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Dubstep.NET Presents: KDrew - Free EP Vol. 4 

Article by Mitchell Buchanan

The first of the month is always an exciting thing. It can represent the beginning of something new; it can help us count down to an important date; it helps us reset and prepare for the following four weeks. In the dubstep world, it also represents the day that KDrew releases yet another free EP. Since November 1, this New Jersey producer has been releasing free monthly EPs to the public, each one showcasing an incredibly diverse range of production skills, with music spanning across multiple genres (in and out of the EDM scene). On February 1, KDrew released Free Vol. 4, his first full immersion into dubstep – a brand-new set of tracks that feature collaborations with Mr. Nickelz and TriCosta, an array of elaborate synth melodies, and all the delicious bass you can handle. This is certainly one tradition we’re unbelievably excited to get behind.  

“Flying Bass Kick” is, without a doubt, one of the most badass tracks I’ve heard in a while. Starting off this EP with a blast of energy, the bass comes in hard and heavy, modulating like a low, erratic, pulsing alarm. Staccato melodies bubble around the midrange, while the drums pound their rhythm. Less than 15 seconds in, Mr. Nickelz jumps in to drop a blazing set of lines over the music – as his part wraps up, a chant begins to build, growing stronger and stronger every moment. At the penultimate moment, the music falls silent to allow us to cry “let the bass kick!” just as everything comes crashing back down. Heavy, distorted low-end trades off with rising, screaming synths, as the bass rattles to create a delightfully unsteady foundation. Although Mr. Nickelz’s second verse is slower than his first, he nevertheless keeps the banging, swaggering energy flowing. His vocals also provide an exciting contrast to the second drop – as soon as the bass kicks back in, energy levels jump through the roof. A mix of lasers, deep bass, and bouncing off-beats bring this insane track to new heights.

“Citadel” opens with a bouncing triplet beat. Synths play elaborate melodies overtop of a kick drum that alternates between single punches and flurries of cannon fire. The chord progression envelops the track from all sides, lifting and carrying us through the cease of the kick drum and into the build-up. For a moment, everything powers down – but then the snare drum cracks, an excited cry lets us know we’re in for something big, and all hell breaks loose. Backed by what sounds like a piano playing bouncy, arpeggio off-beats, mechanical synths whine as they slice through the high end of the track. Bass tones match the screaming notes, providing two layers of sound to obliterate everything around us. Soon, a menacing, growling bass rises from the low end, giving a sinister edge to the newly-introduced melodies. The track winds down, but only for a moment – when the drums return, the experience is more frantic than ever.

Starting off with a funky rhythm, “Young and Wreckless” uses wobbling midrange to create an unsteady feel, as the straightforward drums do their best to keep everything contained. TriCosta provides vocals on this track, singing line after line overtop of KDrew’s music. The mix of screaming and growling bass are reminiscent of Knife Party’s recent EP, but any similarities are quickly dropped in favour of KDrew’s signature synth work. Melodies rise out of the track, surrounding TriCosta’s final lines until the bass drops and we’re thrown into a mix of piercing alarms, growling bass, and rattling drums, all backed by an astounding chord progression. The chorus comes in once again to give us another build-up, but the energy doesn’t let up between drops. Instead, the growls stay low, playing off the kicks to create a bone-shaking base, and almost as soon as the music cuts out, it’s crashing back in again – another round of growls and screams for our auditory pleasure.

Collaborating once again with Mr. Nickelz for “Danger Zone,” KDrew fuses powerful vocals with an absolutely foundation-shaking work of instrumentation. For the first minute, Mr. Nickelz commands the track with pitch-perfect singing and raw, emotional power. KDrew’s sonic platform raises Mr. Nickelz’s vocals to a new height, as powerful bass, explosive drums, and melodic synths compliment every note sung. At the minute mark, however, the bass gets hungry for some action – the kick drum pounds ferociously as the bass growls in anticipation. Cutting in eagerly before Mr. Nickelz has fully expelled his last breath, mechanical synths and roaring bass tag-team the mid and low ranges of this track. The break after the first drop sees tuneful manipulation of Mr. Nickelz’s vocals instead of a second verse, signalling the arrival of significant changes – and vocals are only the beginning. With another cry, the drop comes fast and heavy, this time at twice the speed. Backed and intercut by more of KDrew’s trademark melody creation, “Danger Zone” maintains a blistering level of aggression while not sacrificing any musicality.

A lot of the time, traditions can become boring. We repeat things for the sake of comfort, or because something new seems like too much work. In KDrew’s case, we can’t get enough of this tradition of releasing a new free EP on the 1st of each month. Although this is already Volume 4, each track is just as electrifying and unique as those that were released on Volume 1. These four tracks showcase an astonishing knowledge of melody creation, and a relentless urge to surprise and excite us with each pounding bass tone. Mixing explosive dubstep with impeccable hip-hop vibes, KDrew’s newest EP is set to be an astounding success. I know it’s only the beginning of February – but at Dubstep.net, we’re already excited for March 1st, excited to get even more of what KDrew has to offer.

Follow KDrew: 
http://Facebook.com/KDrewMusic 
http://Twitter.com/KDrewMusic 
http://SoundCloud.com/KDrewMusic

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