Heard It Here First

Insomniac first planted seeds for Bassrush Records in 2002 and since then its roots have spread to touch every part of the electronic music world earning their title as one of the most prestigious labels in the game. Bassrush has maintained its chokehold on the industry through prominent stage takeovers at Insomniac festivals, hosting explosive events across the country, and supporting some of the biggest powerhouses in the scene such as Hamdi, ATLiens, G-Space, and Steller. Now, once again, Bassrush returns to assert their dominance with the newest installation of their biannual compilation, “The Prophecy: Volume 9”. 

Each volume of their compilation series assembles a diverse skeleton crew made up of rising stars and renowned artists alike, together forming an earth-shattering arrangement of instant bass hits. Volumes past have become major milestones for upcoming talent, helping accelerate artists on their road to the spotlight. Last year’s compilation welcomed growing titans such as VEIL, YDG, TYNAN, and more. This edition continues the tradition, holding nothing back with their latest lineup of bass-producing wonders from all sides of the electronic spectrum. 

Volume nine is the definition of “something for everyone” encompassing a wide range of bass music stylings ranging from DnB, trap, experimental bass, dubstep, and everything in between. 

Opening the illustrious compilation, Quackson leads with his rubbery Bassrush debut single, “Ignorant”. In 2019, YourEDM named the up-and-coming producer one of their nominated ‘Artists To Watch’ and this single is a testament to that title. Quackson dives into foreign waters in this new project manipulating an array of liquid synths and heavy percussion crafting this new bass-festival anthem. Quackson had this to say about stepping outside of his comfort zone on this new track:

“‘Ignorant’ is exactly as the title suggests and is a bass-heavy, dancefloor banger. I wanted to step away from my more cinematic midtempo sound and make something with clubs, festivals, and raves in mind, and that’s guaranteed to pop off in a live setting. After playing this in multiple sets and hearing other DJs play it, I can confidently say it passes the test.” – Quackson

Don Jamal steps up to the Bassrush plate with his new knockout brain-tickling bass barrage, “UP!”. The bass scene has been feeling the heat from Don Jamal’s traction as of late as he rapidly gains accolades for his gift for wizardry with bass production. “UP!” takes listeners on an exhilarating and wonky rollercoaster ride tapping into the increasingly popular UK-inspired production styling. The Colorado-based artist let loose an armada of intricate sound design guaranteed to turn “UP!” into a ruthless hit.

“The release initially came about when I was messing about with the synth plug-in Vital, in an attempt to recreate a different sound design. As you can probably tell, a big inspiration for this track was none other than Hamdi, so I attempted to add my own knowledge and my own twist. At first, I wasn’t too happy with the outcome, but with time and a couple more drafts, it sat just right. The goal was to create a club banger that is fun to play at shows!” – Don Jamal

On the opposing side of the multi-genre ensemble proudly stands Natty Lou’s energetic feel-good piece, “Crazy Love”. The UK-based phenom entices us in by pulling at our heartstrings with her sultry opening lyrics and an infectious build-up to back it up. As the track reaches its crescendo, listeners are bathed under a nostalgic wave of soul-stirring drum-and-bass. Here’s what Natty Lou had to say about this heart-warming new song:

“‘Crazy Love’ is a high-energy drum and bass track which seamlessly blends powerful and emotive vocals with infectious melodic beats. With every note, the song captures the essence of being ‘madly in love,’ expressing the intensity, obsession, and unbridled devotion that defines this powerful emotion. The melodies capture the essence of these intense emotions, making it a must-listen!”- Natty Lou

Vastive and RZRKT fuse their mutual ability to tap into the darkest musical elements and mold them into a destructive symphony. “Feel Alive” harnesses ethereal vocals to transport us into their melodic hellscape setting the tone for the rest of the track. The once haunting vocals suddenly erupt into bloodthirsty screams accompanied by a malicious sound design feeding every neck-breaking urge. Vastive had a few words about how his collaboration with RZRKT on “Feel Alive” came to life:

“RZRKT and I had been wanting to work for quite a while now. We’ve had a few ideas in the past but when he sent me the demo for this track in particular, we knew it was the one to latch on to. Lyrically, I was inspired by where we are in life right now. This past year, we’ve been debuting all across the country. I just quit my day job earlier in March, and I know Bryan works full-time now, as well. It’s about facing your fears and embracing the jump regardless of how you feel, as well as a head nod to what it took to get here. This song blends soft atmospheric textures with high energetic drops that greatly showcases our love and power of what we do. I hope you guys can resonate with this song and help push you to the next chapter in your life.” – Vastive

Switching gears to the realms of the ever-changing experimental world, DMVU and Tsimba collide on their filthy collab “Dip”. From the lethal rap bars to the piercing pitched sounds and the barking bass, each element adds another hypnotic layer to “Dip”. DMVU and Tsimba’s combined efforts prove to be a match made in heaven as “Dip” uses gritty and deep beats as well as a wide array of mind-melting sounds to satisfy your ears’ every desire. Tsimba explained how this groovy joint piece came to life: 

 “I uploaded a clip of the tune to my Instagram story and Matt [DMVU] replied, saying ‘Let me know if you have trouble finishing this one.’ I sent him the stems within the hour. I learned a lot from him as we were sending the project back and forth. I’m a huge fan of Matt as a producer and as a person, so I was honored to get to work with him and I’m extremely happy with the result.” – Tsimba

“The Prophecy: Volume 9” takes a spine-chilling turn with Ghost In Real Life’s Bassrush debut, “Stuck in Purgatory”. Her debut Bassrush release showcases a masterful talent for capsulizing multiple genres within one musical arrangement. “Stuck in Purgatory” begins with captivating lyrics and an ominous undertone complemented by a pop-punk atmosphere. The introduction of the piece alludes to a malevolent crescendo but instead switches into an addictingly dopamine-fueling drum-and-bass display. Amongst the many themes contained within “Stuck in Purgatory”, the one that sticks with us most is that Ghost In Real Life’s future is bright. 

Guided by his dedication to connecting through sound, ION reunites with the Bassrush for his latest bass-bending release, “Target System”. ION is no stranger to the Bassrush banners, having previously lent his genre-defying creations to their hosted events alongside heavy hitters such as CASPA, Distinct Motive, and MYTHM so it is no surprise he was welcomed with open arms to their newest volume. “Target System” is a bass-ridden adventure exploring the old-school hip-hop era while simultaneously co-existing in the realms of futuristic bass. With release after release, ION continuously illustrates why the industry quakes under the heels of his boots. ION has earned his spot on more than a few illustrious festival lineups and with his Insomniac debut at Beyond Wonderland right around the corner “Target System” is the perfect weapon primed and ready to unleash damage. ION’s signature sound design is stamped all over this new project delivering to fans the sacred frequencies, rhythmic street elements, and pulsating synths he has become known for. ION had a few words about this latest heater he cooked up:

“‘Target System’ was purely inspired by California and the West Coast! I wanted to give the listener a real, straight-forward and urban vibe of how we do it out here in the West. I spent a lot of time working on this track during my travels with about 85 percent of it written on the road. I really tried to embody those West Coast vibes with the intention to represent California and bring those vibes to every show this track is dropped at!”- ION

Once again Bassrush leaves us with another certified collection of anthems bound to please fans on all sides of the bass community. Check out these star-studded rising artists below and let us know which track is your new favorite!

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