Heard It Here First

This past weekend in Denver the wizards of bass, Truth, summoned fans to their record label’s largest event yet, the Deep, Dark, & Dangerous Takeover at Mission Ballroom. Bringing out their most impressive production to date and debuting their new EP, “Woden,” the godfathers of DDD casted attendees to cryptic realms of sonic warfare alongside a lineup of dub sorcerers including Distinct Motive, Pushloop, ENiGMA Dubz, Wraz, Khiva, and many more.

Since 2014, Deep, Dark, & Dangerous has been platforming emerging artists and pushing the possibilities of dubstep with over 130 label releases in its discography. The movement has evolved into a global community fueled by dedication and a profound love of music. From small-capacity venues and basement sessions to huge festival stage takeovers and an elite merch line, the DDD collective is reaching new heights and setting new standards within bass music culture.

Truth’s new EP, which dropped the day of the showcase, transports listeners to alternate realities in a three-track journey of unsettling textures and low frequencies. “Woden” spotlights the New Zealand duo’s artistic ability to curate thought-provoking sonic stories in their music and pushes the fabric of the dubstep genre with its distinct production.

For those who missed this landmark event, we broke down the evening of jaw-dropping b2bs and sound system demolition shelled down by the faces of the deep crew. Check out our review below and make sure to queue up the new Truth EP to get a taste of the electronic diabolism spell-bounded at the Deep, Dark, & Dangerous takeover experience.

Lita Lotus B2B Sling Wave

A sea of fresh Deep, Dark, & Dangerous gear filled the ballroom as Denver-based producers, Lita Lotus and Sling Wave, laid the groundwork for the night and ignited the dancefloor with a bass barrage of percussive patterns and venomous IDs. Between Sling Wave’s crispy drums and machine-gun bass blended with the distortive, heavy-hitting Lita Lotus style, these rising stars curated a proper set full of heat to prepare the crowd for the mayhem ahead.

Hypho B2B Abstrakt Sonance

Bringing that gritty UK sound to the states, Hypho and Abstrakt Sonance were next to take the stage. This talented team-up blasted attendees to the dungeon by rinsing grimy dubplates and hypnotizing tracks, like Abstrakt’s new single, “Stank” out now on Deadbeats Vol. 6.

Khiva B2B Wraz

Fusing a contrast of genres and monstrous beats, Khiva and Wraz brought us to the depths of the underground. Being the first woman of DDD as well as a HIHF guest mix alumnus, Khiva brought her infectious energy as the Canadian dubslinger, Wraz unveiled his indomitable artistry on the decks. These tastemakers showed what it means to be Deep, Dark, and Dangerous, annihalting their performance with a range of 140-centric tunes, dooming bass, and even some tasteful riddim.

ENiGMA Dubz B2B Pushloop

Veterans of the label, ENiGMA Dubz and Pushloop, shared their expertise with a commanding set of system-heavy madness. Coming fresh off their joint tour in July, these luminaries took us to class with a lesson on dubstep, blending world music elements, dropping classics, and rinsing tunes from their new EP, From The Depths.

It was a pleasure to witness these pioneers catapult their skills on a larger scale in front of such a massive crowd. We also got to chat with ENiGMA Dubz before the B2B, where he told us to stay tuned for his next project titled “Low Rider,” which features a new core-shattering collaboration with the legendary MC Sgt. Pokes. 

Distinct Motive

It’s impossible to compare the chokehold Distinct Motive has had on bass music fans and in the festival circuit within just a short amount of time. This Toronto-based innovator threw a set for the books leaving no mercy and blessing us with our favorites on top of multiple unheard IDs. Ripping his acclaimed anthems and iconic hits, the Mellow Man set the room ablaze with all things 140 bpm and dubstep.

With a stage design like no other, lasers ricocheted off of enormous tentacles as Truth closed out the night with a brutal performance that stripped away reality. This showcase marked a huge milestone for the Deep, Dark, & Dangerous family. Here’s what the ever-evolving duo had to say about the major achievement:

“Before the music label, before the clothing range, there was a monthly night, on a Monday, in a 100 person capacity basement in San Francisco where we featured the cream of the dubstep world… and everything else has grown from that humble beginning. Since then, there have been countless label takeovers on festival stages and nightclubs, 130 something releases on the label, many a merch drop… all leading to this, by far the biggest Deep, Dark & Dangerous event we have ever thrown. Mission Ballroom, Denver will play host to a lineup we couldn’t be more stoked about! Crazy sound and production, and the best Deep, Dark & Dangerous experience to date!” – Truth

The DDD family has revolutionized dubstep all over the world through their passion for the deeper and darker side of electronic music. As the movement continues to prosper, we’re constantly at the edge of our seats in anticipation for what Truth has in store for us next. What was your favorite set at the takeover? Let us know in the comments or on our socials below and don’t forget to blast the new “Woden” EP!

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