No stranger to bass, Miami's Chino is back with a fresh sound & image.
A veteran producer & DJ, Chino's slick engineering and flawless dj sets have won over hearts & ears from Toronto to Los Angeles. His freshman productions ran the gamet of such labels as Renegade, Avalanche, New Identity and Nerve and he was a staple American artist at Metalheadz WMC events for 5+ years. No doubt Chino has put in work, and he's putting in more work and more work and his basslines are bigger, drums are cleaner, ideas fresh and edgy. It's the perfect time to re-emerge and this bass scientist has all the makings of a hero.
It's been an exiciting year for the Westbay camp. Armanni Reign and Atlantic Connection joined the major leagues working with MTV, Harmonix Games (Dance Central 2), touring, performing and making their first red carpet appearances (Woodie Awards). Submorphics flexed his sound showing the world he's no one trick- pony; His collaborations with vocalist Christina Tamayo grabbed the attention of some of the biggest DJ's in the game and his track "Step in the Spot" featuring Selfsays was one of the most supported d&b tunes this year.
Remixes abounded from the likes of Bro Safari, Flinch, P5 Army (Mason, DStar ect.) and Smog's DLX made an appearance remixing the massive "Follow Me Now" by Armanni Reign & Noah D. That said we have an amazing end of year release for you all. It's been 5 years, yes, 5 insane, intense, fast years. To celebrate we've put together a compilation of some of our favorite Westbay releases mixed up with some brand new remixes. Spanning the now retired Westbay Recordings, Westbay International & Westbay Digital labels, "Looking Back 2 Look Forward" is our perspective retrospect, a way to celebrate where we've come from and where we're going.
"Looking Back 2 Look Forward" hits iTunes, Beatport ect. December 20th.
1. Atlantic Connection - Watchu' Know featuring Deviant
2. Spectrasoul - Someday Soon
3. Armanni Reign - Follow Me Now featuring Noah D
4. Atlantic Connection - Can't Destroy Love featuring Minds One & DJ Noumenon
5. Submorphics - Wax Poetic (Stunna Remix)
6. Flaco - Untouchables
7. Armanni Reign - Breatheback (produced by Submorphics)
8. Brooklyn - Lightyears (Submorphics Remix)
9. Shannon Swain - You Are (Chino Remix)
10. Armanni Riegn - Redux (produced by Trowa)
11. Beta 2 & Zero Tolerance - Strike Back
12. Submorphics - Postmodern Soul (Stunna Remix)
13. McClain Sullivan - Our Song (produced by Atlantic Connection)
14. Christina Tamayo - Time 2 Stray (produced by Submorphics)
15. Atlantic Connection - Day Dreamers featuring McClain Sullivan
16. Random Movement - The Student
17. Submorphics - Wax Poetic (original mix)
18. Atlantic Connection - Backlog featuring Kevin King (Submorphics Remix)
We’re excited to announce that along with the retail release, we’ve
teamed up with Shapemix iPhone & iPad platform for an exclusive
content collaboration including two songs from the compilation that will
be available to ShapeMix users to mix & remix.
Dance Central 2 hit the ground
running, opening up at #6 on the sales chart for video games, and has been
holding strong since then. With a
Metacritic score of 86, it’s not difficult to see why. With a game this popular there’s bound to be
fan videos of the dances popping up all over youtube, and Armanni Reign’s “Reach”
is no exception. Featured in level one,
Harmonix created a brand new dance for this song, which can be seen in the link
below being performed by a pair of robots and what seems like the world’s
biggest jock burnout.
What better way to get hyped up for tonight’s season finale of MTV’s
Jersey Shore than to party Jersey Shore style with AC’s new song
“Hypem”, featuring Armanni Reign. Set to be featured in tonight’s
episode, “Hypem” has already hit the airwaves hard and was featured in a
trailer for Footloose. You can grab a sneak peak here now, and then
catch it again in tonight’s episode at 10/9C !
