About a month ago, the music label Alter/Ego launched its second release Genesis, a noteworthy four-track EP. The novelty and creativity of this EP stem from its roots. Hex Cougar, the founder of Alter/Ego, uniquely collaborated with three other music artists, Pauline Herr, So Sus, and Sejo, to produce Genesis, with stunning cover art from the skilled kdboi.

Hex Cougar spearheaded the project during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing all four artists to connect from all over the continent. “I’ve had this idea of getting a bunch of different producers together,” Hex explained. “So Sus, Sejo, and Pauline had all sent me demos independently, and I thought it would be a dope concept to combine all three tracks (plus one demo of mine) into one project and have everyone work on all the tracks simultaneously.”

Since I don’t normally make this sort of music I thought it would be a bit of a challenge but it ended up being a lot of fun.

– Pauline Herr

“Being able to work on Genesis was a dream. Each song has a piece of all of us in it,” Pauline shared, “it was both challenging and gratifying.” So Sus detailed the process, “essentially we all came with an idea and every week or two we would switch projects with each other… We never discussed where a song would go, we just gave each other room to play and trusted in each other’s process.”

Upon reading of this distinctive production concept, I wanted to learn more about the process. I asked the artists a few more questions, and in the spirit of Genesis, here are some collaborative answers from the talented producers.

Sam: “What was the biggest challenge with this unique EP concept?”

For Hex, the biggest challenge was also the project’s biggest strength, working simultaneously with 3 others. “I usually work by myself, so it took a little while to get used to each artist’s production style and how they create in Ableton.”

For Pauline, it was getting out of her comfort zone a bit. “Since I don’t normally make this sort of music I thought it would be a bit of a challenge but it ended up being a lot of fun.”

So Sus cited a small bit of contention about the wording of a song, but reflected that “the fact that that was the most heated point of conflict goes to show how easy the entire process really was.”

Sejo admitted “everything flowed pretty well. I think the only thing that might’ve been challenging was stripping back and not adding too much to the project with having four artists on one record and just making sure to leave space for the next artist to work on.”

Sam: “Is there anything you would do differently?”

Pauline replied, “I wouldn’t do anything different as everything went really well and each of us got to contribute an equal amount.”

Sejo agreed, “the reason the project worked so well was that we all had an open mind… so no I can’t say that I would do anything differently.”

So Sus praised the process and the leader. “It was a combination of the right people, good organization. Honestly, I think it was a masterclass in running a collab…  and I have to credit Hex with giving it that structure.”

Hex was a little more critical, saying “I would have each artist submit a very rough idea to kick off the creative process… other people would’ve been able to contribute more if each track started out as a simpler, bare-bones idea.”

I had a chance to see how to accentuate other people’s strengths instead of making my own ideas shine all the time. Working with three other people makes you consider how you add your own touch to something, while also being considerate of what other artists have done with the songs. It’s all about finding a balance between your contribution and everyone else’s.

– Hex Cougar

Sam: “What did you learn about yourself as an artist by collaborating with this many people?”

“I learned how easy making music can be when you have the right people to work with you,” So Sus shared. “Going forward I’m definitely going to be more selective in who I make music with because now [I] know a collab… can be fun, easy, and organic.”

Pauline opened up about learning to conquer her nerves, “I used to be a bit nervous to do production collabs just because I haven’t done a lot and have a very particular taste but this collab EP really showed me that I can still add my own touch to music that I wouldn’t normally make on my own.”

Sejo lauded the project, “It was so sweet seeing how different everyone’s workflow was… I can’t stress enough how smoothly the entire process was and I hope to collaborate with them again.”

And finally, from the project lead, Hex thoughtfully commented “I had a chance to see how to accentuate other people’s strengths instead of making my own ideas shine all the time. Working with three other people makes you consider how you add your own touch to something, while also being considerate of what other artists have done with the songs. It’s all about finding a balance between your contribution and everyone else’s.”

Thanks to the artists for allowing me the chance to see how this Genesis EP came to be and to find the right balance of the artists’ answers. To keep up with all the latest from Alter/Ego, surf on over to the links below.

