Art always finds a way to speak for those whose voices are oppressed. The Jadugar EP is Soltan yelling at the top of his lungs, and his music reveals a hidden genius that would have remained hidden if it weren’t for the perfect pairing of Bass music and Internet technology. Soltan’s music also reveals a kid just like us—hopeful in same ways we are, afraid of the same things we are, trying to get busy in same ways we do. When the Iranian Government isn’t strangling bandwith or straight-up controlling access to it, Soltan produces filthy bass music. When most of us are ready to quit because of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Soltan keeps his head down, producing intricate soundscapes with the hope of one day sending his sonic messages out to the world. Troy Beetles, the Firepower Records Boss whose ears all music released on the label must pass, was immediately mesmerized by how unique and innovative Soltan is. The decision was swift and immediate; it was the most impressed Troy has been with an artist in quite some time. His story is inspiring, too, and speaks to the transcendent power of music to cross cultural, political, religious, and geographic borders. We are all united through the power of dance. Plus the EP goes effing Hard AF!
Starting the EP is “Bang Bazzar”, a collaboration with Firepower Footsoldier, Spag Heddy, and features the vocal wizadry of Gravity. The traditional Persian influences permeate the tune and offer a fresh take on bass. After the revolution in Iran, artistic expression took a bit of a hit, but now we are witnessing the untapped wells of artistry that bubbled under the surface just waiting for a chance to pop.
Soltan is also an extremely astute and capable student of modern bass music sound design. His synth work is brilliant, unmatched by much of the producers out there today. “Balkan’s Hammer” uses the traditional Persian musical influences, but forges it through the crucible of Dubstep production. “Jadu”, then, takes a more western approach, featuring all the vocal hype you’d see in the Hip Hop world. But Soltan compresses the track into a feast of plentitude, offering up a seemingly infinite variety of sounds. The track reveals itself a little more with every listen.
Rounding out the EP is “Live On Rewind” featuring Jai Matt. Here is the festival ballad any DJ should keep in their arsenal. With soaring vocals and a sinister drop, the track is perfect for the mid set sing-along. It’s a gorgeous way to cap an impressive EP and shows the insane range Soltan possesses.
The tracklisting for “Jadugar” is:
- Soltan & Spag Heddy – “Bang Bazzar” Feat. Gravity
- Soltan – “Balkan’s Hammer”
- Soltan – “Jadu”
- Soltan – “Live On Rewind” Feat. Jai Matt
For more information on Soltan:
https://twitter.com/soltanofficial
https://www.facebook.com/SoltanOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/soltan.official/
For More information on Firepower Records:
https://soundcloud.com/firepowerrecs
https://www.facebook.com/FirepowerRecs
https://twitter.com/firepowerrecs
www.youtube.com/user/FirepowerRecs
For Press Inquiries, contact:
Lee Underwood
Publicity Manager I Firepower Records I Twitter: @leeFPRecs
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Los Angeles (April 18th, 2016) Firepower Records is proud to announce the next release of our Shellshock Compilation, Kamikaze, and we’re getting early reports that it’s already setting flammable material ablaze thousands of miles away. The release of our yearly Shellshock Compilation also gives us a chance to reach out to you, our extended Firepower Fam, and celebrate the fact that you are what make us so strong.
Since its humble inception in March of 2012 by Troy Beetles— Datsik by his nom de guerre—Firepower Records has evolved into a bass music behemoth, releasing heavyweight producers like Datsik, Protohype, Getter, Barely Alive, Truth, Bear Grillz, Mayhem, Antiserum, Fox Stevenson, Must Die, PhaseOne, Terravita, ETC! ETC! and Trolley Snatcha and featuring Hip Hop and Rock royalty like Snoop Dog, Trinidad James, KRS-One, DJ Paul KOM of Three-6 Mafia and Travis Barker of Blink 182. The Firepower Family currently claims 65 artists and counting and on May 13th, the label will showcase the best and most badass it has to offer. As a show of overwhelming support, some of dance music’s heaviest hitters have signed on by offering tracks exclusively for the ShellShock Kamaikaze release. The tracklist reads like a bass music “best-of” list. If Bass Music had a fantasy league, this would be a winning line-up.
