by As the year winds down, the heat keeps coming. Focus Five – Volume 77 showcases a broad range of talents that have been stealing our team’s ears as of late. Our latest installment features a UK-based producer and vocalist killing the UKG scene, an Indonesian producer taking over the bootleg space, two bass music magicians, and a creator making reflective works of art. Get familiar with all five below.
Bassboy
My obsession with artists from the UK continues this month with Bassboy, a Birmingham-based producer who has been pushing the sounds of bassline and speed garage for much of the last decade. A good hook gets me hooked, pun intended, and Bassboy has nailed it in every track I’ve heard. You like Sammy Virji? You like Conducata? You like Higgo? Well, buddy, you’re gonna love Bassboy. I’m a sucker for soft chord pads, piano rolls, and jazzy beats, all of which are abundant and expertly executed in his discography.
The icing on the cake? He does his own vocals, too! Listening to a track like ‘Snake’ makes it clear that this man could hold his own with some of the grime-era greats; finding a producer/vocalist like this feels rare nowadays, but damn is he a perfect fit for it. I’ll never get tired of garage’s juxtaposition of feel-good summertime beats with hip-hop-inspired lyricism. The MC and the producer both reign supreme – when they’re both the same guy, color me impressed. Get your bounce on with some of my favorites below.
Decemberkid
Decemberkid may not be a name you’re familiar with at first pass but if you listened to RL Grime’s recent ‘Halloween XIII: The End’ mix then you’ve heard his music. Landing not one, but two Bootlegs in RL Grime’s iconic mix series is no easy feat but once you dig into the artist’s expansive SoundCloud catalog, it should come as no surprise. Littered with impressive bootlegs, the Indonesian producer has been hard at work cooking up some of the hottest reworks of the year. It was the banging flip of Gunna’s ‘FUKUMEAN’ (with NAKEN) that got me hooked. Blending the catchy vocals with playful Baile percussion, trap aesthetics, and heavy bass makes it an instant slapper. But it’s far from a one-off, Decemberkid boasts wild flips and mash-ups of everything from classic Daft Punk to K-Pop, Skrillex, TNGHT, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, and everything in between. Whether you’re a DJ looking to freshen up your sets with some wild dance floor weapons, or a fan looking to get moving with some familiar yet fresh heaters, Decemberkid has you covered.
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K A G E
K A G E is an artist that I have seen mentioned over the last couple of years but that I never got into checking out until very recently. In fact, it was the magic of an auto-shuffle algorithm that brought me (back) to K A G E when ‘LY’ came on and totally blew me away. Balancing a rugged bassline, crisp percussion, and an emotive chorus of chants, ‘LY’ was the track I needed to hop on the K A G E train. With previous releases on SATURATE!, Renraku, STUDIO, and more, the South Africa-based artist has shown his ability to navigate the various terrains of bass music, and he does so with incredible ease. ‘T E N D E R,’ for instance, is but one example of this production prowess, as the producer crafts a track that seamlessly grows from a gloomy, rugged cut into an uplifting, energetic beast filled with hope. Don’t sleep on K A G E.
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ome.
After showcasing artists from Japan, Australia, and The Netherlands, this month I’m getting one step closer to home. Before (spoiler alert) finishing another year of Focus Five in Italy, we take a break in Germany. More specifically in Berlin, where we get familiar with ome. The discography of this German producer is a bass junkie’s wet dream. Not since Quest for Fire have I heard low frequencies so dense that they seem to leak out of the speakers. The two EPs released between August and October, Guess Your Not and WAVE019, are square mental. It’s like plunging into a pocket dimension midway through the halftime, dubstep, and UKG universes, where music molds with dark matter to create something beyond an auditory experience. There’s no need for large sound systems. ome’s music is so technically refined that becomes a physical ritual even with a pair of (good) headphones. Tracks as ‘Nada’ o ‘Hmmm‘ are a full brain massage. Just imagine what it is like to attend one of his DJ sets.
shibíre
Music from all forms has a way of creating a whole new world, reality, and feeling for us listeners. Integrating different emotions and scenarios into our minds. Creating a pure escape you don’t want to leave from. shibíre‘s works are filled with constant mesmerizing forms of melody and auras. Wrapping your hearts and souls in a warm, cozy blanket of hope and happiness. The sense of loss and rebirth are truly strong within many of his pieces. Tapping into your deep and innermost thoughts throughout life, reflecting on what once was and what can be.
One of his most recent pieces, ‘traces‘ truly takes you down a long, snowy road to nowhere. Walking amongst the falling flakes as this piece tells you it’ll be ok in the end. From a soft and majestic melody playing throughout, to a subtle yet powerful bass line to make everything come together, it’s a constant stasis of discovery you’ll always see yourself coming back to. He even released an exciting VIP version incorporating a beautiful and addictive drum pattern to complement the rest!
His newest track, ‘to autumn’ whisks you away into the darkest of nights as the leaves start to change color. Slowly coming to an end and introducing a whole new beginning. Witnessing life pass by as time takes over. In a calm and pleasant tone, the atmosphere surrounding it all transports you into a dramatic cinematic setting. With you as the main character, searching endlessly for answers. Ending up by closing a chapter that has been weighing you down. Letting the past go. It’s music like this which makes you truly wonder and become lost in the best ways possible. Because you know you’ll find a way back soon. Letting you know life isn’t a race. We’re excited to hear what comes next for him!
