I’m looking forward to people hearing in the near future.

BWS: Thank you on behalf of our readers for your exclusive Bassweight Society Mix. What can we expect to hear in it?! Is this a studio mix, cds, vinyl? Any special forthcomings to watch out for? Can I play it in on my laptop?

Olie: Haha, well it’s a studio mix, lots of forthcoming bits from myself and a few collabs and remixes, plus some of the new forthoming Bassweight stuff and some other bits I’m feeling at the moment. Lots of tracks you can expect to hear on my upcoming NZ music month tour (If you are from New Zealand) . No I wouldn’t recommend laptop listening at all, I did put a Skrellex tune in the end of the mix just for the laptop mussif!

———————

Well big up Olie, and thanks for the absolutely smashing mix with a nice surprise at the end. Readers make sure to check out ‘The Void (Remixes)” EP out this Friday, and keep in contact with Bassweight Recordings.

Olie Bassweight – Exclusive Mix For Bassweight Society

Link up with Olie on:

Facebook

Soundcloud

Twitter

Large ups!

– Shice

Serious Bassweight Business

Posted by Bassweight Society on February 21, 2012

Oi! We’re back again with another installment of some of the finest bassweight business being pushed out right now. Obviously we can’t highlight ALL of the quality material being put out right now but we got some really great music for you today. Trying to keep things fresh we have tunes from all different ends of the spectrum. Everything from vocal-drenched to techno-infused.

The first track is one from a man who has finally emerged out of the shadows, beginning to receive that recognition that has been much deserved for the past 5 years or so. With his debut full-length album due out early April, DJ Madd has been boosting bass bins with his extremely powerful sounds. Having had the support of many of today’s highest caliber producers and pretty much every top-notch radio show, Madd’s presence had become quite the force to reckon with. We have previously highlighted the tune ‘Riginal’ and ‘Deeply’ Ft. Lady Maroo, both part of his album, and today we have another gem from the The Real and The Shadow LP. This one, titled ‘No Tomorrow’, features the unforgettable vocal presence of the one and only, Rebel MC. This tune is an absolute gem so lend an ear!

Coming at you for the second tune is one from Orientis Recordings label boss, Thelem. This guy makes some of the deepest of deep tunes. The track, ‘Cathetus’, is no exception. Utilizing his skills at incorporating some of the illest growls and horns, Thelem builds this one up to be an absolute smasher for all the heads. The double-kick keeps the energy of the tune high while his master-crafted soundscapes incite some truly eerie vibes through your mind. Big up to Thelem!

This next bit is another one from our good friends, Truth. I honestly don’t understand how these guys keep putting out the number of bangers that they do. Especially amidst the devastation their home has seen in the past year due to a relentless amount of earthquakes pounding through. These two are a true inspiration. This tune, taken from Yunx’s show yesterday, left me speechless. HUGE rolling rave synths layered up with that wall of sub-frequencies that this duo always brings equates to one of the largest tunes of 2012 thus far. Nuff’ respect!

Truth – Haarp (CLIP)

Next, we have another huge one from Percept. This track is an absolute skank-out tune! Forthcoming on Innamind, ‘Boxed In’ shows his very promising style and skill. Percept is definitely one of the artists you are going to want to keep your eyes during 2012, he is sure to emerge with a highly respected presence.

Percept – Boxed In (Forthcoming Innamind Records)

The final bit for today is a production hailing from the hands of LAXX, an Oxford based producer who is bringing a very techno-infused vibe to his tracks. The tune, titled ‘System Meltdown’, comes at you hard with a 4×4 beat that will straight MASH-UP the dance! We have really been feeling this particular vibe that producers like LAXX and Killawatt have been putting out. It’s a really fresh take on things. Have a listen and show the man some love!

LAXX – System Meltdown (CLIP)

That’s it for today.

To the gods.

-Bassweight Society (Kinman)

Caught In The Shadows

Posted by Bassweight Society on February 8, 2012

It’s such a good feeling when you find an artist for the first time. Especially when their sound is just what you’ve been looking for. Just stumbled upon this particular artist who goes by the name Tallan. He’s based out of New Zealand, and apparently has been putting out some absolutely huge tunes! He had three releases in 2011 between labels Austerity Recordings and Mutated Sounds. Being heavily influenced by fellow New Zealand veterans Truth, Optimus Gryme, and The Upbeats, Tallans tunes are extremely powerful. The first tune, called ‘Before You Speak’, is an absolute stomper. Huge ravey synths right off the bat backed with an ominous soundscape leading into a syncopated, chest-hollowing drop. Strictly soundsystem music coming from this guy. Another one of his current productions, ‘Guardian’, is another soundscape lurker but, when this one drops it’s straight MADNESS! Straight skanked-out rolling drum hits on this one that make you bounce hard. He’s got a killer vocal chant that hooks you while you step. He just recently gave out a tune for free in his dubstepforum.gr feature so make sure to grab that one up below! It’s titled ‘Secure’ and it’s another deep production with a unique energy to it that I’ve honestly never really experienced before. His percussion arrangements are just flat-out proper. He’s got mad basslines up his sleeve too. Make sure to big him up for the freebie! In addition to the free tunes you will find below from him, you can find more on his soundloud page, so visit that to swoop those up too. Mad respect to him from the BWS fam. Make sure to keep your eyes on this artist, I’m sure we are going to be seeing a lot more of his music throughout 2012. Below you will also find a promo mix that he did, and a few other of his tunes and THEY ARE FREE DOWNLOADS. So, show the man some respect! Make sure to stay tuned this week we have some great music to showcase. Nuff’ respect!

Tallan – Before You Speak