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Sam Wolloch

90s Club Kid . Multi-Genre Journo . ChelseaFC Stan

The post The Genius of the Genesis EP appeared first on Nightenjin.

The path of a music producer can be perilous, littered with professional and personal struggles along the way. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry presents additional challenges. So to mark May as Mental Health Awareness Month and celebrate a story of strength in overcoming setbacks, Nightenjin is proud to highlight Kayten, an artist unapologetically herself.

Kayten’s story starts in Northern California, where she began her life of music in 1st grade by writing songs in the shower. She learned a wide range of instruments like guitar, piano, and drums, as well as developing her vocal prowess in singing. Kayten recalls being misunderstood and getting bullied for listening to electronic dance music in high school, but admits “I think being bullied got me into EDM because it was such a loving culture. No matter who you are, you can be there and have a good time, and everyone’s going to support you.”

I want everyone to forget about everything except for just raging for the hour that I’m up there. That’s my main goal with my music is just to have a f*ckin good time.

– Kayten

After starting college at Chico State for recording arts and music business, Kayten decided to further her music career at the esteemed ICON Collective, where she finished at the top of her class. “Bad bitch bass trap” is how she describes her sound, a combination of girl power hip hop, dubstep drops, and catchy pop melodies – and she definitely delivers with songs like “Devil.”

A driving force behind Kayten’s artistry is her lifelong struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder, which was diagnosed after high school. She never felt validated and chased after approval. She had no routines or typical days either. When she gets into a focused and musical mood, however, Kayten is able to do her best work. Although her mental health has been a challenge, Kayten acknowledges, “It created me as an artist. My BPD shaped me because music was the only thing that I had that was constant.” 

In turn, Kayten has learned to live authentically and remains outspoken about her mental health, citing BPD YouTube personality Trisha Paytas as someone who shows all sides, even the ugly sides, of the disorder. She also singled out Tyler, the Creator as her biggest influence because he says what he wants, no f*cks given. Clearly staying true to herself has been a big help in managing her mental health, in addition to being active on the hiking trail and at the beach. 

Another struggle Kayten has overcome in her career is the toxic masculinity persistent in the industry. She has experienced men talking down to her when discussing production technology and been labeled a “bitch” when she chooses to speak up. “That’s been the biggest challenge,” Kayten laments, “it’s just guys thinking that you’re dumb, it’s frustrating… there’s never once been a girl who’s done that to me.”

To make matters worse, Kayten reveals she was sexually assaulted by someone close to her in the industry last summer. But again, Kayten found the strength to harness the hurt and betrayal to write “Done With You,” her most recent single release. “At first I was depressed,” she explains, “but now I’m going to use this as fuel to the f*cking fire. I wrote that song within a week, and took another six months to finish it.”

“This song is actually really important to me,” Kayten continues, “It is the first step towards the style of music that I’m really going for… and I’m really excited about that. I want people to know I share everything. I’m angry and I am ready to get out there and do this differently and not let these mother f*ckers treat me like shit… I’m gonna go out there and be a badass and do it anyway.”

Both her passion and talent caught the eye of Texas-based entertainment company Baked Up, resulting in a slew of successful sets on their live streaming Twitch channel during quarantine. Baked Up CEO Sydney Rogers took it a step further, signing Kayten to their roster and things really started to get cooking.

Today, May 20, Kayten begins a string of headlining shows to the Lone Star State with the first in San Antonio. Then on the 21st, she will be the main attraction at the Dead Summer event in Dallas. To wrap up the week, Kayten will feature on 10th Phase Tuesdays on the 25th with a podcast and live stream on the Baked Up twitch channel. Later in June, Kayten is lined up to play in Houston and Austin as well.

For the future, Kayten has her sights on East Coast locations like New York, Florida, and DC, sharing “I just want people to see me live because my performances are the biggest thing that sets me apart from anyone else… I want everyone to forget about everything except for just raging for the hour that I’m up there. That’s my main goal with my music is just to have a f*ckin good time.”

