Warning: This is nuts.

The Denver/Boulder/Ft. Collins triangle of Colorado is home to some of the most colossal and breathtaking mountains in the land. It is also home to one of the most interesting guys I have heard in a long time: Aaron Holstein of VibeSquaD. Holstein’s music isn’t what you typically expect from electronic music. While bringing in the throbbing bass from dubstep, he tosses in some ticking, some whirring, and some meandering synths over a layer of organic percussion to end up with…well, whatever it is he ends up with. With the momentum perpetually shifting in his songs, there is no drop or sequence that defines his tunes — instead, each song has a theme that it returns to again and again with fresh takes on familiar melodies.

Orphan Alien Part 1 is no different – seven songs deep, all of them absolutely nuts. So good, in fact, that I decided to take a few minutes to catch up with Holstein. It took a few tries to get a hold of him, because he was was busy working on his music in his home studio. No wonder his music sounds so good. Don’t forget to grab a free download of his track “Shine” after the jump!

Dastardly: So I’m loving the name VibeSquaD. Where did it come from?

Holstein: I’ve been in bands for 20 years or so, just always playing music. Originally I was playing in a band called Squadzilla, which ended up becoming Zilla after a while. I was left with the ‘Squad’ part when I was back from touring and when I was making music by myself, so I ended up using it in this project.
 
Dastardly: That’s a much better story than I expected. If you’ve been in bands for so long, do you have like an electronic music hero that you look to or that influenced you a lot?

Holstein: There’s lot’s that I appreciate about music and musicians. Early on, I really liked Tipper and Bill Bless, but that was 10 years ago. There’s lot’s of music in my iPod and I love all of it, so I’d say not really one guy but a lot of people and things that they’ve done that I appreciate.
 
Dastardly: That’s sweet. You’ve been influenced for a lot of years. How has that influenced your current direction? What is your current musical direction?

Holstein: I just did it as a little kid – I was frustrated finding kids to work with and depend on to further my goals. Just like guys were so unreliable and we had different ideas so I wanted music by myself. It was just more satisfying than with other people. I better got my point across and was in total control. Like I had writer’s block, for the first time in a long time, this winter and this spring I exploded. I did that because of myself. Because of that, the future is untold – I’m always evolving and changing.
 
Dastardly: That segue’s in perfectly. What have you been up to recently, if not just working on Orphan Alien?

Holstein: Lot’s of travel. I have lot’s of like shows on weekends and stuff and I play a lot of shows on the road. I make music 9-5 every day and spend the rest of the time with my family. You know, hanging out with the kids and stuff. Whenever I’m not traveling I spend time with them as much as possible.
 
Dastardly: As a college kid, that’s what it’s all about. Trust me. But, concerning the EP, I’m not really sure even what Genre to classify it as. I’m not big on pigeonholing songs into ultra-specific genre’s but your sound is just unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. Tell me about it on like a cerebral level.

Holstein: It’s all about stretching out of my comfort zone. In terms of Genre’s, I feel like they’ve become anti-genre almost. Like most music fans have an eclectic taste and have lots of different songs on their iPod. I don’t want to stay in a boring genre or define myself in one way. I did vocals a lot in this album, all me by the way, and I even messed around with a drum and bass song with some vocals and that slow, chunky sound. I want everyone to feel the breadth and width and how deep they are with melodies. I also played around a lot with synths to get the whispiness of them. This one was really and evolution of where I’m at. I’m planning on releasing Pt II on 11/11/11 – which brings like the unity of the sound.
 
Dastardly: 11/11/11?! That’s so sweet. That’s a really cool date.

Holstein: Well actually I released an album on 10/10/10 last year and one on 9/9/09 the year before that. It’s a cool thing for me, working with an imposed deadline. I just know I’ll get it done by then. Plus it’s a cool sequence of dates.
 
Dastardly: That’s really sweet and I never noticed that before. Now, totally unrelated, I’ve never seen you live, but I have looked it up on the internet and done a little research and your shows are out of control. What gives them so much energy and power?

Holstein: I have a whole bunch of love and respect for playing in front of people and for the music. Being the guy who plays it at shows is really awesome. Playing with that perfect level of bass is a true honor for me. It gives me the chills to see people dancing and having fun and knowing that I’m the one doing that for them. I get off on it as much as they do. I love it.
 
Dastardly: When you’re not playing in shows, what do you do in your free time?