But Firepower is more than a disjointed and disconnected series of artists and tracks. We like to consider ourselves more of a Family and the ShellShock Kamikaze release as more of a family reunion. Firepower Records is a label and an internationally respected dance music brand, but it would be nothing without the like-minded artists, friends, neighbors, and fans that hold it all together and keep it alive.
There’s no finer example of the familial nature of the bass music world than the first collaboration on the Compilation. Datsik and 12th Planet come together with a dub infused “Party In The Sewer” featuring Elan, and it’s massive. A one-man wub factory, Datsik smashes the track with his signature wobbles, while 12th planet puts his creative beat creation and swampy sound techniques to work. Next, returning family member Bear Grillz throws down with “Nap Gurlz”. The disco hook pumps your impulse to dance and the drops will snap your neck if you’re not prepared. A quick word though–this track is in no way associated with the good people of Nap Girls, and if you’re interested in who they are, check them out! Protohype and Stratus put in work with “Let’s Do This”, and as expected the two artists march us through a spectrum of sound structures so diverse you lose your mind trying to keep track. Soltan continues to impress us with his creative vision. With “Turn Up” he takes Bass Music to the edges of the known universe and then hits lightspeed. Soltan is easily one of the new visionaries, and we should all be watching him closely.
EH!DE and Funk4mation peel the roof off with “Come Back”, and the Bass living under the basement of this track is scary and mad. EH!DE’s been crushing it recently, but it goes without saying that this has been the year of Zack The Lad. His release Black Sheep began the Firepower Records release calendar in 2016 and we just can’t get enough. It has been said that Datsik only has a few artists loaded into his personal iPod, and one of those artists is Zack The Lad. Here, he offers us “Won’t Stop”, and his production skill is immediately superior.
Spag Heddy is back with “Hugs and Stuff”, and we couldn’t be more stoked. A definite fan favorite, Spag Heddy has released nothing but fire. The opening wraps the listener with sonic sunshine and then slams your ass to ground. That must be the “Stuff” in the title. Init, Goldplate, and Hami all put in on “Greens”, and with all three of these stellar talents maximizing potential, the result is an epic facemelter. If there’s any way to guarantee the crowds will run a mosh pit on you, hammer this track through the sound system.
It’s been a while since AFK rolled out a release with Firepower Records, and we’re glad to have him back. “Death Gun” showcases the frenetic and yet focused musical mind of AFK. The synth takes us all over the sonic map, and we love it. We also love Drum and Bass, and what’s bass music without a little heavy Drum and Bass? Leave that to MineSweepa. “No Face” takes bass very seriously. The shift to Drum and Bass is perfectly placed in the track and by the time it hits, you’ve separated your mind from its corporeal lodgings. Rounding out the EP is Twine. They do nothing but amazing work, and it’s clear by the complexity of their productions. “Dayjahvuh” is another reminder that Bass Music is nowhere near finished evolving. The beat structure, with its diversity of fills and intricate sound designs, is both groovy and heavy.
The collection of talent contained in the Shellshock Kamikaze Compilation represents the best of what bass music has to offer and we’re happy to be sharing it with you.
The tracklist for Shellshock Kamikaze is:
- Datsik & 12th Planet – “Party In The Sewer” (feat. Elan)
- Bear Grillz – “Gurlz”
- Protohype & Stratus – “Let’s Do This”
- Soltan – “Turn Up”
- EH!DE & Funk4Mation – “Come Back”
- Zack The Lad – “Won’t Stop”
- Spag Heddy – “Hugs And Stuff”
- Init, Goldplate & Hami – “Greens”
- AFK – “Death Gun”
- MineSweepa – “No Face”
- Twine – “Dayjahvuh”
For More Information on Firepower Records
https://soundcloud.com/firepowerrecs
https://www.facebook.com/FirepowerRecs
https://twitter.com/firepowerrecs
www.youtube.com/user/FirepowerRecs
For Press Inquiries, contact:
Lee Underwood
Publicity Manager I Firepower Records
]]>Dr. Ozi brings Spag Heddy on for “Frontier”. With his own recent release on Firepower Records, Spag Heddy works in his own unique sound to Dr. Ozi’s well-established sound palette. The production is tight and precise, and the mid-beat samples make the track pop. Add to that a driving synth arrangement with a catchy rolling top-line, and you’ve got a tune that will ignite any crowd, anywhere.