When asked to describe what a Kayten live show is like, she eagerly answers, “You’re gonna be dancing so hard. I get up there, I get on top of tables, I’ll go in the audience and mosh. I want it to be chaos. I want people to be ready to leave all their judgments behind and just get in there and act the fool.”

I want it to be chaos. I want people to be ready to leave all their judgments behind and just get in there and act the fool.

– Kayten

In the end, it is her chaotic yet loving energy that propels Kayten forward, through the struggles and challenges she has overcome, to bring her authentic self to the masses. Kayten shares a powerful sentiment at the end of the interview which shows just how far she has come in her understanding of BPD and mental health awareness: “I want everyone to remember to think about how they feel, not how other people are going to react.”

With a mindset like this, Kayten’s influential artistry is going to leave a positive mark on the EDM community for years to come.

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Sam Wolloch

90s Club Kid . Multi-Genre Journo . ChelseaFC Stan

The post Behind the Decks with Kayten appeared first on Nightenjin.

Just imagine – it’s the night of your first big show. After a few years of mastering the DJ controller and refining your production skills, the time to shine has arrived. You’ve secured an opening act in your hometown for the iconic singing sisters of EDM, on Krewella’s New World Tour. A crowd of nearly 100 friends, fans, and your Dutch Bros. Coffee co-workers pile in at doors to support your opening set. This is just one of many memorable moments that have shaped the early career of EDM artist Rossy, one of Nightenjin’s Artists to Watch in 2021.

Music played a big part in Rossy’s upbringing, evidenced by the sentimental stories about her mom taking her to see live music shows from a very young age. By the end of elementary school, Rossy was faced with a dilemma: she wanted to learn to play the guitar and the drums, but mom would only let her pick one.

Inspired by the grunge sound of Nirvana, and their late frontman Kurt Cobain, Rossy chose the guitar. Although her passion for music grew, by the time she finished high school Rossy felt like there wasn’t a place for her in the rock band world. Instead, she went to college to use her creative genius working for a music label.

But all that would change when Rossy arrived at San Luis Obispo and heard students blasting dance music from their dorm rooms. With echoes of Skrillex’s Scary Monsters & Nice Sprites ringing in her head, Rossy decided to put down the guitar and pick up a new skill. By age 20, she learned how to use a DJ controller and two years later she began producing on Ableton. Rossy was well on her way to solidifying her career in EDM after a few successful shows opening for Krewella, Audien, and Gareth Emery in Chico, California in the Fall of 2017.

Fast forward to today and witness Rossy branching out into new areas of sound design. Affectionately nicknamed the Queen of Arps, she originally focused on creating melodic, theatrical trap music. But like so many of us, the pandemic put an end to her day job, forcing Rossy to stay home. With the extra time on her hands, she got hard to work developing more innovative and forward-thinking music.

In fact, the extra time allowed Rossy to create new tunes, including her most recent song “See Through,” a collaborative effort with We Rose that released on March 17. Remarkably, this song began a year prior, around the same time as the pandemic lockdown. We Rose took notice of Rossy when she played their remix of the Alison Wonderland and Quix collab “Time” in some of her sets. We Rose sent over the original track and Rossy added her vocals, producing their seductive new single.

Rossy hasn’t always featured her vocals, but now they are a staple of her sound. She worked with singer-songwriter Pauline Herr on the song “Always,” and Rossy credits Herr for the inspiration to be more confident using her own voice in her songs. Another big influence on Rossy’s career has been the ascent of Alison Wonderland – the representation of a woman on the main stage of a festival like Coachella was a powerful motivating experience.

So just as experienced artists have helped her on her journey, Rossy is ready and willing to share her support, stressing the music scene isn’t a competition, but rather a community. And in the end, whether she’s playing for a handful of her coffee-making co-workers or packed festival fields, it is about the connection shared through music, a connection nurtured from an early age by a mother and daughter enjoying live music together.

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Sam Wolloch

90s Club Kid . Multi-Genre Journo . ChelseaFC Stan

The post Behind The Decks With Rossy appeared first on Nightenjin.