Holstein: I’m into photography, I snowboard in the winter, and I travel a lot – but I like to make it an adventure. I just have lots of opportunities when I tour, because I’m pretty much alone when I’m on tour. Just like finding a cool place to sit down and read. When I’m home I’m totally beat – I don’t really go out or have much of a nightlife when I’m at home. I chill out with my family because I’m all over my place for my job, so I get some good time with them too.
 
Dastardly: What is the highlight of your musical career? Is there a moment or a show that just tops them all?

Holstein: As I get older there are more and more special moments that shed light on it. I’ve been fortunate with lucky gigs where I played longer or got to play in front of a lot of people or something. Physically it’s hard to say – I don’t want to let down the small show, where the big show might not have been the best show. I love small shows with a lot of energy and awesome crowds, but the big ones are great too. I learn each time. So there’s not just one moment. I played at sunrise at Wakarusa  and it was so cool. Literally thousands of people smiling in the sun. It’s all about making people happy though.
 
Dastardly: What’s your top played song on iTunes?

Holstein: I always get obsessed with a band or an album and listen to it for like three weeks then move on. Like one time I only listened to Frank Zappa, all of his albums, until it drove people crazy. I love a lot of stuff though, and have a lot of it on constant rotation. I love a good album.
 
Dastardly: So are you an album guy and not really for the ‘hit single’?

Holstein: Well I’m all for music ADD and going all over the place and listening to whatever you want, but it’s just cool when it’s a whole production. Like one song is good, but a whole album of them with 10 on it is even better.
 
Dastardly: Last Question: What’s your touring schedule like? I’m out east up here in Burlington, VT, so are you ever going to make it out here? I’d love to see you live.

Holstein: I’ve been dying to get out east! I went to Hampshire College about 20 years ago and so I was up in Burlington a lot to see Phish. All my formative music was out east and so I’d love play there. I just signed with new management so they’ll be able to get me shows out there, because I don’t have much of a fan base out east. Expect to see me out there maybe in the winter or early spring.

VibeSquaD – Shine

Grab the rest of his The Orphan Alien EP on Vibesquad’s bandcamp. Just name your price!

What we have here for our second mixtape is a juicy mixtape that is 1/3 purple crunk lovestep, 1/3 glitch hop, and 1/3 dubstep by our own Psymbionic. What starts off slow and sexy soon drops you into a heavy boomer of a mix that will make you swoon and/or grab your nuts. John has been honing his style and styling his sounds since coming onboard and has definitely dialed in a good one so far. The mix has a lot of primo stuff from a lot of upcoming producers, so check this one out.

Look out for upcoming remixes by Psymbionic for Ben Samples (Daly City Records) and Mindelixer (Abstract Logic Recordings). Tour dates can be found at http://psymbionicmusic.com.

Bwomp Beats Mixtape 002: Psymbionic

Psymbionic also joins us in LA for Bass Garden November 27, 2010 with 6Blocc and The Rizo crew. Details here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134554983260294.

Tracklist:
Gladkill – Lucky Me vs. KnowSleep – ElectroDub
Sub Swara – Nectar (feat. Kendra Foster)
Mimosa – Silver Lining
Eskmo – Starships
Sugarpill – Tehslidebass [Unreleased]
+verb – Empty Hearted
ONE4ALL – Disclosure [Unreleased]
NastyNasty-Melting You [Unreleased]
Starkey – Rain City
Salva – Blue
Ronald Jenkees – Stay Crunchy (Wolf-e-Wolf Remix) [Unreleased] vs. NastyNasty – No Names
Metranohm – Stegosaurus [Unreleased]
Richard Sweat – Flying Taxi [Unreleased]
Stephan Jacobs & +verb – Blind Dreams [Unreleased]
Black Sabbath – Change (Siren Remix) [Unreleased]
Love and Light & Stephan Jacobs – Sound a da Bass (feat. Naada)
Subvert – Speaker Humpin’ (Knight Riderz Remix) vs. Gorillaz – Clint Eastwood
Subvert – Speaker Humpin’ (Opiuo Remix) vs. Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak On (Kraddy Remix)
Heyoka – Incendia
Vibesquad & Ill.Gates – The Fire Man vs. Ill.Gates – Irma Vep (feat. Masia One)
Love and Light – Squish City
The Glitch Mob – Drive It Like You Stole It (Psymbionic Remix) [Unreleased]
The Glitch Mob – Drive It Like You Stole It (Callan Maart Remix) vs. Bassnectar – Leprechauns Arise (feat. Sunru Skywalker)
Nosia and Spor – Falling Through vs. Bassnectar – The 808 Track
Ben Samples – Georgia House of Mirrors [Unreleased - Forthcoming on Made in Glitch]
Amp Live – Hot Right Now (Bassnectar Remix)
Sharps – Bad Sister (Drumstep vs. Dubstep Mashup)
Ben Samples – Drop Bombs (Psymbionic Remix) [Unreleased - Forthcoming on Daly City Records]
NastyNasty – Out Here [Unreleased]
Builder and DU3 – Spiritual Machines [Unreleased]
Rob Sparx & John Maveric – Widescreen Snipa (Propa Tingz Remix)
SPL – Stick’Em
Nit Grit – The Fourth Dimension vs. edIT – Crunk de Gaulle
Laid Back – Red (Chasing Shadows Remix)
Flux Pavillion – Lines in Wax (feat. Foreign Beggars)
Skism – Rave Review
Mindelixir – Dubfunk (Psymbionic Remix) [Unreleased - Forthcoming on Abstract Logic Recordings]
Pink Floyd – Brain Damage (Omega Remix)

