20 year-old DJ / producer The Frim has been extremely busy both on the road and in the studio lately. Currently deep in the midst of the colossal Firepower tour across the US, he is set to release his debut EP on the label of the same name on 20th November, Bassline Skanka.
The young musician has been making music and toying with different genres since his early teens, but it is in the last two years that The Frim aka Nicholas Friml has found his calling with dubstep and drumstep production. Friml’s intricate and powerful tracks have already been supported by some of bass music’s biggest names such as Flux Pavilion and Bassnectar, as well as Firepower’s head honcho Datsik himself.
Eponymous opener Bassline Skanka doesn’t waste any time in getting down to business. Setting the scene with its eerie piano chords, ticking hi-hats and warped vocals, it quickly spirals out of control as the stomping drums battle it out with a fierce bass drop. Up next, The Frim switches things up on ‘Perfect Score’. Opening in a blare of sirens and crashing percussion, the tightly coiled production delivers a deadly wrecking ball swing. A remix of ‘Perfect Score’ from Firepower alumnus Getter also features on the EP, taking it in to new territory with his signature gutteral bass.
Continuing to bring the heat, ‘Error’s sparse rhythm anchors the juddering bass line as it rips through the track. The clipped ‘error’ vocal sample becomes a key component in the fabric of the track, creating tension and suspense throughout. Concluding the EP on a different note, ‘Drop It’ ups the speed for a manic drumstep workout. Unleashing a flurry of pounding drums and grimy bass, The Frim switches up the tempo half way through, dropping it back down for the second drop as he throws everyone off guard.
Quickly proving himself as a unique and talented DJ and producer, at just 20 years old, The Frim is most definitely one to watch!