I've just always put my name from the beginning. It's just me. I'm not trying to be anyone else. I'm just kind of evolving with who I am.

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I've just always put my name from the beginning. It's just me. I'm not trying to be anyone else. I'm just kind of evolving with who I am.

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Jackson Jill

Thejacksonjill.com

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Based out of Chicago, the DJ/producer is surrounded by music and like many of us, it has become his life force. He just recently put out a single on BUYGORE, which follows up a handful of other powerhouse productions. It’s obvious the music path DOGMA is on agrees with him.

Behind the relentless sounds of the DOGMA project, there’s a down to earth guy — Daniel Kelly — which is who we set out to get to know through this interview. He talks his forthcoming “Monstrously Evil” debut EP, playing and making music, future goals, and his closest homie, his dog, Oliver.

So what makes DOGMA tick? Get inside the mind that brought us “Psychlone Cannon,” “Mortals,” “The Fallen” with ELEVATD, and more. He’s only just getting started.

The Interview

Nightenjin: What inspired you to start the Dogma project?
DOGMA:
It’s really pretty simple when I first experienced this music it was the first time I had ever connected with music so deeply. Especially dubstep, it was like the musical representation of what goes on inside my brain every day. Hearing that and seeing the powerful reaction this music elicits from people was the most incredible thing I’d ever experienced. That planted a seed in me that just grew until one day the thought of not trying to chase this dream and looking back on life wondering if I could have done it was the scariest thought in the world. So I took the leap of faith, quit my job, and started DOGMA. Best decision I’ve ever made.

NE: For those out there who aren’t familiar with your music, please describe your style.
D:
Obviously, dubstep is often likened to being the Metal of electronic music, which is spot on. Though beyond that I’d like to think that if you put a chainsaw, Trent Reznor, explosives, and one of the transformers into a blender, DOGMA is what would come out the other side lol

NE: What tools and software do you use to create your music?
D:
Ableton, Kontakt, Serum, Ozone & Fab Filter suites, VPS Avenger, Synplant, Omnisphere, and the whole Kilohearts bundle is great, to name a few. Always looking for and experimenting with new ways to do stuff.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DOGMA (@dogmamusique) on Oct 22, 2018 at 11:43am PDT

NE: What do you think makes you unique in an industry flooded with talent?
D:
I’m pretty self-deprecating so it’s tough to answer a question that essentially asks me to describe why I think DOGMA is better than the people around me. Though I will say that we use everything as a motivator, now being in the company of the producers we used to, and still look up to, is a massive catalyst to continually improve the quality of everything we do so that fans have the best experience possible.

NE: What are your goals for your music career for the next few years?
D:
I just want to grow this project into the best form of itself that allows us to share music with as many people as we possibly can. Really I’d love to be able to curate a tour with my own ideas for production. I have so many ideas for creating amazing life experiences that we don’t have an outlet for… yet.

Really I'd love to be able to curate a tour with my own ideas for production.

NE: What do you enjoy doing when your not making or playing music?
D:
Mostly hanging out with my dog, Oliver. Also, like most, I am a gamer. League of Legends and Diablo 3 are probably my two favorites. I’m a massive aviation nerd. If it flies I want to learn more about it. There’s an amazing book called “Skunk Works” by Ben Rich about the height of the cold war and how we built some amazing aircraft in total secrecy. Check it out.

NE: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing instead?
D:
At this point, if I wasn’t producing music I’d love to be a Chef. I think cooking and sharing good food is one of the only comparable and equally therapeutic experiences to sharing good music.

NE: Are there any new projects that we can know about?
D:
Yes, the follow up to this single, Decimation, is coming late next month. A monstrously evil debut EP that I cannot wait to share with everyone.