“Just a Bit” explores Dr. Ozi’s developing interest in the melodic. The track sets the tone with euphoric major key sound designs, but as soon as the build up peaks, he drops us back into his dirty, filthy world of grimy, grinding Dubstep.
With the creative prodding of Creation, “Flip” is Dr. Ozi at he most rambunctious. Fans of Dr. Ozi will recognize the familiar and frenetic synth sound structures that pulled him into the dance music spotlight. The track utilizes a pseudo-drum and bass trip beat, and the result is the sonic equivalent of a mosh pit.
If Dr. Ozi goes HAM with Creation, he’s on his best behavior with Twofold. Masters of the beautiful Dubstep ballad, Twofold collaborates with Dr. Ozi on “Over Me”. The track transcends to a higher level of cool, and it’s tracks like this that remind bass music fans how absolutely engrossing Dubstep can be when it forges together classical musicianship with a mastery of electronic music production techniques. “Over Me” is a perfect balance between the hard-as-nails head-banging festival ragers needed for complete catharsis and the hands-up rave worship music that makes us all remember why we love this scene so much.
The tracklist for My Friends Over You is:
- Dr. Ozi & Spag Heddy – “Frontier”
- Dr. Ozi – “Just a Bit”
- Dr. Ozi & Creation – “Flip”
- Dr. Ozi & Twofold – “Over Me”
For more on Dr. Ozi:
https://www.facebook.com/Dr.OziOfficial
https://twitter.com/DrOziOfficial
For more on Firepower Records:
Beatport.com/label/firepower/24439
For press inquiries, please contact:
Lee Underwood
Publicity Manager I Firepower Records
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Each artist will answer 5 questions to best of their ability. Sometimes the questions will require an in-depth answer, and sometimes not. The artists do not know the questions ahead of time, so the answers might be a bit crazy. Hopefully, we’ll all get to know something about the Firepower Artists as we put their asses in Firepower Hotseat.
First up: Spag Heddy
Your EP, Gypsi Thug, is a melting pot of European Culture, from your name, Spag Heddy, to your self described love of pasta, to the title of the EP and the sound of the title track. How did you decide in the direction of this EP?
This EP contains both my classic and new sounds and arrangements. It’s the same ol’ cheesy Spag Heddy, but well-armed.
What are your top 5 pastas in descending order.
1. Spaghetti 2. Conchiglie 3. Macaroni 4. Fusilli 5. Penne
If you could make a very special Spaghetti dinner for two famous people, living or dead, who would they be and why?
Scarlett Johansson because much wow and Jesus Christ because eternal spaghetti.
When we think Dutch dance music, usually we think of the “Van Clan” (Van Dyke, Van Doorn, Van Reil, etc) and Big Room Progressive house. Does Bass music get overshadowed in the Netherlands?
Big room and techno are definitely overshadowing bass music in NL. But there is a really solid underground bass music scene too, where D&B has always been the biggest and steadiest force. Not weird if you see we’ve got legends like Noisia and Black Sun Empire up our sleeves.
What are your top 3 guilty pleasure songs?
1. Darude – Sandstorm 2. Zebrahead – Postcards From Hell 3. Paul Potts – Nessun Dorma
Firepower Records will release Spag Heddy’s Scorching new EP Gypsi Thug on August 7th. Don’t Sleep on this!
]]>“Prologue” ignites the EP with a serious round of mind shredding synth arrangements. Spag Heddy’s talent in the realms of melodic bass music production comes through as he treats the track with a catchy and soaring top-line. But the tune quickly turns a filthy corner, and, once the bass drops, Spag Heddy’s attention turns towards dance floor annihilation. In “Make U Jump”, Spag Heddy keeps his foot on the throttle and does not let up. It’s an all-out attack on the citadel of your senses, and the machine-gun synths spit fire until the clips are empty and barrel is red-hot. As Bass music DJs continue to evolve the live show experience, they are increasingly reaching deeper into their collection for tracks certified to keep heads rolling and fans losing their minds. Spag Heddy’s attention to detail and his work with a diverse range of samples and sound designs make this the kind of track modern bass DJs will rely on for their biggest festival sets.
