Wakaan
How the Women Behind Wakaan Amplify Female Voices in a Scene Dominated by Men
Operating in a genre dominated by men, it’s two women who are propelling the engine of freeform electronic music from behind the scenes. Chloe Suit and Emily Mitchell helm Wakaan as its Marketing Director and Merchandise Director, respectively. Wakaan was launched in 2015 by famed bass music producer and entrepreneur Liquid Stranger, or Martin Stääf, who has since grown the organization into a powerhouse record label and music festival proprietor. And with two innovative, tough-as-nails women driving the brand, it has mutated from an unknown electronic neophyte into a global music and culture hub. Chloe Suit (L) and Emily Mitchell (R) of Wakaan. c/o Wakaan Sadly, Suit and Mitchell are outliers in their roles. A September 2019 survey conducted by the Association for Electronic Music (...
Champagne Drip and G-Rex’s “Cold Case” is a Bass Heavyweight
Champagne Drip and G-Rex have proven their production capabilities time and time again. This time around, however, they have concocted one of the gnarliest songs of the year thus far. Their collaboration “Cold Case” arrived today via WAKAAN. The pair first started working on “Cold Case” while they were on Liquid Stranger’s “Infinity Tour” in 2019, gathering fan feedback to fine-tune the track. The final product is a strong demonstration of their sound design capabilities. From start to finish the track keeps the energy high and the chaos even higher. From the ominous samples in the intro to the unwavering onslaught of bass, Champagne Drip and G-Rex have done right by their fans by this heavyweight of a bass tune. “Cold Case”&n...
Liquid Stranger Unveils Massive First Original of 2021 With Earth-Shattering “The Drill”
WAKAAN label boss Liquid Stranger has returned with “The Drill,” his first original single of the year, a scorching bass anthem. “The Drill” marks Liquid Stranger’s second release of 2021 following his remix album for “Psychonaut,” which featured remixes by 12th Planet, AstroLizard, Blanke, Hydraulix, Krischvn, LICK, and Mersiv. Packed with deep synths and an earth-shattering low end, “The Drill” opens with a hypnotic melody as vocals unearthed from the underworld take us into the chaotic underbelly of the beast. Pushing and pulling with subtle changes to cadence, a gritty rising bass thrusts the track from ground zero into a galaxy unknown, continuing to drive with vicious dubstep elements....
KRISCHVN Drops Blistering “Rude Boi” EP on WAKAAN
In just a few short years, KRISCHVN has differentiated himself from the pack with his innovative take on trap music. Today, he has delivered his mind-melting Rude Boi EP by way of WAKAAN. Rude Boi serves as a compilation of KRISCHVN’s work strung together since the beginning of his career, further elaborating that they are tunes he really loves and has waited a long time to release. He states that the project doesn’t focus on genres, but expands on his interests in space and dimensional-related phenomena while also attempts to create “a bridge between super-terrestrial things and music.” Rude Boi is a wild ride from front to back. KRISCHVN is unrelenting across each of it’s five tracks, blindsiding listeners ...
![12th Planet Sends Liquid Stranger’s “Psychonaut” Remix Album Into Orbit [Premiere]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12th-planet-sends-liquid-strangers-psychonaut-remix-album-into-orbit-premiere-1050x600.jpg)
![12th Planet Sends Liquid Stranger’s “Psychonaut” Remix Album Into Orbit [Premiere]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/12th-planet-sends-liquid-strangers-psychonaut-remix-album-into-orbit-premiere-80x80.jpg)
12th Planet Sends Liquid Stranger’s “Psychonaut” Remix Album Into Orbit [Premiere]
Last Valentine’s Day, Liquid Stranger impressed fans with his masterfully-crafted six-track EP, ASCENSION, diverting from his recognized freeform bass prowess and venturing into dubstep territories. Featuring collaborations with artists such as LUZCID, Hydraulix, and LSDREAM, ASCENSION was the last release from the esteemed Wakaan tastemaker. Celebrating one year since the release of ASCENSION, the Swedish bass powerhouse is returning with a collection of stellar remixes of the lead track, “Psychonaut.” Recruiting fiery bass maestros such as 12th Planet, Astrolizard, Blanke, Kischvn, LICK, Mersiv, and original ASCENSION collaborators, Hydraulix and LUZCID, Psychonaut (Remixes) will be released on February 12th. 12th Planet leads this legendary roster with h...
![Krischvn and NXSTY Join Forces for Ferocious Dubstep Anthem “Ketamine” [Premiere]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/krischvn-and-nxsty-join-forces-for-ferocious-dubstep-anthem-ketamine-premiere-1050x600.jpg)
![Krischvn and NXSTY Join Forces for Ferocious Dubstep Anthem “Ketamine” [Premiere]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/krischvn-and-nxsty-join-forces-for-ferocious-dubstep-anthem-ketamine-premiere-80x80.jpg)
Krischvn and NXSTY Join Forces for Ferocious Dubstep Anthem “Ketamine” [Premiere]
Krischvn and NXSTY, two young guns leading the charge of the next wave of trap music, have teamed up for a blistering dubstep anthem. Arriving by way of Wakaan, “Ketamine” is a screeching banger that belongs on only the most wild of dance floors. Exotic flutes and spacey drones make up the song’s verses before Krischvn and NXSTY build the tension, eventually unloading a tiger’s roar of a drop. Ferocious wobbles and metallic synths run roughshod through each drop as both artists’ signature styles are well-represented through nuanced sound design. “Ketamine,” which Krischvn said took two years to create, has already received an abundance of support from the bass music community. Wakaan founder Liquid Stranger heavily supported the...
