So stoked to have you on FP! You put a ton of hard work in. Describe the path you took to get to a point where you are releasing an EP on Firepower Records?

Thank you! I’m so stoked to be a part of the team. So the road getting here took a lot of time and focus. I sent in a couple Demos to Firepower. I used to make a completely different type of music — more of a Robostep kind of feel — and Datsik saw potential where I couldn’t. He told me to try something different but didn’t tell me exactly what to make. So I took this and tried some different styles of music, more melodic, more of a style I can reach a larger spectrum of people with. So I sent in some songs. Datsik really liked this new style I started but it still wasn’t quite there. So back to the drawing board. This is when I reached out to an already good friend of mine, Skyloud, who recently started a new alias Zetta which was Him and Deltabot. We Skyped for the entire collaboration of Ice Shield and they taught me a lot about creating this style of music I was doing but needed an extra push. So after the Flatline release of “IceShield”, I had a bigger arsenal of tools and new information about sound design and just actual production. I sent in a new Demo, and that’s when I got the green light on a 4 track EP. I was so excited about this that I finished the EP within a couple months. Every track I sent in was accepted. It was a huge change in sound from what I was originally doing, but I have to say I’m really enjoying this new style of 12th Hour! That being said this was about a year in the making, and I hope other artists keep pushing to reach their goals!

How do you see your sound evolving after this release?

So after the release I think I will continue with this style I have been doing for the past 6 months, I’m going to work on some new sound design, I think that is the biggest thing I am going to work on, evolving the 12th Hour sound even more, as well as come up with some really interesting bass patterns and longer drops. I’m really excited to see what the future of my new style will bring and I hope my fans and peers are also!

If you wanted to create the world’s worst mashup, what two songs would you put together?

The worst mash up? haha! This is a pretty unique question, I’d half to go with Iggy – “Team”, and Rebecca Black – “Friday”, I’m laughing just thinking about how this would sound. Lets go Team Friday! At least the mashup title works! I have 3 sisters, I hear a lot of music I’d never listen to on my own haha.

If the firepower crew came by for a visit to your home, what awesome dish would you insist we eat?

Definitely our Pizza. My dad owns two pizza places and that is actually my full time job, running one of the stores. So if the squad came over, I’d make, hands down the best pizza they ever had. And might as well throw in our home made pasta, cant forget the drinks too!

What’s your life philosophy in 5 words?

This is a questions I’ve never been asked but lets see if I can put this in 5 words.  Stay Humble, put in work.   Coming from a family where I had a job waiting for me and didn’t have to graduate from college to start making money for myself, I’ve never beat my chest about it.  This goes with every aspect in someones life, put in your work and stay humble on the road to success.

Your music never fails to bring the filth, but what were you going for with this EP that you didn’t do with you previous recordings?

I really tried to branch out in terms of my sound design and not just use what I was comfortable with.  I used the same patches for a few years because they ‘sounded like me’ but I really wanted to make some new stuff that sounded more modern.

Can we talk about your EP artwork? We know you worked closely with our good bud and Firepower Artist Solid Soul. What are some elements that are tucked into the piece you’d like to tell us about?

This is by far my favorite piece of artwork ever.  It fully captures me as a person and Eric did such an amazing job, I am forever grateful.  There are over 20 little easter eggs hidden in the art.  My favorites are my cat Tenders that has gone Super Saiyan and a few video game references. I don’t want to give too many away though because I’m planning on having a contest to see if anyone can find them all.

When you’re on the road, what kind of food are you looking to eat before the show? What’s your meal of choice?

I eat like absolute shit on the road and wish I didn’t haha  My go to meal would be either chicken tenders or some hot AF wings.  You can’t ever go wrong with tenders.

What’s one thing you can think of that defines your childhood?

Definitely Nintendo games.  I used to play this one level on Donkey Kong over and over just to listen to the music that was playing.  I think that was my initial spark of interest in weird sounds that would later evolve into a love for dance music.

What job would you want to have if you weren’t making music?

Video game journalist or a game tester.

Soltan is also our Guest DJ for Firepower’s Lock and Load Mix Series. We know you guys have been waiting eagerly for this one. So read up on the life of Soltan and like, share, and repost his mix below!

For bass music to survive, artists need to constantly innovate with sound design. Your EP Jadugar seems to do just that! How do you keep your sound fresh and innovative in a musical landscape that is often content to recycle and rehash old sounds and ideas? 

Well I simply get bored when I stay safe and use the same kinds of sounds over and over again so I’m always looking to innovate and change things up. I also put a lot of my time into sound design, and I’m not so concerned with what I THINK people what to hear. It’s more about what gets me excited because your fans can feel it when you really put your 100% into your music. The last thing is growing up around a mix of Middle Eastern sounds from countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey and also India has been a huge influence on my sound.

What are some of the toughest challenges you face as a producer in Iran that other producers may take for granted?

A huge hardship for me has been that I’m physically isolated and also the lack of opportunity here for pursuing music production. There really isn’t a bass scene in Iran let alone dance clubs. I’ve never been to a bass show or “rave” so everything that I’ve been influenced by in the bass world is through the internet. It’s crazy seeing these people play your music on tour and at festivals and not knowing what that experience is like you know? I hope that someday I can have this “physical connection” with other music lovers like me. 