-Ev

Hey Bwompers! I just finished up a mixtape while on the road, somewhat irrelevantly entitled “The Fozzie Bear Crunkadelic Mixtape”. It’s 37 minutes, precisely crammed with plenty of tripstep tunes for all the boys and girls! I figured I would post it up for all you Bwompheads out there! Enjoy :)

Tracklist:

Download:

Psymbionic – The Fozzie Bear Crunkadelic Mixtape

I finally got a chance to give a re-listen to the interviews from Eskmo and Eprom.. when I get it all done, you guys are in for a real treat!

-Psymbionic

So, I know everyone else is doing the the most mainstream tunes from 2009, or the most heavy metal brutal tunes from 2009.. but I figured I’d do something a little different. Here are some tracks that I liked, in no particular order, from 2009. That is all.

Vibesquad – Clown College
(Posts including Vibesquad)

Product01 – Ready2Rage (Bassnectar and Jantsen Remix)

(Posts including Bassnectar and Jantsen)

Datsik – Southpaw
(Posts including Datsik)

Mimosa – Flux For Life
(Posts including Mimosa)

Eskmo – San Francisco (The Rhythm)
(Posts including Eskmo)

Propa Tingz – Babylon’s Scared
(Posts including Propa Tingz)

Reso – Otacon
(Posts including Reso)

Akira Kiteshi – BOOM N POW
(Posts including Akira Kiteshi)

Eprom – 64 Bytes (Eprom Remix)
(Posts including Eprom)

Subvert – Speaker Humpin’
(Posts including Subvert)

By the way, we finally got the email debauckle figured out! Got something to say? New artist you found? New tune you just finished? If so, send over some submissions to us at info[at]bwompbeats.com!

-Psymbionic

It never feels like I have enough time in the day. I’m always doing something or another, and especially as of late, have been too busy to have the comfort of focusing on any single thing for any real length of time. But, the least I can do for you guys is keep the heat going!

First off, we have a couple from Vibesquad, care of the man himself:

Vibesquad – Swivel (A track that has been a bit infamous in the community as of late, haha.)

95 BPM

Vibesquad – Blaze Them Treez

115 BPM

Marley – Hammer (Vibesquad Restep)

70 BPM

Bassnectar drops a little special heat on us with his remix of The Pixies’ classic:

The Pixies – Where is My Mind (Bassnectar Remix)

85 BPM

Last but not least, we have a mix by none other than Glitch-Hop supergroup, SexyTime (Sleepyhead of KnowSleep + Mimosa).. this mix is a tad old, but I’m super excited to see what these guys have in store for us in the future! On to it:

SexyTime – Memekast 09

1. Fire – Sexytime
2. Holla Like Whoa! – Sleepyhead
3. Day & Night (Mimosa remix) – Kid Cudi
4. Take You There (Sleepyhead thizzle refix) – Sean Kingston
5. Club Steppin – Sexytime
6. Freeway – Sexytime
7. I’m A Flirt (Sleepyhead Remix) – R.Kelly
8. Dirty Diamonds – Eprom + Sleepyhead > Twista Accapella
9. Superbad (Mimosa Remix) – Sofia Fresh
10. Forgot About Dre. W/ Nelly Furtado (Mimosa Remix) – Dr.Dre

I promise promise promise, that I’ll get on some of the goodies I have in store for all of you. There is a bit of an email mixup at the moment that is being straightened out, but until then, leave a comment and give me some motivation! I doubt that you’ll be sorry, bwahahaha.

-Psymbionic

Hey all you Bwomp-heads out there!

I’m John, otherwise known as Psymbionic, and I’ll be your waiter this evening. What’s on the menu, you ask? BASS! In the future, I’ll be doing my best to keep your bottomless cravings for the BWOMP at least slightly fulfilled. So let’s get to it!

