Tenkai

Style: Bass music

Tenkai Say: We make bass music with a post-rock twist. We try to avoid conforming to standard dance music templates, by taking extra care in making sounds and experimenting with unorthodox techniques to make something fresh that we ourselves find interesting but will still work in a rave. We've just recruited an awesome new vocalist and our live show is going to melt your face.

Controvert says: A group of talented musicians with very different backgrounds, the newly-formed Tenkai are moulding a cutting-edge sound that fuses their various musical heritages. In addition to the few short teasers they’ve release so far to whet our collective appetite, Controvert has been given a sneak peek of what’s to come, and it’s tremendous. In the future, there won’t just be a choice between bands or DJs. In the future there will be music like Tenkai.

Find out more: www.facebook.com/tenkai.uk

Subverse

Style: Eclectic

Subverse says: I don't like the idea of being in a box, the music I make has common trends running through it, but I try to never make the same track twice. I love working with real musicians as well as digging for samples, for me trying to get sound from outside of the computer is so important; everyone has the same sample packs, the same plug-ins and has watched the same YouTube videos on how to make that certain bass sound, so that stuff really bores me. I also love recording random stuff from around the house, or doing field recordings and using them in my productions.

Controvert says: The point Subverse makes is a valid one. In an age where more or less anyone can produce electronic music, overall the output has become more homogenised and altogether less interesting. Subverse’s deliberate and admirable effort to seek out sounds and samples that are out-of-the-ordinary pays off; giving his music a warm, almost analogue feel. So, if you haven’t heard Subverse before, you can guarantee you haven’t heard Subverse before.

Find out more: www.facebook.com/SubverseMusic

Free E.P. download: http://subverse-music.bandcamp.com/

Son Of A Glitch

Style: South-side Glitch-bass music

Son of a Glitch says: When not chewing on khat, staying up all ours, delivering people (meat parcels) to their destinations, I'm in my dungeon making electronic glitch-based bass music. Sometimes I also like to DJ at places with small or large crowds of meat parcels... It's great, and I like it when they cheer positively and stuff.

Controvert says: Choosing the right words to describe Son of a Glitch is a challenge… interesting? attention-grabbing? inspired? genius? absolute lunatic? One thing’s for certain…he’s never boring. As well as the innovative glitch-hop and electro for which he is best-known, Son of a Glitch is also adept at applying his inventive approach to producing breaks, dubstep, drum and bass, and all kinds of other things to bring the hype. With all these weapons, when he plays out you can be sure he will blow the roof off.

Find out more: www.goddamsonofaglitch.com

Ohmtrix

Style: Dubstep/Drum n Bass/Midtempo/Breaks/Slumpopjazz

Ohmtrix says: I produce and DJ high-energy bass music at varying tempos. Been producing for about 4 years now and have a few releases on Lifestyle Recordings, and I plan to start my own label/brand called Bio Culture Recordings. Errm.. I like cats and dogs, my favourite food is pizza (Dominos only) err… Catch me lurking behind decks or a sequencer at any given moment incorporating dark snarling basslines and punchy energetic drum beats somehow…

Controvert says: A true musician to the core, Ohmtrix brings a life-long musical pedigree to his production. His music draws influence from the likes of Noisia, Spor and Skrillex; so expect the darker side of the dancefloor. With a number of releases in the pipeline and plans to launch his own label, Ohmtrix is definitely one to watch.

Find out more: www.soundcloud.com/ohmtrix

James HK

Style: Drum n Bass/Hiphop/Dubstep/Tech House

James HK says: My music always starts with melody, it's the main focus of what I create. When starting out on a piece I don't aim for a genre, I just start jamming and see where the song takes me. My music range is very diverse, including but not limited to hip-hop, liquid drum and bass, neurofunk, dubstep, tech house and dubstep. However, when playing live you'll usually catch me playing dark drum and bass behind a fat stack of speakers in a field somewhere.

Controvert says: If you've ever seen James HK on the decks, you might struggle to believe that the music he produces is made by the same artist. The filthy drum and bass that underpins his sets is nowhere to be seen in his production. Instead, his dnb output usually comes in the form of liquid rollers, which are nestled in a back catalogue of trip hop and chilled vibes. This juxtaposition is perhaps to be expected from an artist who seems intent on not being pigeonholed into a particular genre, but who simply wants to let his music speak for itself.

Find out more: www.soundcloud.com/jameshk

Fernando Bros

Style: House/Latin

Fernando Bros say: We are Edgar Fernando and Ashley Fernando (or Ed and Ash to our friends), two brothers born and raised in South London who have been DJing together since 2003. We currently spend most of our time in our studio making new beats, working with new artists and new remixes. We also continue to play alongside big names in the DJ world, and in London’s leading clubs. We always make sure we compete harder and stronger to keep the crowd happy!

Controvert says: You’ve heard the expression ‘life and soul of the party’? It might as well have been invented to describe the Fernando Bros. These stalwarts of South-London house pride themselves in the quality and energy of the live shows they’ve perfected over the years, and now that they’re branching out into production, all those vibes are getting translated into some serious dance floor tunage.

Find out more: www.fernandobros.com

Dubfreq

Style: Dubstep

Dubfreq says: I am a dubstep DJ / producer, I’ve been producing for about five years now. I started out making grime on a copy of FL4 when I left school. I love music, I get inspiration from all genres, which I think reflects in my music. I’m currently supported by Benga (Radio1), Hatcha (Kiss100), Rod Azlan (Choice Fm), and many more. Besides music, I like drinking, football, banter and chatting utter rubbish on twitter...

Controvert says: You know those moments when a tune makes you feel the need to contort your face as though you’re in pain? Dubfreq is a purveyor of those. This is serious, filthy dubstep; with lolling basslines that growl at you in an almost menacing way. His music has seen rotation from some of the biggest names in the game, and this is most likely a sign of things to come. So get your bass face ready.

Find out more: http://soundcloud.com/dubfreqdubplates

B'KA

Style: Downtempo/Hiphop

B'KA says: Hello! I'm Gareth Halsall aka B'KA. I make chilled out, predominately sample-based music covering mainly instrumental hip hop and downtempo, and I dabble with the more soulful side of drum and bass. I'm a resident at Brighton's 'Throw Some Shapes' nights and have recently got back from playing at Outlook in Croatia. I'm currently working on an album that will be out mid-2012, which has allowed me to work with artists such as Fliptrix, Subverse and Alice Amelia. Keep an eye out for the album and collaborations with clothing companies Suffoca and SHhhh.

Controvert says: With instrumental hip hop, production values are of the absolute essence. The wonderful head-nod vibes that B’KA achieves in his music display an obvious skill for producing crisp beats, and putting well-selected samples to good effect. It’s deep and often soulful; if you enjoy the likes of Tru Thoughts then this is for you. If that’s not enough to convince you, there are also some very promising forthcoming collaborations in the pipeline, so keep an eye out.

Find out more: http://www.soundcloud.com/bkamusic