Observatory Records Zeroes in on the Dance Floor with Pure Energy Compilation

Punching through to new territorial waters, the collective cross-atlantic bass music culture has been steadily seeking out fresh inspiration and deeper dance floor integration for several concurrent years, with breaks, house, and drum and bass feeling particularly syncretic for so many stalwart producers and fans alike. Recently stepping into the arena for a slice of newfound sonic territory, Observatory Records has tapped the efforts of several cutting-edge acts to craft their sophomore release, the Pure Energy compilation EP.

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Submersion Aftermath: Mark Farina

At its core, Submersion Festival has no defined “home sound”; there’s no singular lane or style that fully engulfs the breadth of the festival’s musical vision. Both as a part of its appeal, and as a result of the palettes that craft each successive lineup, a diversity of sound and presentation is the fundamental characteristic that carries the event from year to year. High on our own list of desired acts, and standing atop a three-decade career, was Mark Farina, the prolific DJ & producer who’s remained an invaluable staple across the domestic and international touring circuits. A few days ahead of his appearance at Submersion, we had the opportunity to have a conversation covering a number of points that sat parallel to Mark Farina’s hour in the Saturday sun.

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pheel. Carves out his Territory through Debut echo chamber. LP

Closing out another monumental year in a career built on its own momentum, Phil Gallo continues to deliver a sultry, vivacious package through his musical alias, pheel.. The New York-born producer is a crucial member of Denver’s venerable all:Lo record label, injecting his distinct blend of boom bap and groove-driven bass music, and paying homage to the music of his childhood while nose-diving into the sounds of the future. Much to the delight of his fans, Gallo’s latest release is his long-awaited debut album, echo chamber., demonstrating his ever-evolving talent and ability across nine tracks of shifting moods and nebulous hues.

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Submersion Aftermath: Flourishing during Sophomore Year at Paradise Lakes

On October 5th, electronic music fans flocked back to the Pine Barrens for the third annual Submersion event. For the second year, the three-day festival was hosted at the picturesque Paradise Lakes Campground, nestled among moss-covered pines providing ample shade from the waning summer’s sun. The second and highly-anticipated installment of the Submersion camp-out once again housed two distinctly and carefully curated stages showcasing global and domestic veterans of the festival circuit, U.S. debuts, and up and coming stars of the underground. In the wake of its 2023 installment, Submersion proved that when the right teams come together, lightning can in fact strike twice, allowing creativity and inspiration to flourish while providing an exemplary experience for all of those who attend.

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Lipphead Dive One Step Deeper in From The Back LP

The dynamic New York-based production duo Lipphead has gradually built out a sonic playground of funkadelic slides, swinging trumpets, and tipsy, on-the-nose rhythms, bringing their energetic and eclectic instrumental hip-hop style out to play. With already potent pool of established tracks between the two, Blockhead and Elliot Lipp continue to outdo their stereophonic dance floor motif with the sensual blends and lush progressions of their latest record, “From The Back”.

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A Quaint Conversation on the new Collaborative DOS Project

Individually, Ilya Goldberg and Random Rab have extraordinarily fruitful careers on their own merits, with the former both through his Lapa project and being Doug Appling’s right hand man in Emancipator, and the latter through a dedicated, double-decade approach to the Random Rab sound. It was only a matter of time before these not so disparate camps found themselves unified under the same banner, and this year saw the inception of their collaborative project, DOS. Consequently, and ahead of their appearance at Secret Dreams later this month, the Rust felt it necessary to have a quaint conversation with these artists on the nature of their collaborations, the inception of the project, and the lens through which they view their own musicality.

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Rasp-5 & Tygris Return with Their Smash & Grab EP

Long after the divergence of hip-hop music and its swing-centric instrumental arrangements, both lyricists and producers find themselves coming back around to their time-tested partnership of songwriting and studio finesse, with a few choice sets of creatives finding their stride with contemporary flavor. Continuing their gradual dive into the murky waters of lyricism and bass music, Rasp-5 and Tygris follow up their rambunctious Cheap Thrills EP with a dual serving of brackish low-end and sauntering wordplay, with The Gradient Perspective hosting their latest release, Smash & Grab.

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Getting Acquainted with NYC's Edica+

Making a fast-paced break into the spotlight of NYC’s sound system culture and musical underground, the texas-raised and New York-based DJ and show-host Edica+ has already made an ample name for herself. Stretching from Reggae and Cumbia to contemporary bass music and beyond, her effusive influences and pronounced mixing fundamentals have made her a potent force behind the decks, showcasing ecstatic and expansive DJing in pure form. Tomorrow evening, The Rust and our long-time co-conspirator Sermon are slated to host Commodo, Ellis Delta, EasyJack, and Edica+ at The Meadows in Brooklyn, and in anticipation of the rambunctious evening ahead, we felt it necessary to get ahold of Edica+ for a brief primer on her influences, background, her experiences as a show-host, and her time with Dub-Stuy records.

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Misticeti Dials in on Influence and Attitude with Signals EP

Inspired by the songs of baleen whales migrating through the pacific coasts of Columbia, Juan Manuel Vasquez’s Misticeti project mirrors the pulse and breath of his marine counterpart. His debut EP, Signals, is a 4-track record takes listeners on an enchanting journey through a blend of mesmerizing melodies, incorporeal atmospheres, and pumping rhythms. Released through the widely acclaimed Loci Records label, this hypnotic collection of songs showcases Misticeti's iterative artistic vision, his Latin roots, and the rich tapestry woven between them.