We couldn't be happier to announce that Armanni Reign's song
"Reach" from his EP Off The Grid produced by Atlantic Connection has
been included in the new Dance Central 2 game on Kinect by Harmonix
Music Systems. Sharing the soundtrack with artists like Niki Minaj,
Usher, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and more, "Reach" has been fully integrated
into the game and from what we've heard, it has it's own dance. You can check the entire soundtrackhere.
This is undoubtedly hard-work paying off, Manni and AC have been grinding like no other in 2011 and we're thrilled to see such large success being cultivated by these talented two. The game is scheduled for US release October 25th, and EU release October 21st. Check the trailer below!
We love promoting music we enjoy, so this week we're gonna spotlight our friend Makoto's new album "Souled Out". A veteran artist, Makoto has continuously and consistently produced lush, dance floor ready music. Whether it's garage or drum and bass, Japanese native Makoto always hits the mark spot on.
His new album Souled Out as a clear example of his skill and soulful approach to music, creating a project which is both enjoyable to the ear as well as ready for a club. Collaborating with a wealth of artists "Souled Out" is a milestone in Makoto's career, an earmark and testament to his abilities.
Check out these previews then go get your copy HERE.
The wait is over. The highly anticipated Backlog by Atlantic Connection featuring Kevin King is our next release and due out October 11th. With support by some of the most prestigious taste makers including Fabio (BBC Radio 1), Bailey (BBC 1xtra) and LTJ Bukem, Backlog firmly places itself in the Westbay history books as being one of our most notable releases.
In stores October 11th, 2011
Smooth sailing at 40k as we roll out of Submorphics ‘Moment that Builds’ and into something completely different. Taking things back to our roots we bring you Atlantic Connection’s first single in over a year; and its drum & bass. Teaming up with one of the scenes hottest vocalists (Kevin King) AC delivers a solid piece of music welcoming in the fall season.
‘Backlog’ featuring Kevin King rides you in with AC’s signature drums backed by a lush piano groove that opens up with Kevin’s moody R&B vocals & a warm bassline. This tune is for the heads, the ones who like their music soulful and nostalgic.
Armanni Reign recently released SHEEESH! mixtape. A long-time-coming project, showcasing his versatility as an MC and skills as an A&R.
Media Contender ran the exclusive; and we've got the repost incase you missed it. "One the most prolific and versatile MCs that I know is my dude Armanni Reign.
Originally form Philly but now residing in Atlanta, this lyricist and
crowd controller has risen leaps and bounds from his beginnings. Not
only is he one of the most sought after Drum & Bass MCs touring with
the crème de la crème DJs, he’s also in the lab with some of Bass
Music’s finest and doesn’t allow himself to get pigeonholed into one
sound.
This last year has seen release highlights from Westbay‘s Atlantic Connection; a current charting track on Beatport entitled Suicide Pill with Mark Instinct; Dubstep and Moombahton tunes with Trowa; his own Off The Grid EP; and quality collaborations with Kastle.
The funny thing is, with the amount of styles I’ve heard Armanni take
on, I still don’t even think we’ve heard what he’s fully capable of.
Unreal freestyle, properly placed cadence and variable pace with ease; I
rate Armanni among the best and hope that he is soon pushed into
absolute superstardom. He deserves it.
The SHEESH! Mixtape represents a glimpse of the music he’s into and
involved in, with a wide enough variety that you’ll understand what I’ve
been getting at. We had a sit down with Armanni to gain his perspective
on what the music life’s like for him." - Media Contender
title: THE MOMENT THAT BUILDS ft. CHRISTINA T. / BRO SAFARI REMIX ft. AC
genre: Dubstep / Moombahton
release date: September 27th, 2011
One of Westbay's mainstay producers is back with another stellar single. "The Moment that Builds" by Submorphics & featuring (westbay debut) Christina Tamayo,sinks you into a warm pool of bass and rhythm. Somewhere between dubstep & future soul. Submorphics delivers something completely different to"Step in the Spot", showing his versatility as a producer; one of the reasons we love him so much. This tune is for the swagger crew, the ones who like their martini's stiff and lighting dim.
