Heard It Here First

The past year has given electronic music fans some of the most iconic and unpredictable collaborations imaginable. This newest release through Zeds Dead’s Deadbeats record label is certainly no exception as the musical realms of Big Gigantic and Smoakland collide on their new two-track ‘Always Wanna Talk’ EP. 

This explosive collaborative project was first teased in October at Big Gigantic’s eleventh annual ROWDY TOWN XI event at Red Rocks leaving fans clinging to the edge of their seats awaiting its official release. Rejoice EDM aficionados, because that long-awaited day is finally upon us. Both tracks off the new EP provide us with everything we imagined when fusing Big Gigantic’s funky-bass-filled sounds with Smoakland’s inclination for hard-hitting drums and distorted basslines in perfect harmony. 

With seven years of working as a two-man production powerhouse under their belts, Smoakland has perfectly positioned themselves in the seat of power by combining their mutual admiration for filthy Bay Area cannabis strains and even filthier dubstep into the renowned sounds we’ve come to love today. These past seven years have blessed fans with monstrous collabs and ferocious festival performances that have brought us to the epic ‘Always Wanna Talk’ EP we are graced with today. Just a few months ago, Smoakland flooded the airwaves with their eleven-track album, STAY IN YOUR LANE, which called upon heavy-hitting artists from across the electronic spectrum including HIHF favorites such as Jason Leech, INZO, and Tiedye Ky. The result? A genre-defying blend of masterpieces that any bass music fan can enjoy. Since then, the bass-heavy duo recently joined forces with Australian producer SIPPY for a co-produced banger, “SIP & SMOAK” leading to the trio’s current SIP & SMOAK tour. Smoakland’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed as the pair reach their latest milestone: teaming up with the illustrious dubstep icons Big Gigantic.

Big Gigantic has carved their foothold in the electronic music scene out of pure gold, gifting dance music lovers with an ever-growing discography of undeniable hits touching almost every sub-genre since 2009. Band members, Dominic Lalli and Jeremey Salken, earned their electronic veteran status through the years by manipulating infectious beats with their natural affinities for instrumentation, primarily saxophone and drums. The pair is not known to shy away from incorporating samples that dabble in all styles of music from dubstep to jazz and everywhere in between. 

The ‘Always Wanna Talk’ EP brings forth another stellar co-produced effort showcasing the best of the opposing realms of Big Gigantic and Smoakland. The initial track of the EP, “Always Wanna Talk,” is a genius and harmonious blend of the signature sounds of both pairs in bass-ridden unison. Right out of the gate “Always Wanna Talk” delivers our ears with a complex myriad of masterfully placed low and high-end frequencies coexisting with layered reverb birthing an alternate universe of dubstep sounds. This piece balances the wobbly percussive sound stylings of Smoakland with Big Gigantic’s iconic usage of electrifying synths and melodic instrumentalism with a surgeon’s precision. 

“Disco Fever” takes us on an upbeat melodic odyssey through space and time to the early beginnings of dance music, the disco scene. Harnessing the eternal sonic energy contained within the disco genre, Big Gigantic and Smoakland conjure the heart and soul of the 1970s subculture and inject a hefty amount of distorted basslines to give it new life. “Disco Fever” takes the disco genre’s infamous rhythmic electric piano and guitar stylings to a whole new level as the pair of duos manipulate the typified four-on-the-floor beats into a varicose blend of new and old-school stylings guaranteeing any headbangers’ seal of approval. 

Together the combination of the producer pairs equates to a captivating auditory showcase of Big Gigantic’s renowned live-instrument-based production prowess maximized by Smoakland’s rough and rowdy sound design. The ‘Always Wanna Talk’ EP leaves us with two unquestionably ground-breaking tracks bound to leave their mark on the electronic dance music world and propel both teams to new heights. 

What are your thoughts on this unforgettable collaborative effort from Big Gigantic and Smoakland? Check out the ‘Always Wanna Talk’ EP below and let us know your thoughts!

Follow the HIHF team on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep up with news, fresh tunes, merch giveaways, exclusive mixes, interviews, and so much more!