What is the bass music or EDM scene like in Iran right now? 

As I mentioned, there isn’t really a bass scene and dance culture in general is not exactly looked favorably upon. That’s not to say at all that there aren’t people here who enjoy dance music because there are… they just can’t be too about it.

If you were to host a party, and you were the chef, what would you serve and why? 

Koobideh, which is a kind of kabob. Along with some rice, tadiq, and gojeh (tomato)  

What is the most important thing in life? 

 The most important for me is the safety and happiness of my family. After that, I would say doing what I love and putting my all into my music. 

Riot Ten is also our guest DJ for this week’s Lock and Load mix series, and he puts down some serious filth. Dude knows how to destroy dance floors, and he proves that, again, here. Don’t forget to like and repost the mix, and let us know what you think by hitting us up on social media!

This new Hype Or Die: Headbangerz EP is filthy! What were some of your goals with this EP that may have been different than your previous releases?

Thank you! My goal with this EP was really just to show everyone who Riot Ten is in 2016. While many people know me from my trap music releases, if you’ve seen a Riot Ten show, then you know that it’s much more than that. I’m a huge dubstep fan, I’m a trap fan, I’m a hiphop head, I love jungle terror, hardstyle, and other sub genres of bass music. Not to be cliche, but I’m just a fan of HYPE music, and that’s where the name comes from. As I’ve been playing more and more dubstep in my sets this year, this EP leans heavier in that direction, but you will still hear some trap and hardstyle elements throughout. My fans are all riding with me on my current direction, so I’m super stoked to give them this EP. Huge shout out to Firepower Records for supporting me and making this possible!

You’ve gone public about some of the struggles you’ve experienced in your personal life, including a recent, and heartwarming, anecdote about having your son in your teens. How have you turned these experiences into strengths?

Well, in any situation, I think it all begins with finding the silver lining. As bad as some situations might seem, you have to just see it for what it is and use it as fuel for the future. When I had my son at 16, I was juggling school, football, and music. I started to slack with football, but I could never let go of the production. I know its crazy, but at age 17, I knew that I wanted to make music for the rest of my life. To be honest, I’ve never even held a conventional job for more than a month. Not gonna lie, most of my family had told me to stop trying to be a “rockstar” and that it would never happen, but that ultimately just fueled the fire even more. It’s all about believing in yourself to the fullest. Was it hard? Fuck yes, but like I said in the post you reference, we only have one chance at life.

If we had a party at the FP headquarters and everyone needed to bring a dish, what would you bring and why?

It’s all about that Ramen! Haha I’ve made it a point to hit all the best ramen spots in each city that I’ve played in. My fans know whats up. Ramen Gang for life!

What song would you select to rock at a karaoke bar and why?

I think by default it would have to be “Bodies” by Drowning Pool. Has there ever been a moshpit at a karakoe bar? Haha If not, there’s a first time for everything! Let’s do it!

Where can we see you smash a dance floor this summer?

As of now, I have shows in Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, Seattle, Mineapolis, New York, Tampa, Denver, and other cities unannounced upcoming. Should be back on the West Coast in Los Angeles, Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco soon as well. Also should be seeing my debut Australia tour before years end. Excited for whats to come this Summer and the rest of 2016. Going to be a fun year and I’m just stoked to be able to represent for my family over at Firepower Records along the way!

Pre-Order Chimes From Fairies to Fire here: bit.ly/FFTFpre

We love good EP titles at Firepower Records. Tell us a bit about the title of the EP, From Fairies to Fire.

Well the EP is very much a step in the direction of a heavier sound to what people know me for, so I wanted to refer to that in the title. I also think it represents my signature style as a producer – I love to put light and dark elements together into single tracks and so the EP is named in reference to Skrillex’s “Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites” that originally inspired this style.

When it comes to producing music, do you have any work habits that you think are unusual?

I work well very late at night but I’m not sure if that’s particularly abnormal. I’ve got a feeling most producers are night owls. I go into a bit of a mode when I’m working where I shut everything out to concentrate really hard and when I stop I suddenly become exhausted like I’m having a hangover or a comedown. I guess music is my equivalent of drug use?

If a movie was made about you and your life, what famous actor would you want to play you and why?

Maybe Nicholas Hoult? He plays Beast in X-Men. I think he’d do well portray some of the weird aspects about me and he’s suitably nerdy looking.

What’s your biggest pet Peeve, the biggest thing that annoys you and why?

A lot of things annoy me! I’m actually a pretty grumpy person it turns out, although I switch between moods very quickly (a bit like my music). I’d say some of my biggest annoyances would definitely be my internet cutting out or my computer running slowly. Anything that disrupts my workflow.

What track are you jamming out to the most right now?

It’s very difficult to pick just one. I guess my Lock And Load mix should basically sum up everything I love right now but if I had to choose one track it’d have to be “Saloon” by Fox Stevenson. The catchiest Dubstep track I’ve heard in a long time!

You’ve been a fixture in bass music for a while now. What’s a significant moment in your career when you feel you evolved the most as an artist?