On the flipside we have a remix like woah. Bro Safari (Evol Intent, Minus Music) teamed up with AC to take the redux somewhere near the tropic ofcancer. They're calling it moombahsoul, it'll make you wanna moombah-dance cause it's so fuckin groovy. If you aren't familiar with Bro Safari you'vebeen living somewhere without electricity (which is ok, we won't hate, but check it) his recent foray's into moombahton have won the appreciationof all the aficionados on the block, and why wouldn't it?; its certified bounce.
A successful release, Submorphics debuts at #44 on Beatports top 100, #14 on Juno Downloads & sits at #3 on digital-tunes! We're hoping to get him to #1 on all of em. You can help us do that; Digital-Tunes.net #3
That's right folks, Submorphicshas been hard at work flippin' switches and conjuring up some musical magic for the benefit of mankind and THIS TUESDAY, September 13th marks the release of the first installment of his newest work:
We're very pleased to announce a new release by Submorphics entitled Step in the Spot feat. Selfsays! Submorphics continues to work his unique brand of magic combining the finer aspects of jazz and rare groove with that of liquid DnB. The result, of course, is sonic genus. Sit down, relax, and treat yourself to some high quality aural amusement courtesy of Submorphics and be sure to snag a copy on Beatport, iTunes, Juno & more September 13, 2011!
This week we have a special treat for those of you who like it slow and deep... yes, we're talking about Sterotype's brand-spankin' new MOOMBAH SONATA V.2 mix!Sterotype captures the tropical, groovy side of Moombah with this eclectic set of remixes! But you don't have to take my word for it, hear it for yourself! It's on the house! (Click the "download" arrow on the soundcloud player)
Our friends at Dogs On Acid hosted a special interview with Westbay's very own Armanni Reign, who has been blowing up the U.S. bass scene performing at some of the most massive events across the country, including Insomniac's Electric Daisy Carnival. Take a glimpse into the world of Armanni Reign in this one-on-one interview!
How did you first get involved as an emcee? How long had you been into Drum & Bass (and electronic music in general), and when did you realize that you could start spitting over the beats?
I have wanted to be an MC since the days of KRS -1's "My Philosophy". I would spit anywhere that gave me an open forum to all types of music. Hip Hop, Jazz, Trance... it didn't matter. My thing was to prove that I could rap over anything. In 1999, I met a group of cats (Illskillz) from Philly and Jersey through a friend who were all DJs. They introduced me to Drum and Bass and I fell in love with it. It was only natural for me to not just spit over it but learn how to do it properly.
You definitely don’t bring the stereotypical “fake Jamaican” flavor that many heads associate with the US style of MCing at DnB parties. How would you define your style when you’re MCing for a DJ – what’s your approach?
I'm a chameleon socially and lyrically. It's funny, in the beginning I did what a lot of MCs from the states did in trying to find your place in the sound. I studied, who I consider, the greats. I listened to the syllable wordplay of Skibadee or the ruggedness of MC Foxy. I watched how to guide the music like GQ or MC Dynamite all while learning the mathematics of the music. In doing that, at times my flow was most certainly influenced by them but eventually I had to find a way to pull it all into my own style. This result is my willingness to experiment vocally. I can be sing-songy one minute then rapid-fire lyrics the next. The complexity of DnB has aloud me to find the spaces in all types of music to become an added instrument.It really depends on the DJ, music and the vibe of the party or recording session at that moment.
Did it take a while for crowds and DJs to accept your sound?
"You can't please everybody" is a mantra I was taught to follow a long time ago. DnB is an instrumental driven sound. We could ask a hundred people in a room if they like MCs and you'll get a 50/50 answer. With that being said, the most gratifying thing spoken to me when I step off stage is "I don't like MCs but I enjoyed that!" I've been blessed enough to share the stage with DJs who have shown me love from the beginning and I think that respect level has carried over to the crowd. To this day, I still step on stage like I have something to prove. It will probably always be like that.