Spag Heddy takes “Bad Boi” in a new direction by choosing a Hip Hop beat structure and slowing it down. Then he adds a nasty sub bass that rattles your guts to pieces. The result is a boundary pushing Bass music masterpiece. It resists any genre classification and instead treats the audience to an impressively original and irresistible piece of Bass music. There’s no doubt Spag Heddy’s intention was to bring people to their knees with this one.
Finally, “Gypsi Thug” ties the EP together with a thematic interpretation of what Dubstep would sound like if a caravan of mercenaries were marauding through the frontiers of Eastern Europe. The track is bouncy and playful while also maintaining a distinctly cultural sound. Do not take the track for granted though; as soon as you settle in on the Gypsi music leading the tune, Spag Heddy nails your brain to the wall with a massive Dubstep breakdown.
The tracklisting for Gypsi Thug is:
1. Spag Heddy – “Prologue”
2. Spag Heddy – “Make U Jump”
3. Spag Heddy – “Bad Boi”
4. Spag Heddy – “Gypsy Thug”
For more information on Spag Heddy:
soundcloud.com/spagheddy
facebook.com/spagheddy
twitter.com/spagheddybeats
https://primeloops.com/spag-heddy.html
For Press Inquiries, contact:
Lee Underwood
Publicity Manager I Firepower Records
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LOS ANGELES (November 17th, 2014) Firepower Records foot-soldier Tim Ismag will release his Supervillians EP on Decmember 2nd. This release comes amidst a barrage of heavy artillery Firepower Records has unleashed in the last few weeks, and Tim Ismag’s barbaric bass cannons only increase the intensity of the assault.
What’s a superhero without a villain? While we traditionally celebrate the good deeds of the hero-come-to-the-rescue, we rarely celebrate the villain, without whom heroes like Batman would simply be another dude dressed up for a serious night of trick-or-treating. Tim Ismag switches that up in his Supervillians EP, which emphasizes the sinister soundscapes associated with our most notorious evildoers—not surprising coming from someone whose influences include the heavy metal of AC/DC and Metallica. The result is a dark approach to Bass music, but, as with his title track, “Supervillians”, Tim Ismag packs it with enough potential energy to level dance floors around the globe.
The EP is a loaded weapon; four originals are supported by three remixes, each one focusing on a different villainous theme song. “Electro” and “Scorpion” featuring Trinergy places us in a futuristic dark age, where one to one combat is the norm and you might find yourself in the ring against the ninja dressed in yellow and black of Mortal Combat fame. “Xerxes” takes us back to the days of the famous god-king of the Persian Empire hell-bent on world domination. Tim Ismag gives us an exotic melody over a dancey stylized break-beat supported by 808’s.
EH!DE comes through with his “Supervillians” remix, while Firepower veteran Minsesweepa gives us his take on “Electro”. Rounding out the Remixes is Spag Heddy’s “Scorpion”, whose clever ear for bass- heavy filth and mind-altering synth arrangements are almost unparalleled, outdone only by his own supervillian.
The track listing for Supervillians is:
1. Tim Ismag – Supervillians
2. Tim Ismag – Electro
3. Tim Ismag – Scorpion (Feat. Trinergy)
4. Tim Ismag – Xerxes
5. Tim Ismag – Supervillians (EH!DE Remix)
6. Tim Ismag – Electro (Minesweepa Remix)
7. Tim Ismag – Scorpion (Feat. Trinergy)(Spag Heddy Remix)
For more information on Tim Ismag:
http://soundcloud.com/timismag/
http://www.facebook.com/TimIsmagOfficial
https://twitter.com/Timismag/
https://plus.google.com/116523348237603369119/posts
http://www.youtube.com/timismag
For press Inquiries, contact:
Lee Underwood
lee@firepowerrecords.com
Publicity Manager I Firepower Records I Twitter: @lee_underwood_