LSDREAM Revisits Futuristic Dubstep Sound on New Collaboration With Taylr Renee, “FOLLOW THE VIBE”
WAKAAN heavy-hitter LSDREAM returned today with a new single called “FOLLOW THE VIBE,” a collaboration with singer-songwriter Taylr Renee. The track provides a bit of nostalgia for fans of both artists, as the two previously collaborated on “PSYCHEDELIC,” which appeared on LSDREAM’s 2018 EP VOYAGER. This new single not only showcases LSDREAM’s top-notch sound design, but his dexterous ability for creating dynamically fun and adventurous tunes. You can listen to “FOLLOW THE VIBE” below. “‘FOLLOW THE VIBE’ is my 2020 anthem,” said LSDREAM. “It’s a reminder that no matter what life throws at you, stay in the light because there’s magic and joy on the other side. Through all the hardships we faced this year, our collecti...
MIZE Dives into Sonic Introspection on Debut EP, “Thought Process”
The EP marks the Wakaan prospect’s first full-length project. Melodic bass producer MIZE has delivered his debut EP, Thought Process, via WAKAAN. The project reflects his complex sound design and capacity for dynamic creation, showcasing a range of styles from downtempo to glitch to modern, wonky bass. Dothan, Alabama-raised MIZE began producing on FL Studio back in 2012. After switching over to a Mac and Ableton in 2017, he began performing under his current moniker. He quickly earned a reputation in the dubstep community as a talented producer and expert mixer, displaying a penchant for rinsing a wide range of bass music and a plethora of 2000s hip-hop and trap. His profile has grown significantly via popular bookings at WAKAAN Music Festival and Bonnaroo, among others. Thought...
Lucii Drops Haunting “Wicked” EP Right in Time for Halloween
Lucii has had all eyes on her since joining Liquid Stranger‘s Wakaan imprint as the label’s first female signee. After making her Wakaan debut with the single “Neptune,” she is back to keep the momentum going with her second official EP, Wicked. Prepare for a devious collection that encapsulates her freeform bass style. She opens with “Spell,” a mesmerizing anthem for anyone who’s ever been entranced by another. The overwhelming whirlwind she pulls you into is sonically expressed in the depravity of the drop. The previously released single “TilI the Day I Die” is next on the lineup. Lucii’s vocals and lyrics share a lot of similarities to Lana Del Rey, oozing with the eerily romantic breathiness that has ...
Listen to Rusko’s “Sauce” EP, First Release of 2020
The long wait is over for new music from Rusko. Since dropping his Genghis Danger EP in 2019, the iconic dubstep trailblazer has been relatively silent. That changed today with Rusko’s Sauce EP, his debut on the Wakaan imprint. Sauce is Rusko through and through. The old school flavor that the producer is so well known for is apparent, as always, but so is his ability to keep things fresh. The EP is certainly a callback to classic dubstep, but has all of the forward-thinking elements that have constantly evolved the Rusko sound. “Carrot Cake” opens the release with dub reggae-infused wobbles in the classic Rusko style. Following it is “Ecstasy Dreamland,” a near-180 from the EP opener that lives up to its name with futuristic elements and chord stabs...
Lucii Previews New Wakaan EP With Lead Single, “Till the Day I Die”
In March 2019, Lucii made history by being the first woman to have a release on Wakaan with her label debut, “Neptune.” In a short period of time, the bass alien has captured the electronic community’s heart with her extraterrestrial sound design and down-to-earth charisma. This past year, Lucii has continued to make waves from her collaborative singles with Champagne Drip in “Me and You” and with Sam Lamar in “You.” Now, Lucii is preparing a new chapter with her first official EP since her Abduction debut in 2018. Continuing her upward trajectory, Lucii is returning to Wakaan with a brand new 4-track EP, Wicked, slated for release on October 23. In preparation for the release, Lucii has officially unveiled the lead single a cou...
Buku Expands on Wakaan Debut with “What You See” EP
Last month, bass music aficionado Buku made his Wakaan debut with “What You See,” the quintessential genre-bender featuring his own vocal work. The single was shortly followed by his visually stimulating drum and vocal cover, which lives on the Wakaan YouTube channel. In quick succession, Buku has returned to the freeform bass label with the remainder of his EP, What You See. This three-track record is composed of mutated sound design, breakneck transitions, and heavy-hitting patchwork synths to transport listeners to the festival’s main stage. Enter the world of What You See as glitchy, percussion-heavy beats dominate the title track. For the next offering, “Pinky Fingaz” go up as thumping basslines generate sonic destruction. Concluding the fiery EP, chaotic oscillations mark the grand f...