You’ve rolled with a few crews over the years. A few years back, you were linked to the TEKDBZ crew with Photek, Hochi, the man formerly known as Infiltrata and Craze. What was it like being aligned with those guys, and what happened to the crew? Was it just something that sort of fizzled?
TEKDBZ was all about linking two worlds, Hip Hop and DnB. It's not like it was a revolutionary idea because Hip Hop could be found in tunes way before most of us were around. There was a different swag about us though. We didn't expect or care if anyone else understood it. It was a break from the norm that we all felt good about. I didn't realized how much people loved it until it was no more! HA! We are all still family because that's the kinda people we are. Maybe a reunion is in order?
You’re also cool with the Gasm crew. We remember some legendary things going down during those HEAVYBAG shows. How important was it that Mason and the guys kept their vibrant personalities while still bringing for the explosive tracks?
Good times... that show was crazy. Look... if you wanted to tune in and hear DJ So-and-So rock out for 2 hours there are at least a hundred places for you to do that. I love those shows too but we wanted to do something for those who agreed that the scene took itself too seriously at times. No one was having fun anymore so we went as far left field as possible. When it was good it was gold. When it wasn't... fuckin terrible but we had a GREAT time doing it. The Gasm family is the closest thing to having blood relatives. We are all a little on the crazy side but we try to keep each other in check and just enjoy life, then spread that feeling to others. "Forewarned of the ink on my forearm..."
What’s the current situation with Mental Sharp? Are you guys still functioning as a duo? Any plans for releases from you two in the near future?
Sharpness is forever my homie. Ever since I moved away we have tried to rock shows together whenever possible. Truth be told, even when I was in Philly we were always on a 'Divide and Conquer' vibe anyway. So it's not so different that it becomes detrimental to us being on the same page. We both have been working on solo projects at the moment but, yes! Mental Sharp is and forever will be alive and well. I would keep an eye out for something in the near future.
You’re out in Georgia now, right? How long have you been down there? Has that area influenced the music you’ve been creating lately?
I've been in Atlanta for almost two years now and I love it! Don't get it twisted, I'm a Philly head first. I miss the concrete but, ATL has been good to me. Good food, good people. The vibe is vibrant, blossoming and intoxicating. They go hard down here and I don't think anyone who has ever visited here would say differently. I most certainly feel it's helped boost my creativity!
We’ve been catching wind of the new music you’ve got on the horizon. You recently linked up with Westbay for the forthcoming release of Off The Grid. How does this project differ from the other tracks you’ve released?
It may be different to some but to most of my family, friends and supporters it's an early chapter in a book I've been writing for some time. I feel like I've matured a bit as an artist and am more comfortable with my flow. It's mostly Hip Hop, only this time, I would like to believe I opened up the personal files in my brain. My life is like anyone else's, full of highs and lows through success and disappointments. I tried to not only show that in this EP but also set up a full length album that will let me tell an even deeper story across many genres of music.
What’s it like working with Atlantic Connection, someone who definitely has a different sound than the producers you’ve been linked to in the past?
I can't stress enough how great it's been working with Nate. From the very beginning , I felt we clicked musically. We both have worked on tunes in the past and everything just flowed. There is a belief in the potential of each others gift and we approach every project with a childlike level of excitement and confidence it will be something we're happy with. He has an extensive musical palette, which works perfect with my hunger to attack as many genres as possible. Most importantly, he's an all around nice guy who I trust and that means a lot to me.
What are some of the plans for your music career now?
The pedal is to the floor now. With the "Off the Grid" EP ready to come out June 21st, I'm already tapped into other projects. I've been collaborating with artists like Atlantic Connection (HYPEM EP OUT NOW) Kastle (Time Traveler's EP OUT NOW!), Trowa (Trowa EP OUT 6.20.11!), Endboss, Dave Gee & Trigon feat MC Diggadee, Total Recall, The Upbeats, Mark Instinctand some others I actually can't name at the moment. I'm wrapping up a mixtape chock full of unreleased material that varies from tracks that didn't go on the EP to unofficial remixes to goodies that sat in the vault. Obviously, my full length album is under construction but we'll talk about that later. Other than that, I'm still doing shows with people I respect as well as preparing for Thee Armanni Reign LIve Extravaganza! (not really what I'm calling it... or should I?)