 

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A post shared by DOGMA (@dogmamusique) on May 10, 2019 at 12:31pm PDT

Nightenjin: Anything else not mentioned here that you’d like to tell the fans?
DOGMA:
Thank you. Honestly from the bottom of my heart thank you. I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to do this for people even at this small level and it would be entirely impossible without fans supporting us. From every like, share, and comment to taking time out of your lives to come see DOGMA, this quite literally only happens because of them. I think we live in a world where everyone is so ego-centric that they forget none of us would have the opportunity to be out here doing the amazing things we are without each and every person sitting at home listening to a tune we made, liking or sharing content, telling your friends about us, etc. And for that I love each and every one of you! <3

The Music

New Single Decimation

The SpeedRound

City? Chicago
Song? Crazy Maybe – Feed Me & Kill The Noise
DJ? Downlink
Sports? Hockey
Food? Ramen
Drink? Vodka
Car? Alfa Romeo 4C
Festival? GRIDLIFE
Techno? TechYES
Nightenjin? is an Actual Engine

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post DOGMA Interview + New Single Decimation appeared first on Nightenjin.

This swiftly rising artist is blowing up right now and he’s doing it the right way, through extreme hard work and dedication to his craft. Listen to any of LICK’s productions — his Deadbeats-released single “Push” and Revolt EP for starters — and it’s easy to hear this high-caliber talent has loads of potential. He’s only just getting started.

Though his sound is immaculate, LICK rocks a humbled mindset. It’s not about ego or money or fame — it’s about the music. This is a down-to-earth dude with larger-than-life appeal. Find him thriving in dimmed clubs like The Grasshopper Underground in Detroit, throwing down his unique breed of midtempo bangers for anyone and everyone with a hunger to listen.

As he powers forward on his path to success, he pauses for just a moment to answer a few questions for Nightenjin. This is LICK. This is his Dark Vibe Order.

The Interview

Nightenjin: Who’s LICK?
LICK:
LICK is the DVO GOD.

NE: What inspired you to start the LICK project?
L:
Overcoming depression and writing music to help others.

NE: Who or what are your biggest sources of inspiration for your music?
L:
Nero, Pendulum and Skrillex.

 

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A post shared by LICK (@iamlick) on Jun 26, 2018 at 2:57pm PDT

NE: If you could work with any artist, who would it be and why?
L:
I would love to work with people who are passionate about music. Not only just verbally but willing to tell a story.

NE: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing instead?
L:
I didn’t have a second option when I first started music I devoted myself to it and that is my only path.

NE: Anything else not mentioned here that you’d like to tell the fans?
L:
DVO JOIN US…

The SpeedRound

Drink? Coconut
Food? Sushi
Car? Lambo!
City? LA
Sports? Basketball
Techno? Yes
Deadbeats? Family
Nightenjin? Fire

The Music

 

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A post shared by LICK (@iamlick) on May 9, 2018 at 5:24pm PDT

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post LICK Interview appeared first on Nightenjin.

Blending any and all influences, Gonza has mass appeal and years of experience under his belt. At the age of 18, he was already playing his first 2,000 cap club. Flash-forward to now, he’s touring the world and is widely supported by the biggest names in the game, including Claude VonStroke, AC Slater, Shiba San and many, many more.

Still, Gonza makes waves that are his own. You’ve probably heard his solo Confession hit “Bad Bitches” or more recently, his booty-shaking Ass On Fire EP. The producer’s diverse back catalog is impressive, to say the least, boasting an entire EP with BIJOU and remixes for Malaa and Destructo. Steady burners to straight bangers, it’s all in there.

With all this behind him and a dazzling future ahead, we guarantee this won’t be the last you hear the name: Gerry Gonza. He talks his new live show in a hang out sesh with Ava and Monkey, plus runs the speed round like a champ in this installment of our NightExchange.

Catch this episode of NightExchange here or on the Nightenjin YouTube Channel!

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Kar Pow

KAR POW serves up in-your-face dance music with a bad bitch mentality. This triple-threat DJ/producer/rapper’s work hard play hard attitude, expert mixing skills, and high-energy, genre-defying shows make her a force to be reckoned with.

The post Gerry Gonza Interview appeared first on Nightenjin.

Catch this episode of NightExchange below or on the Nightenjin YouTube Channel!

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Catch this episode of NightExchange here and on the Nightenjin YouTube Channel!

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