We sat down with the incredible SH|333|N around the release of his new stellar single 'Big Bags' to chat more about what makes his unique sound. Be sure to check out his track at the bottom and follow him along his journey on socials!
Chemical Brothers - 'Setting Sun'
I'm gonna tackle this reflection by reaching back into time and moving forward chronologically. 'Setting Sun' has been an influence in my song-writing, as it's one of the OG hard-hitting classics, and, in my view, one of the first EDM tracks to go mainstream in a big way. I think it still hits nicely today, even though it's approaching a whopping 30 years old. I really feel like the Chemical Brothers are to the EDM scene what The Beatles were to the classic and psychedelic rock scene. I feel like they deserve a lot of credit for helping facilitate the evolution of electronic music outside of underground warehouse parties into mainstream music. And yet, some of their tracks were (and still are!) just insanely ground-breaking as well. They've definitely had an influence in my music-writing and are still one of my all-time favorite electronic groups.
Sigur Ros - 'Untitled #3'
I love this song and think it's one of the most beautiful and emotionally-evocative I've experienced. The first time I heard this track on the radio, it felt like it was somehow tapping directly into my soul, and I recall tearing up in a totally awesome way. It has an almost breathtaking simplicity and does this amazing job of creating a kind of weightless and meditative experience. The song doesn’t rely on lyrics and conveys a profound soundscape that listeners can infuse their own emotions into. Sigur Ros is still one of my favorite groups, and you can definitely hear some of their influence in my first EP. Church of Sky specifically has some of the same emotionally evocative and open-space vibes.
Lord Huron - 'The Night We Met'
This may sound weird coming from someone who produces electronic music, but I totally dig the Americana / Country flavor of 'The Night We Met'. The singer's voice is incredible, and the track always gets me with its haunting melody and bittersweet lyrics. For me, it's a deeply moving song that feels like it perfectly captures the juxtaposition of nostalgia and longing that anyone who's broken up from a meaningful relationship can relate to. To me, the song seems like a reminder of how precious and fleeting time is, and it's become one of the special songs for me and my wife. I don't write music in this genre, but outside of just being exceptionally well done, this song inspires me in demonstrating how impactful a song with great melody and well-written vocals can be.
Wax Motif - 'Wet'
It's so hard to limit EDM influences to just one artist or song because there are so many good ones out there. That being said, Wax Motif's 'Wet' holds a special place in my heart and DJ sets. I think the song is a master class in a minimalist, yet impactful, approach to production wherein each element hits perfectly and dirtily. The detuned bassline is just absolutely sick, and, as I discovered trying to recreate the bass sound as an exercise, it's actually rather difficult to engineer. The track has a catchy beat, funky vocal chops, and an excellent use of sound design that make it gritty with mainstage appeal. For me, it illustrates how well an EDM track can hit with just a few, extremely well-engineered elements. I love this track.
Levity - 'Front to Back'
I'm happy that we've witnessed the group, Levity, take off in the last few years. They bring fun and fresh trap and dubstep vibes to the scene and have been putting out some great songs, not the least of which has been 'Front to Back'. Like Wax Motif's 'Wet', this song is also often a staple in my DJ sets. The track kicks off with a simple, yet commanding vocal loop and hits with a fusion of gritty dubstep basses. It's a different genre, but also like Wax Motif's 'Wet', the song is fairly simple melodically, but exceptional and hard-hitting from an engineering perspective. It feels simultaneously raw and polished, which is a flavor I'm greatly attracted to as both a consumer and producer of heavier EDM. I'll be releasing one or two more tracks this year that are somewhat similar in style to this one but which will also have some unique dark and dirty elements to them.
SH|333|N - 'Big Bags'
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