UKF Music is Bringing the Bass to Hammerstein Ballroom with NYC’s own Alex English

This Saturday night Hammerstein ballroom is playing host to an absolutely unbelievable night of music courtesy of the gents at UKF. For the last few years they’ve been the place to go on the internet for the best in drum n’ bass and dubstep. The fact that their channels on youtube have garnered over a billion views is a clear testament to that fact. I know for me personally the UKF Dubstep channel led me to artists like Gemini, Grifta and Camo & Crooked. Gemini and Koan Sound are now wrapping up the first multi-date tour that UKF has sponsored on this side of the pond and it’s been a huge success. The whole tour is culminating in this sure to be bonkers New York show.

This event clearly means a lot to the guys behind UKF Music as they’ve assembled an unreal roster of talent to play this show. NYC’s resident sleepless DJ, Alex English, is playing what is sure to be another one of his incredible sets that mix new and old while doing whatever’s needed, setting the stage or closing out the night. Xilent is a young cat with a mess of originals and remixes like his unique rework of Katy Perry’s “Wide Awake”. Gemini is a phenomenal talent; his track “Fire Inside” with Greta Svabo is absolutely brilliant, and will be sure to get the floor riled up if he drops it. The Dirtyphonics are a crew of maniacal Frenchmen whose rock n’ roll infused sound is impossible not to get down to. Their remixes of Nero’s “Me and You” and especially their simply massive mix of The Crystal Method’s “Play for Real” are very original and interesting creations that are truly works that stand with the original without being derivative.

The duo of Bare Noize has been making a name for themselves of late with their original music and collaborations like “See the Light” with Foreign Beggars. Their set will definitely be one to watch out for as their brand of British bass has a very alluring soulfulness to it. The young pair of Si James and Ben Hall, better known as Delta Heavy have been making their name known the world over courtesy of their very strong production ability. Their original “Demons” is a relentless song featuring ethereal vocals smashed up against raging machine noises that come together to form a truly amazing track. Not to mention their gigantic remix of “Must Be the Feeling” that was one of the most popular tracks of Electric Zoo 2012.

Israeli DJ Boregore is revered for his zero fucks given attitude, and his stellar music is a great addition to Saturday’s roster. His remix of Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead”, Hollywood Undead’s “I Don’t Wanna Die” and his collab with former Disney Princess Miley Cyrus “Decisions” are all sick tracks that you should check out if you don’t know them already. Headliners, Chase and Status barely need any introduction, but they’re going to get one anyway. Rocking the scene for almost a decade; Chase, real name Saul Milton and Status, Will Kennard have showed incredible diversity in style in the creation of their sound. Their album No More Idols came after a period of intense production for the likes of Rihanna and Cee Lo, and is a very well put together album. The single “Flashing Lights” with Sub Focus contains a haunting topline with a persistent wub with a devious drop and is an amazing song. Though their sound has recently taken a darker turn, Chase and Status are accomplished DJ’s that will assuredly hit the Hammerstein audience with a performance they’re not like to forget.

If you haven’t gotten the message yet, go buy these tickets. This is practically a mini festival with this much talent. Go here for tickets and I’ll see you on Saturday.

Doors open at 7pm and the event goes until 3am.

UKF Music

Rusko says KAPOW to Labels and Releases His Newest EP for Free

The first thing to get out of the way is go download this EP. It’s free. Just click here. You’re going to like it, after all you’re already reading this blog. If you dig electronic dance music there’s a lot to love about KAPOW. Despite releasing an album and another EP earlier this year, Rusko is prolific and gives the last bit of 2012 four tightly produced tracks packed with energy and fun.

The first track is “Yeah” and it immediately sets the tone beginning with a thumping sub that gives way to some sampled lyrics providing the song with a little it melody. The beauty of the track comes from that melody juxtaposed with the heavy, grinding drop and punchy kick drum.

“Booyakasha” features the collision of scratchy, video game-like notes with a pounding, wub-wub bass line. Choppy glitch sounds mixed with commanding hip hop lyrics provide an incredible build up into the songs final ⅓.
The most melodic of the quartet, “Bring it Back” features an entrancing simple piano mashed with a digital scratch note that play alongside a host of darker, dubbier noises. Running under the very computer-y sound of the track is the analog noise a record makes as the needle spins in a groove without music. A subtle but really incredible piece of production that comes from the fact that Rusko has been producing and releasing music at a feverish pace since the mid 2000’s.

Glitch hop from the start, “Like This” jumps off the record immediately with dueling synths giving way to the twisted beautiful sounds of music machinery. The song keeps pumping with more sampled hip hop lyrics commanding the ground to jump. A little DMX marks the last bit of the song; a strange marriage of grungy bass with the synths and what sounds like a cowbell keeping time.

KAPOW doesn’t have any songs that are going to set the internet on fire, but it’s not meant to. The music is just quality Rusko. Not a sonic departure, more like an aural adventure that he’s taking his fans on. Beyond the music it’s important to realize that he’s released this EP for free, and that he’ll be releasing all of his future music for free. Eschewing a label Rusko seems to be embracing the new paradigm for many musicians, of releasing music at no cost in order to energize and connect with their fanbase. It’ll certainly be interesting to watch the reactions to the music and to how this EP performs. Do you like good music? Do you like free music? Do you want to be a part of something that is helping influence how the industry evolves? Of course you do. Go download this record, a hundred thousand other people already did.