We know you’ve been touring and performing with some of the finest – you’ve shared stages with heads like Chase & Status, Friction and many more over the last few years alone. What have been some of your highlights as an MC for DnB and dubstep DJs?
The opportunity is the highlight. I'm blessed to do what I do and beyond grateful for the support of it because I'm a fan of these guys just like anybody else. I just happen to have a mic. When it comes to performing with them, whether it's a festival or a small bar I try to cherish the moment. I love the MCs and DJs I can sit and have a drink with. I have learned just as much from guys like Goldie, Kenny Ken, SS or Craze off stage as I have onstage and am forever grateful for their friendship. I never have and never will deal with people who think they are bigger than the music and it shows in the performance. Music is life, have fun with it.
You recently celebrated the birth of a daughter, right? As you’re now officially part of the Father Junglist Brigade, how has your life changed since your child was born?
Yes! Things are much different now in that cliche-things-parents-say kinda way. It's greatest, most beautiful, nerve racking level of pride and frustration I have ever received as a gift. I love my daughter more than life itself and my wife shares that eternal space. My family is my motivation now more than ever.
When you’re not juggling your fatherly duties and the life of an artists, what kinds of things do you get into?
I do enjoy a bit of basket weaving in my spare time. Joking. You know as a father yourself, I don't have any spare time. Hahah. When I do find a break in the action everyone knows I'm a hardcore gamer. First person shooters are my drug of choice but I love it all really. Some people watch TV, my wife and I love video games. Although, I do try to stay up on my movies too.
Before we wrap this up, do you have any shouts or final thoughts?
I want to thank you for taking the time out to let me speak my two cents. You guys have always shown me love and appreciate that. I want to say thank you to all of the support from family, friends and anyone out there who has shared happiness and grown with me over the years. Big ups to the camps that hold me down Gasm, Westabay, Metalheadz, and Circle. We're gonna keep pushin'! "Off the Grid" EP OUT 6.21.11 Full length album coming soon! Stay tuned to ArmanniReign.blogspot.com and WestbayMusicGroup.com for all the info you need! Shake ya Shouldaz, Kaw!
Atlantic Connection is BACK! Fresh from his summer debut performance as MTV's resident DJ for their monthly showcase at BARDOT, AC is set to tear KAVA Lounge up in San Diego with his fresh arsenal of tropical fututre-bass...
but there's more
we got Keith Remington with M16 reppin' LA with all the nasty this city's got. Check it out:
So make your way to KAVA Lounge this friday! Feel like you live to far away? Make a weekend of it! Visit your family in San Diego! Don't have family in San Diego?
Come to this show and maybe you can make that change ;)
DLX is well known for his strategic drum placement, no holds barred editing processes and moving riddims.And now his new album, "Listening To Science" is set to release August 9th. Hailing from North Carolina, DLX has been championing the dubstep sound throughout LA performing with the likes of Marry Anne Hobbes and Matty G via SMOG and Pure Filth. Hard drums, innovative synths, this album is sure to be humongous! Make sure to snag a copy August 9th AND if you want to catch a special sneak peek with DLX as well as a gang of other talent, be sure to swing by the House of Blues Foundation Room Tuesday, August 2nd for the Listening to Science Album Release Party!(Click the picture for the facebook event page) Unfortunately, this will also be DLX's final performance before he moves back to North Carolina so there will be NO COVER. You have no excuse! Let's send one of LA's favorites off right!
It really is an interesting mix of current tracks that have a bit of that old-school jungle feel to them. As usual, plenty of deep bass to blast the summer heat away! Thanks KURU!