I just came back from a little midwest run, playing some shows and catching some others along the way. Among the names included were Bassnectar, Kraddy, Vibesquad, and MartyParty.. so I figured I’d share some goodness!

Bassnectar – Select Frequency (Sub Swara Remix) [More Bassnectar]

Vibesquad vs The Fresh Prince of Belaire – Shnapp (MiishMash Mashup)

Adam Freeland – Do You (PantyRaid Remix) [More PantyRaid] <---- MartyParty + Ooah = PantyRaid

Echaskech – The Storm (Kraddy Requiem Remix) (Changed out the track at artist request — thanks Kraddy!

Now we got that out of the way.. let’s go straight to some heat that I’d LOVE to play along side of!

The Widdler – Final Stage

KnowSleep – Killa Tune

PropaTingz – Rippin’ Needles

Siren – What a Life

Sub Swara – Kholi (Dov Chunky Remix)

TheBuilder – Shpongled (Yes, dub meets Shpongle.. big ups to TheBuilder)

Seventh Swami – Laser Planes

Lastly, I thought I’d drop you one of my own tunes, as a token of our new friendsh.. bwompship? Anyway..

Pink Floyd – Welcome to the Machine (Psymbionic Remix)

So, let it be known that BwompBeats will return to it’s former reign of bwompiness! If you’ve got some tracks you want blogged up, send ‘em over! Personally, I’m all about interesting music.. dubstep, glitch-hop.. you get the picture! I like things that push the limits, that explore new territory, that don’t just adhere to the same freaking two-step mold we’ve all locked ourselves into. So get to cracking!

-Psymbionic

Attack of the Bass left no survivors! Thank you everyone for coming out, we had a blast and the crowd was hype. Pics up soon!

Today is a joyous occassion… we have a new blogger. Please welcome producer/DJ/friend Psymbionic, our newest contributor in the BWOMP! family comin’ straight outta Arkansas. Keeping the blog constantly up to date with *good* material isn’t an easy job. Psymbionic’s gonna be helping spread the BWOMP for all you freaks out there, cuz you know you can’t get enough. To get you all acquainted, here’s an exclusive mix he made especially for you out there in Bwompland!

Listen:  http://soundcloud.com/psymbionic/psymbionic-wicked-glitch-of-the-mid-west-mix

Download: http://www.zshare.net/download/68626261c1782b3f

Tracklist:

Psymbionic – Subjective Fact
Mr. Projectile – Love Here (Bassnectar Remix)
Vibesquad – Clown College
The Widdler – Monkey Business
An-Ten-Nae – Childlike
D-Code and Chan 1 – Glitterstep (Sub Swara Remix)
Sound Tribe Sector 9 – Shock Doctrine (Eskmo Remix)
16 Bit – Fun House
Beats Antique – Roustabout (Bassnectar Remix)
Seventh Swami – Tornado Dreams
Klone – Can’t Remember What They Said?
Subvert and Excision – Dirt Nap
Propa Tingz – Rippin’ Needles
Ooah – Stomp the Yard
Sub Swara – Yeah (Heyoka Remix)
Datsik – Southpaw
MartyParty – Gangsteppin’
PantyRaid – Crunkalicious
Psymbionic – Anomaly
Mimosa – Sirius
Nanda – Plug In (Dub)
The Widdler/Collie Buddz – Come Around
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb (DZ vs Rastatronics Remix)
Pink Floyd – Welcome to the Machine (Psymbionic Remix)

Myspace: http://myspace.com/psymbionic

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/psymbionic

Once in awhile an event comes around with a lineup that blows other lineups out of the water. The Symbiosis Gathering is one of those events.

A 5 day outdoor event in Yosemite National Forest brings just about the BWOMPiest set of names known to bass music culture under one roof (of foliage). Leaves and needles will fall from perennial trees and pebbles will roll from century old hills. As if the electronic acts weren’t enough to get your juices flowing, the Symbiosis Gathering is a complete music festival. 5 days, remember? If you’re looking for a dope weekend of music, you will find one here.

Some of the notable acts include Les Claypool, Coco Rosie, Amon Tobin, Bassnectar, Freeland Live Band, Caspa, Flying Lotus, Glitch Mob, N-Type, Pretty Lights, Beats Antique, Bluetech, an-ten-nae, Heyoka, Lipp Service, Mimosa, Of Porcelain, Vibesquad, Welder, Babylon System and over a hundred more. Check out the entire lineup here.

GO GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Big post: Here are three mixes to throw into your players.

