Monstercat
How It All Started: Fairlane Talks Upbringing and Emergence Into the Electronic Music Scene
Canadian electronic producer Fairlane has been musical for most of his life. At a very young age, his parents had him enrolled in piano classes, where he first got a taste of music and performing. Unfortunately, it was a bitter memory, as Fairlane recalls making a minor mistake during a piano recital when he was 10 years old. “I vowed to never perform music again,” he tells EDM.com. Eventually, Fairlane got over that mishap and went on to play in a band. However, there was one small problem: he did not know how to read sheet music. “I’ve always learned everything by ear,” he explained. “I had the same problem with piano. I would just practice and memorize it and so I froze up when I went to read music because I was unable to read the music.” A...
Papa Khan Makes Oceanic Monstercat Debut With Must-Listen Song, “The Tide”
One year after Papa Khan broke the internet with his breakthrough single “Rain,” the young bass music producer is back with another masterstroke. Released today on Monstercat was the latest song from one of bass music’s most exciting artists, dubbed “The Tide.” Khan, who was named to EDM.com‘s Class of 2021 earlier this year, has once again harnessed his self-taught music production skills and dropped another instant classic that’s sure to be rinsed in DJ sets for years to come. “The Tide” opens with gentle water droplets and cavernous vocals, lending to a spacey atmosphere where Khan’s wholly singular sound design shines. What follows is a dizzying array of syncopated synths and bass, which combine to transport Khan’s liste...
WHIPPED CREAM Saves the World In “Light Of Mine” Music Video: Watch
After a nearly 19-month-long hiatus, Canada’s favorite bass music export WHIPPED CREAM recently made an explosive return, teaming up with Jimorrow for a stunning single called “Light of Mine.” Out now via Monstercat, “Light of Mine” embodies WHIPPED CREAM at her finest, seamlessly blending together trap and drum & bass into her own empowered sound. The track’s blood-pumping rave sirens and swirling, futuristic synths also work alongside the dramatic flair of Jimorrow, whose solo work carries hints of electronic mainstays like RL Grime. The track’s thoughtful twists on signature sounds haven’t gone unnoticed—artists including Grime himself, Baauer and Alison Wonderland all supported it live during their 2021 Hallow...
Monstercat Unveils IDOLS NFT Digital Collectibles, Designed to Create 3D Experiences In the Metaverse
Monstercat is planting their stake in the sand and wholly embracing the Web 3.0 revolution. On October 26th, Canada’s largest independent label is going live with the GENESIS IDOLS collection on Nifty Gateway, a project that CEO Mike Darlington says is eight months in the making. The collection of 3D models represents just the first phase of Monstercat’s novel approach to immortalize the future of their diverse artist roster in the metaverse. “This IDOL was born for your world; it is your key to the intersection of music, art and the metaverse,” Darlington stated cryptically. “The legend of RELICS is about to unfold, and you are the Explorers.” There’s still much to be uncovered as to what the IDOLS initiative has the potential to offer collectors....
Monstercat Teams Up With Westwood Recordings for Celebratory 8-Track Compilation
Westwood Recordings have teamed up with fellow Canadian record label and electronic music powerhouse Monstercat to curate a special compilation album. Comprising local talent and named after Monstercat’s annual Vancouver-based event, Compound 2021 marks the first-ever collaboration between the two imprints. The diverse compilation features eight tracks, infused with the talents of 14 artists including The Funk Hunters, Kotek, Defunk, and Akylla, among others. Nearly all of the artists featured in the album will also be performing at Monstercat Compound in Vancouver this Saturday, September 18th. “”We are thrilled for Monstercat and Westwood’s debut collaboration,” said Westwood Recordings founder and CEO Nick Middleton. “It’s a joint ...
Tony Romera’s Debut Album “Introspection” Channels Early Influences Into Multi-Genre Joyride: Listen
After giving fans a glimpse at his debut album with a slew of singles, Tony Romera has finally unveiled his highly anticipated Introspection LP via Monstercat. Spanning 16 tracks, Romera’s Introspection is a treat for longtime fans and new listeners alike. He effortlessly flows between genres, refusing to be confined by the house music that has defined him over the course of his career. The album is a reflective look at his influences up until this point, drawing inspiration from the likes of Daft Punk, 90s hip-hop, and punk music, all of which he cherished growing up. While the house music vet rarely strays from the genre he calls home, he comfortably does so throughout Introspection. “My Mind” (with Karina Ramage) embraces a slowed-down, upbeat...
