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With Underground Unit: Sector 8 just around the corner, we have gotten together 4 artists from the release; 2 of which will be releasing on FFA for the first time, and 2 other artists that are veterans of the label. Those artists being Belik, Electric Dad, Ynvariant and Hechter!
Also in this Q&A, you'll get exclusive listening privileges of all 4 songs from the artists that have answered questions!
Artist 1: Belik
What challenges have you faced breaking into the underground scene, and how has this release helped you overcome them?
"Breaking into the underground scene is no small feat. While being consistent with releases and social media content has never been straightforward to me, I’d say the biggest challenge has been finding my ‘voice’ through producing. This release is one of several necessary steps in my early career that has nudged me closer to where I want and need to be–helping me discover my place in music and providing confidence in myself to express unapologetic-ally."
How did your track evolve from its initial concept to the final version we hear on 'Underground Unit: Sector 8'?
"My track “Show Me” started off as a sound design jam session with little to no conceptual or musical direction whatsoever. Though this sort of approach is typically a gamble in regards to jotting down coherent ideas, I find that geeking out to sounds is sometimes all one needs to dig up some ‘producer gold.’ In the case of “Show Me,” my sound design jam led me to create the glitchy bass loop that appears in the call-phrases of the first drop, which–nearly a year after its inception–remains a highlight of the tune for me. I managed to derive a soulful musical arrangement that somehow married the drop sequence, and committed to the idea from there, leaving all constraints at the door to complete the final record that we hear on UUS8."
As a new member of the label, what excites you most about the underground community and release catalog you're now part of?
"For one, I am grateful to have been included in such a warm and welcoming community of driven individuals and artists. Having been a fan of the label’s work for some time, I’ve always felt that FFA would be a great outlet for me to express through, and it’s proven just that. I’m stoked to tap into new audiences around the world that are eager to hear something fresh, and am equally excited to represent and be represented by the other incredible talent in this comp."
Which elements of your sound do you think will surprise listeners the most?
"I think listeners will be surprised to hear the amalgamation of acoustic and electronic elements in my tune. The rock-infused electronic and bass guitars riffing off of the glitchy bass sounds may shock some ears, as it’s not too often you hear a cross-breed of starkly contrasting eras of music. The arrangement of the tune is also quite unpredictable, as it takes a bit of a sideways route to get to the finish line. There’s plenty of moments to digest in this track, and I hope listeners eat them up!"
Artist 2: Electric Dad
What’s the story behind the inspiration for your track, and how does it reflect your artistic journey so far?
"My song has clear influence from Cuban music, and I think the inspiration of this comes from my last couple of years as a listener and producer in the dubstep scene. I think what’s really awesome about the current dubstep scene to me is that, despite it generally having rules and formats in some ways (song structure, beat, dancability), other dimensions of the music have infinite room for creativity and influence outside of the scene. At the same time, I’ve been producing for a long time and have learned that there are and will always be people much better than me at sound design and mixing. So, I try to make my songs stand out in some of the other dimensions of the music, and in Conga Dub, I blended a style of music that is fun to dance to but not often heard in dubstep."
How do you see your music contributing to the diversity of sounds on this compilation?
"I think my song is a little bit less heavy than most of the other songs on the compilation, but still very high energy. The song also uses different instrumentation for the most part and has an almost silly, lighthearted feel and I hope folks will find it as fun to headbang to as the rest of the album is!"
What’s one thing you’ve learned through working with FFA and contributing to this release?
"I’ve learned I gotta shoot my shot when I got good stuff 😅 FFA has been one of my goal labels for a while, and this track has been completed for almost a year - with demos closed earlier this year I had to bide my time and I’m happy I got the chance to submit. If I had known how stacked the lineup on this compilation would be I would have doubted my chances when submitting, but of course, made it on anyway! 💪"
What creative risks did you take with your track on this compilation that you're especially proud of?
"In this track, I rely a lot on rhythm to create a really dance-able drop, and mostly repeat just a couple of sounds. Compared to a lot of my songs, sound design is not at the forefront of the work in Conga Dub. In dubstep/brostep obviously a lot of tracks tend to have pretty simple rhythms and long subs, but I really tried to get a nice balance between syncopation and a catchy/easy to follow rhythm and I really like the result."
Artist 3: Hechter
Having released on FFA before, what keeps you coming back, and how has the journey been so far?
“Honestly, I think the label, the community and the music released is just amazing. I also think it's really hard to find something that supports the artist's vision, and FFA never misses with that support!”
How does your latest track compare to your earlier releases in terms of style or technique, such as ‘Pandemonium’ released on Abandonware: Level Three?
“I think my newer music is simply much more technically advanced than my older stuff. Pandemonium is also rather aggressive in terms of the idea and the mixdown, while the new tune focuses more on melodic elements and storytelling.”
What do you think makes 'Underground Unit: Sector 8' stand out from previous compilations you've been a part of?
“I like the lineup and the variety in this comp. I particularly enjoy the interlude and the first track that IT LIVES came up with. It's the perfect introduction to a great compilation.”
How do you stay motivated and continue to push boundaries in your music after having multiple releases on FFA?
“I produce music to deal with the struggles in the rest of my life. I've found that if you focus on enjoying the process, progress comes naturally. Another reason is friends like IT LIVES and Jase Proctor, who have also released on this compilation. They keep pushing the sound forward and that motivates me to do even more!”
Artist 4: Ynvariant
As a veteran of FFA, what advice would you give to new artists joining this underground scene and record label?
"Find a niche that you think you can represent. Make your creations more than just songs to be played. Give them history, integrate various cultures and influences that people can connect to because that is what gives music depth. Personally, I look to draw on my Indian heritage in my vocal performance and melodies alongside connecting the music to visual artwork in things drawings, and more recently stories and animation."
What does the underground scene represent to you, and how does this latest track embody that?
"The underground scene represents a group of fresh “talent” that is full of passion for their work. I think people have the misconception that you have to be groundbreaking as an “underground” artist in order to break through the surface but I believe differently. Sure a proponent of underground sound is things you haven’t heard yet but I think the true culture of underground music is a group of people who love creating and a just emerging into sharing their creations."
What's one aspect of your production style that you've refined since your last release on FFA, ‘Hail To The Failure’?
"One thing is definitely my vocal writing. Hail to the Failure was my way to flex my composition, sound design, and mixing muscles but the vocals are very abstract. I listened to a LOT of music from King Gnu, Eve, and Mako to understand how to write a good vocal. In hail to the failure I had a very nebulous vision of where I wanted to take the project and that was reflected in the writing of songs like Girl From the Void and TBWLHM. Since then as I have improved my vision of where I want to take my project from here on, being clear about the story I am telling has become vital."
How has your relationship with Full Flex Audio evolved over the years, and how does it influence your current work?
"Full Flex was the first label to give me a platform for my music. Back in spring 2021 with “Conquer” so I will always be appreciative of their ability to foster new artists. Next came Dollhouse with Zac Noble, then Where We Lurk. I was very happy they kept positions for me to release with them. When I got the message from Martin that he wanted an EP from me, I was on cloud nine and it was a Saturn V rocket booster to my motivation to start the Ynvariant story. Summer ‘22 rolls around and HTTF releases which to this day is still my best body of work (for now…). FFA has given me a platform to make the music I wish existed and I couldn’t be more grateful :)"
UUS8 drops on all stores, this Friday! Make sure to pre-save here before the release goes live:
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