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Exploring New Perspectives on Music and Photography with SMYAH

Across the pond, the pensive and surefooted Bulgarian creative Yavor Zografski has spent the last several years tightening the reigns around both his own musical project SMYAH, and the wider Sound in Picture label under his purview. Narratives covers a variety of styles and genres, with notable influences from IDM, jazz, downtempo, trip-hop, and ambient film audio. Founded in 2018, Sound in Picture features dozens of individual releases, all paired together with accompanying photographic art. Given the expansive scope of both Yavor’s personal musical output, and the approach to his particularly curated label, The Rust felt an immediate necessity to sit down with this affluent artist and discuss the genesis and direction of his dovetailing projects.

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SMYAH - Labyrinths [EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE]

Yavor Zografski, aka SMYAH, is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sofia, Bulgaria. He boasts a career as a music production teacher at Sound Ninja Academy, and the owner of the Sound In Picture multimedia label. With such a complimentary rolodex of skills, it's no wonder that his latest incoming release, Ascension, is such a significant and wide-reaching collection of tracks. As such, The Rust is incredibly excited to premiere the song "Labyrinths” ahead of the full Ascension release.

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5AM Enhances Growing Catalog with Aperture EP

Amassing a reputation and a fan base that answers first and foremost to quality, Sam Andrus has developed the 5AM project into a high-fidelity multi-tool; from the live solo performances and evolutionary 3-piece band, to the numerous sound design and composition workshops, his pronounced graphic design skill set, and his modest catalog of studio release, he's a veritable jack of all trades and a remarkable powerhouse amongst the wider field of his contemporaries. Earlier this week, he gave eager listeners the next taste of that developing discography; the Aperture EP.

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Kuhlin - Beat Machine Broken [EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE]

With a penchant for head-nod sensibilities and palatable grooves, the Colorado-based producer Kuhlin has gradually developed his sound and style in a particular flavorful lane. Taking inspiration from golden-era hip-hop and contemporary production and synthesis, he's a beatsmith with a pronounced songwriting attitude that sinks its teeth with ease. Ahead of the release of his Downhill EP, The Rust is excited to premiere the titular track, "Break Machine Broken".

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Conversations on Community and Musical Exploration with Murkury

Over the past few years, the Asheville music community has become a hotbed for psychedelic and low-end centric electronic music One such producer, Alec Seifart is making waves not only through his Murkury project, but through his work with multidisciplinary organization The Undergrowth in the local Asheville scene in tandem. Taking his musical and communal efforts both on and off the stage into account, The Rust Music was delighted to have an opportunity to speak with Alec about where his Mukury project began, his experience with The Undergrowth, and the total vision for his musical journey.

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Thought Process Leans into Constant Evolution with Always In Changing Form EP

Coming off of another milestone year in an ever-blossoming career, Joseph Rich continues to stoke the flame of his musical alias, Thought Process. Two years following the release of his last EP, Thought Process treats his fans to his most recent project, “Always in Changing Form”, proving to be another clearcut example of Rich’s continual prodigious talent spread across six tracks.

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Visages Showcases Their Expansive Style in Debut LP

Since their inception, Visages has honed their own sound through a rapidly growing discography, with each release feeling fresher than the last. Having a veritable home with the globally-admired 1985 Music crew, the group is perpetually plugged into the nexus of their distinct flavors and motifs. Brandishing their well-regarded midas touch for their lengthiest release to date, the From Lead to Gold LP showcases an undeniable style over the span of eight-tracks.

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Conversations and Afterthoughts on Sunsetting the Craftal Project

With nearly a decade of considerable effort under his belt, the multifaceted producer Ian Mckenna recently announced the retirement of his storied Craftal moniker. Much to the surprise of his longtime fans and collaborators, McKenna recently publicized the resounding decision to seek out new musical horizons. Consequently, The Rust felt it as necessary as it is enticing to sit down with Mckenna for an exclusive one-on-one discussion about the future of his music and what his Craftal project was really all about. 

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Shambhala 2022: Looking Back on Community at the Salmo River Ranch

Driving off a modest Canadian highway and onto the Salmo River Ranch, 2 years after the pandemic-induced break, was the first time anyone in the “farm-ily” had laid eyes on the newest iteration of the globally-beloved grounds. In the professional fashion that their reputation is built around, the organizers took every opportunity possible to give patrons the chance to experience the best parts of what Shambhala Music Festival is, and to show what they are inspired to do moving forward. Shamabala 2022 was the people falling in love with the music and the culture all over again.

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Submersion Festival 2022: Discerning Sound for Discerning Soundheads

On October 6th, nestled in the verdant, bristly Pine Barrens, years of careful positioning came to fruition at the reimagined Submersion Festival. Hosted at the idyllic Paradise Lakes Campground, this year’s rendition came as an expansion from the single-day event that took place last year in Philadelphia, and allowed friends, family, fans, artists, and staff the chance to revel and relax in the crisp autumn air amidst a myriad of top flight artists and creatives.

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