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The first is a mid-tempo/glitch hop set by our friend Benares, aka Arcturian Expedition from Little Rock, Arkansas. He’s fresh talent in the game but don’t forget the name… Arcturian Expedition is hard at work on an EP with a few tracks you can sneak a listen to on his Myspace.

Telefon Tel Aviv – TTV (Slicker Remix)
J.Viewz – Muse Breaks
Fine Cut Bodies – Beaver Blink (Ooah Remix)
Heyoka – Sonidas De La Cabeza
KnowSleep – All Buddhas
Phutureprimitive – Darkness
Bassnectar – Kick it Complex (Remix)
KnowSleep – Afrotech
Subvert – Speaker Humpin’
edIT and The Grouch – Artsy (Remix)
Bassnectar – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Remix)
Boxcutter – Spacebass
Vibesquad – About Face
Tipper – Tripping the Light Fantastic
Aligning Minds – Merge
Lemon Jelly – Page One
Killowatts – First Snow
Shpongle – Behind Closed Eyelids

Download:  Arcturian Expedition – Live @ Underground Sound 5

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This second mix was sent in by DJ Cable of Bionic Stylus, the 2008 UK DMC Team Champions. It’s always good to hear turntablists putting their skills to work in an electronic dance genre. Cable puts down the dirt with this dubstep mashup mix with a couple surprises. Solid mix.

01. Intro…
02. Mark Instinct – Invader
03. N-Type & The Others – Technophobe
04. Maniac – Thug
05. The Prodigy – Warrior’s Dance (Benga Remix)
06. JME – Standard
07. Reso – Smash Yer Face In
08. Crissy Criss – Kick, Snare
09. Distance – Night Vision (Skream Remix)
10. Jakes – Rock The Bells
11. Emalkay – Explicit
12. Chase & Status – Saxon
13. Chase & Status – Saxon (OH SNAP! Edit Stylee)
14. The Count & Sinden – Hardcore Girls (Project Bassline Remix)
15. Jammin – Hold On  + “Scratch Interlude”
16. Ludacris Feat. Shawnna – What’s Your Fantasy
17. Jakes & Joker – 3Klane
18. Skepta – I Spy
19. Tempa T – Next Hype
20. Rusko – Mr. Muscle
21. D.O.K. – Warning
22. Benga – Buzzin’
23. Kyza – Go (Bar 9 Remix)
24. Foreign Beggars Vs. Rouge A Levres (Feat. Primecuts) – Hit That Gash (Itchy Naaan Re-rub)
25. Vista – Forcefield
26. Bonecrusher Feat. Killer Mike & T.I. – Never Scared
27. Caspa – Marmite
28. Ruff Sqwad – Xtra
29. Skream – Simple City
30. High Rankin – No Money For Guns
31. Joker – Do It
32. Seven – Drop
33. David Banner Feat. Lil Flip – Like A Pimp
34. Chingy – Juice
35. Fused Forces – What’s Going Down
36. Basement Jaxx – Raindrops (Doorly’s Dubstep Remix)

Download: DJ Cable – The Mash Down Vol. 3

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Finally, we have the new installment of Dubfluencial sent in by our friends at Ego Thieves, titled “Desk Full of Bass.” Dubfluencial is the biggest dubstep mix series available online, and for good reason! Jenai brings us another selection of bangers, brooders, and exclusives. Listen now!

01. Filed Of Dreams – Suspect

02. Suck Me Pitch – Ego Bandits  [EXCLUSIVE]

03. Pyramidhead – Level 67

04. Can You Guess What It Is Yet? – Cookie Monsta [EXCLUSIVE]

05. Inside Job – Taz Buckfaster

06. Whos The Hardest – Eddie K

07. Ambient Dub Shit – Borgore [EXCLUSIVE]

08. Bassbin – Kromestar

09. Thunderstrike – Tekstep [EXCLUSIVE]

10. The Polar Bear – Wartech [EXCLUSIVE]

11. Juice – The Secret Lemon

12. Drumstick – Giant

13. Mechanism Test – Mike Lennon (Riskotheque Remix)

14. Nuke Em – Datsik

15. Panic – 16bit [EXCLUSIVE]

16. Cockney Thug Gets Mugged! – Rusko & Caspa [EXCLUSIVE]

17. Mo Fyiah – Mr Boogie & Bukez Fineszt

18. Per – Rebel Sonix

19. Flux For Life – Mimosa

20. Ghosts N Stuff – Deadmau5 (Nero Mix)

Download: Dubfluencial 7 – “Desk Full of Bass” mixed by Jenai