EVENT PREVIEW: Safe in Sound Festival at Kool Haus 09-26-14 by Natalia Toussaint

Who: Safe in Sound Festival with Destroid, Flux Pavilion, ƱZ and TERRAVITA
Where: Kool Haus
When: Friday September 26
Cost: $30 (prices may increase)
ALL-AGES

I already know this is going to be a night out to remember: bass, booty, bass, twerking, bass, dancing, bass, bass, bass. Did I mention bass? I can see it, walking into Kool Haus and feeling 150,000 watts (!!!) of the beloved PK Sound. Bass pumping through your body. I can feel the body sore creeping in, the sweat pouring over my body and the permanent smile that will be across my face the entire time.

“Knowing this is the first ever touring bass music festival of this caliber AND the first time my PK family unleashes their brand new sound system, people are going to lose their sh**!” – Excision.

When I first saw the announcement that Safe in Sound Festival was making a stop in Toronto, I immediately began to freak out and I still am. Finally, finally, finally a bass-focused festival, in North America, which brings the likes of Zeds Dead, Adventure Club, CAKED UP, Downlink, Excision, and Doctor P to 20 North American cities this fall.  Toronto has the pleasure of seeing artists who have not been to the city, or who have played here a time ago.

Destroid

 

Three minds, one sound. All united as a live bass music band creating tracks that knock your boots off: Canadian producers Excision and Downlink and former Pendulum drummer KJ Sawka. Destroid began as a concept in 2009 and released their debut album “The Invasion” in 2012. Bassnectar, Far Too Loud, Space Laces and Ajapai lent helping hands to complete the album.

This past May saw “The Invasion Remixes” released on the Destroid Music label. With the debut album chalk full of heavy and low frequency tracks, “Remixes” sees the 10 single album in a new light. Mayhem & Antiserum, Barely Alive, Funtcase, Bar 9, Getter, Crizzly, Mightyfools, ill.Gates, Datsik, The Firm and Ryle providing their take on Destroid’s vision. For anyone who has not listened to either album I highly recommend taking a listen!

I have had the pleasure of seeing Downlink in Montreal in 2012 and have yet to see Excision or KJ Sawka. If Downlink’s set is anything to gauge what a full-on live dubstep band will be like, it will combine everything I love about bass music: fast beats, heavy bass and a night of pure bliss that can only be expressed through your gnarliest bass face.

 

Flux Pavilion

 

I first saw Flux when he stopped by Kool Haus with Cookie Monsta and Brown & Gammon on his Freeway Tour in October 2014. Influenced by Rusko, The Prodigy and Basement Jaxx, Flux’s productions showcase the grimey, dark, melodic and not-so-nice sounds of UK dubstep while bringing high caliber energy to his shows.

Co-founder of my favourite record label, Circus Records, Flux is responsible for one of dubstep’s recognized songs I Can’t Stop. Also in his arsenal of releases is his “Blow the Roof” EP and most recently “Freeway” EP along with a slew of singles. British born Joshua Steele has been no stranger to working with talented heavy hitters and labels before his career flourished. Working with Next, Ntype, Datsik and Trolley Snatcha and releasing music on Rottun, Shift, XS Records, Stupid Fly and Dubmented Beats, Flux has worked with the big boys and honed his sound on the world stage.

Teaming with DJ Swan-e, Earl Falconer and Doctor P, Circus Records was born. The current roster includes Brown and Gammon, Cookie Monsta, FuntCase, Mizuki, Roksonix and Slum Dogz.

 

ƱZ

 

“DAMN SON, WHERE’D YOU FIND THIS?” “Damn son, where’d you find this?” indeed! I used to live on SoundCloud and randomly stumbled onto ƱZ’s page after hearing his collaboration with CRNKN Booty 2 The Ground. I had to find out more about the mysterious man who only had ŤɌ∆Ҏ ᶊῌῗ† √1 through ŤɌ∆Ҏ ᶊῌῗ† √9 and a remix with L☮LGURLZ of 5kinAndBone5 & Robert Jeffrey Penis Power. I knew I came across something insane that would have a significant impact on bass music.

Fast forward two years later ƱZ is still very much in the game. Releasing his debut album on Jeffree’s then going on to remix tracks by Foreign Beggars, Peaches, Alex Metric, 12th Planet, SPL, Birdy Nam Nam, Zeds Dead, Omar LinX, Flosstradamus, DJ Sliink and Jack Beats. Working with a slew of artists including Problem, Virus Syndicate, Trae Tha Truth, Trinidad James, Aazar, CRNKN, Djemba Djemba and Arnold, just to name a few.

A name synonymous with trap music, I cannot contain my excitement to see a pioneer in trapstyle.

TERRAVITA

Members Matt Simmers, Jon Spero, Chris Barlow have been making bass music since 2005. Boasting support from Borgore, Rusko, Datsik, Sub Focus, Dieselboy, Mt. Eden, Reid Speed and many other names in bass music, the trio have been on the forefront of bass music since 2010. Within 6 months of being released, Drowning (Terravita Remix), Up In the Club, Lockdown, The Beat Goes On, Freak Out, Break the System, Sexy Party (Terravita Remix) and “Drinks Up Hands Up” all hit Beatport‘s Top 10 in their respected genres.

Their latest release “Pirate Bass” (November 2013), released via Firepower Records, saw all four tracks hit the top 10 on Beatport’s dubstep and drum and bass lists. Previously released EPs including “Bach Off”, “Dirty Ruttun Scoundrels” and “The Fire of Power” EP all have the same popularity. Not ones to shy away from drum and bass, drumstep, dubstep or anything relating to bass these guys will being their A-game. I cannot wait for the history lesson the trio will bring us.

You can kind me, more thank likely, rocking out at the back of the venue.

Tickets can be purchased online here

LINKS:

Safe in Sound Festival
Website
Facebook 

Destroid
Website
Facebook
Twitter
SoundCloud
Beatport
Instagram 

Flux Pavilion
Website
Facebook
Twitter 
SoundCloud
Beatport
Instagram 

ƱZ
Facebook
Twitter 
SoundCloud 
Beatport

TERRAVITA
Website
Facebook 
Twitter
SoundCloud

Natalia Toussaint – EDM TOR