How It All Started: Dance Music’s Most Influential Labels Reflect On Their First-Ever Release
Dance music wasn’t always this popular. In fact, the sights and sounds we now associate with the genre were once considered taboo. They were the emblems of a counterculture forced to blossom not out in the open, but in the safe confines of arcane nightclubs and warehouse raves. So how did electronic music break through the glass ceiling? Before the songs of Above & Beyond, Roger Sanchez, Armin van Buuren, and other legendary producers rattled the world’s biggest festival stages, they were auditory ugly ducklings on a quest to reach their full potential. The music always had the potential to fly, but without the help of the gutsy independent record labels willing to back it, its wings would forever remain clipped. And after all these years, those indies have proven...
Text Message Interview: SMLE and Athena on Their New Collab Bursting Onto Rocket League
The release of Athena‘s debut single “Eternal” alongside Grammy-nominated duo SMLE marks another seminal moment for the connection between dance music and gaming. One of the foremost streamers of Rocket League and a member of the prominent esports organization Team Envy, Athena described the situation as “unreal” in an exclusive EDM.com text message interview between herself and SMLE. Athena recapped her experience previewing the new single for her fans on stream, and having her expectations blown away by the reaction. “They’re all freaking out going crazy,” she said. “Didn’t expect it at all.” The artists also react to seeing their post-apocalyptic, Mad Max-inspired makeovers in the new official music video for ...
Tisoki Pays Tribute to UK Roots on Debut Album “01953”
After weeks of teasing his debut album, including the release of singles “HOLD ON ME” and “SENSITIVE,” Tisoki has finally unveiled 01953 via Monstercat. In his latest endeavor, Tisoki has taken a more introspective approach that was inspired by his time in quarantine. Instead of writing earth-shattering, festival-ready tunes, he’s created a thoughtful story that gives fans a taste of his upbringing in Wymondham, UK. Tisoki’s diverse skill set is on full display throughout 01953. He expertly shifts between moodier, melancholic tracks to hard-hitting bangers, subverting expectations over and over again. His UK roots shine bright on the 10-track LP, as elements of old-school dubstep, grime, and garage are infused within various tracks ...
Tony Romera Drops Unrelenting House Heater “MS69” on Monstercat
Hot off the heels of his latest single “VHS,” Tony Romera has returned to Monstercat with an unrelenting house heater called “MS69.” The brooding grittiness of “MS69” is right on brand for the French producer’s signature bass house sound. Making use of an intoxicating vocal sample and aggressive Korg synth, Romera has cooked up an incredibly catchy beat. Check out the new track below. “I was feeling heated the day I made “MS69,” he said. “It was originally called ‘UPS FDP,’ which translates to me cursing at UPS in French slang, because they were late on delivering my new synths.” “Since I wasn’t able to get them in time, I decided to make a super aggressive track with my Korg MS-20,” Romera cont...
Pandora Launches New “Game Time Radio” Listening Experience, Monstercat Takeover
The relationship between music and gaming is one that ages with grace—a marriage Pandora is celebrating with the launch of a new radio experience. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of Pandora’s “Game Time” initiative, the streaming giant has launched a complimentary listening experience called Game Time Radio. Meticulously curated by gamers, the music hub allows users to select songs and beats to soundtrack their adrenaline-fueled gaming sessions. Game Time Radio offers four new listening Modes, each of which offer their own unique vibe. “Level UP” focuses on essential hip-hop while “Open World” slithers into the ambient and downtempo alleys of electronic music, offering glacial beats. “Pixelated” will feel the...
CloudNone Unveils Dreamy 6-Track EP “Last Train Home” on Monstercat
Making his debut back in 2018, anonymous electronic music producer CloudNone has been poised for a long and successful career in dance music, consistently releasing on some of the scene’s most prestigious labels. CloudNone’s music is as uplifting as it is pensive. Following a landmark performance at ILLENIUM’s recent “Trilogy” show in Las Vegas, he has now unveiled his brand new EP Last Train Home, which undoubtedly marks a testament to his versatility as an artist. Including previously-released singles such as the ethereal instrumental gem “Dizzy Lifted” and the anthemic, bass-driven “Flashlight” (with acclaimed singer-songwriter Micah Martin) each song from Last Train Home seems to impress with its own distinct sound d...
