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.

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!

This week, Firepower Records stuffs Algo on the Hotseat. His forthcoming EP Real Life is all kinds of nasty, and DJs from all over the world play his tracks on the regular. We are beyond stoked to have him on the roster, and, admittedly, a bit giddy we get to nail him down with this interview. Read up, and don’t forget to get your ears around his guest mix for the Firepower Records Lock and Load Mix Series.

Pre-order Real Life on iTunes here: bit.ly/RealLifePRE 

At what point in your life did you decide to make music professionally?

Ive been in the game for 5 years now but would say that I didn’t really start seeing it as a full career path until about a year and a half ago when the guys I looked up to started playing my tracks and asking to sign to their labels. That’s when I decided to really take things seriously (kind of lol) and really hunker down on the marketing and networking side of the industry. I’ve always kind of been a “lone wolf” of sorts… always liked to just do everything myself you know? Basically everything I know about music was self taught minus my 6 month schooling for audio engineering at Sheffield institute for the recording arts which was VERY insightful for mixing and mastering as well as recording and working in an actual studio.   But recently I’ve been building a team around me of close friends who share the passion and constantly cheer me on because they want to see me succeed along with the help of my mom and dad as well as my extended family over at Arcane talent.

Your title track “Real Life” is a Bass House hybrid. Why is it important for bass music producers to experiment with different styles and genres?

Yeah I am super happy with how this track turned out, it was one of those tunes that you just get some crazy inspiration and just binge write for hours! I have always been a very “versatile” producer of sorts. I think it is absolutely KEY in learning your craft to dabble in as many different genres as possible, learning elements from let’s say drum and bass can really translate over into dubstep or trap, house or anything really because it is a very fast percussion based genre it can show you just how much of a difference a hi hat pattern or something could make..I think that’s how boundaries are pushed, by learning as much as you can about all different music from all over the planet then putting your own artistic twist on it!

If you had a chance to sit down and interview any famous person in history (or today), who would it be and why?

Hmmm this is a hard one… I would probably say Thomas Edison. An inventor who was just so intelligent and so ahead of his time…I’d like to sit down and pick his brain for a while, I’m really fascinated by people like him. True visionaries.

Do you have any rules for success or pieces of wisdom that you live by?

I would say don’t ever let anyone know your next move….
“Bad boys move in silence” – Notorious B.I.G.

In this business most of your “peers” have NO shame or moral compass to stop them from taking someone’s creative ideas in a HEARTBEAT and capitalize on it. It’s very cut-throat to come up in “EDM” these days because of the sheer amount of kids who have access to the tools you need to create great records, and everyone wants to be a rockstar but no one is willing to pay the dues and make the sacrifices that it takes to be a forward thinking artist, everyone wants to cut corners. But in the end I would have say to always keep your head up and have fun with it, it’s so easy to lose your patience when you’re sitting at a computer listening to harmful frequencies for hours on end, but believe me the payoff of making a sick sound or nailing a mix down is priceless! You just HAVE to put the time in.

If the nuclear apocalypse forced you into an underground bunker for an unknown amount of time, what 3 things, other than the essentials (food, water, pizza), would you take with you and why? 

Oh easy. An M4 assault rifle, duct tape and Kate Beckinsale…because she’s bae.