Soundclouds of the Underground: New Year, New Sounds Edition

ABOVE: STATIK

These days, music truly lives online, with an infinite number of websites dedicated to hosting tunes for the laptop-wielding masses. However, the web’s bottomless pit of blogs isn’t the only place to troll for mp3 treasures—some of the newest and most exciting (Internet-friendly) artists can be sought out via Soundcloud, the online stage that allows musicians to promote and distribute their music to fans and friends across the globe. In this weekly column, expert Internet sleuth Alex Chapman goes into the depths of the music-sharing site, in hopes of shedding light on emerging acts, as well as sharing some digital diamonds in the rough.

Hard to believe it’s officially 2014, but January has begun, and with that comes plenty of new tracks from established and emerging acts alike. Today we take a look at some fresh, futuristic material that’s sure to help you start your new year off right (and keep it that way).

Rizzla + Blk. Adonis: “TRINA ISN’T HERE FOR IT”

Who: A member of music’s coolest collective, Fade To Mind, Rizzla’s music moves around the world—his brilliant rendition of Ty Dolla $ign’s radio hit “Paranoid” gives the track a dembow rhythm, mashing it up with vocals from Puerto Rican Reggaton duo Plan B’s “Si No Le Contesto.” Blk. Adonis’ sound shares a similar sentiment, bouncing from fast-paced juke jams (like his remix of Grimes’ “Genesis“) to his chopped and screwed set of Lil Kim tracks.  

The Song: Miami-born rap legend Trina takes on a new life with “TRINA ISN’T HERE FOR IT,” a bass-heavy house hit that employs quotes from the queen herself. The club-ready track twists and turns, with subtle drum breakdowns and sample switch-ups that keep things interesting and energetic.

Current Project: Keep up with all things Rizzla via his Facebook page. For more on Blk. Adonis, visist his Soundcloud.

2 Chainz: “Where U Been” (Statik Remix)

Who: A favorite of trap giants Flosstradamus, Statik is a talented producer who often churns out engaging remixes of today’s hottest tracks, each one a display of his array of skills. His version of Lady Gaga’s “Do What You Want” finds the track in dubstep territory, while his edit of AlunaGeorge’s “Your Drums Your Love” employs a D&B-inclined beat. Did we mention that the UK-based talent is only 14? We can see your jaw dropping from here.

The Song: The young talent takes on one of 2 Chainz’s newest bangers with this energetic remix, which plays on the bell-ringing intro riff engineered by superproducer Mike Will Made It. Statik transforms the track into an explosive party starter, with added whistles that’s followed by an awesome jersey club-esque breakdown.

Current Project: Statik doesn’t have an official site or fan page, but be sure to keep an eye on his Soundcloud for new music.

Zakmatic: “∞waiting∞”

Who: A frequent favorite in the L.A. party scene (and a recent road DJ for rapper Le1f), Zakmatic’s intergalactic sound takes hard-hitting dance genres like trance, hardstyle, house, and even baile funk and melds them together into something signature and global. Instead of sticking to the typical tempos and structures that create the current trends, the producer speeds things up when most would slow them down, and hits hard right where it seems as though one would scale back.

The Song: “Elemental rave in yr sweetest dreams” is the explanation Zakmatic provides for the track on his Soundcloud page, an apt description for the minimal banger that borrows vocals from Eminem’s “Superman” in its intro. An added plus is some sick drums and smart use of a fat, hardstyle-inclined synth.

Current Project: Be sure to give Zakmatic a follow on Soundcloud to keep up-to-date on his latest tunes.

Soundclouds of the Underground runs every Thursday. For more, click here.