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We’re so excited to be back spotlighting the underground Bass scene we all love!
Today we’re shining a spotlight on an amazing EP recently released by our good friend John Bruce known as Lykwid. Lykwid represents one of the most important eb and flows in humanity; H20. The Geometrics EP dropped May 4th and ever since we’ve been taking in all the shapes and colors. John has been a force in the bass scene. When he’s not putting together events for the community and producing fire for our bass pleasure, you can catch John managing the collective he founded. Check our previous spotlight on the collective to learn more, Upside Down Collective Spotlight. We recently linked up with John to dive into all things Geometric EP. Check it all out below!
The first track from the EP is aptly titled “Rush”. What a rush of a gaspack it is. This EP is only 3 tracks, but each track is unique in it’s delivering and this is a great start to the EP. The track first few seconds sound as if we’re taking off into the bass cosmos. The first drop comes in with low-end ominous wubs that are quite murderous as the sample suggests. The track continues bouncing back and forth with a fire sample laced throughout the first bridge, letting you know this track definitely got diamonds in it’s pockets.
What went into the naming of the EP “Geometrics”?
The definition of Geometric is as seen: characterized by or decorated with regular lines and shapes. The thought behind the name “Geometrics” derived from observing the world. Literally, everything is made up of shapes. Some are complex, some are simple. But nonetheless, everything is a shape, so these tunes have a direct correlation of the world and how I see it.
Lykwid
This next track titled “Status Symbol” may be my favorite off the EP. “Status Symbol” wastes no time and goes into a Lykwid filled drop at the 30 second mark that will have you sinking in wubs. The track turns into a full body experience as the next drop switches back and forth in a battle of bass. This is the perfect middle track as it left me on the edge of my seat wanting more and more.
When did you begin working on these tracks and did you plan on making an EP on the get-go?
The idea of putting out an EP came up around the end of 2021. I remember going back and forth with my manager Mason Mclean (Luxury Management) about when would be the best time to drop an EP and we came to an agreement to put it out on May the 4th, mostly because it was National Star Wars day and that’s just rad. After we decided a date, I began testing out tunes at shows to see which ones got the best reactions.
The songs selected almost always got a good crowd reaction at shows so it only made sense to put them out for the community. I ultimately ended up using The Block, Rush, and Status Symbol. The Block being the newest tune, which was made about a week before the release. The oldest being Status Symbol which was exported in early October of 2021, and Rush was made around February 2022.
Lykwid
The final track of the EP is titled “The Block” and has swag dripping from its organic waveforms. The track begins with a slowed out Playboy Carti sample advising you to watch out because he aint “been on the block in a minute”. The classic OG Maco tag “Bitch, you guessed it” comes in but you couldn’t have guessed the block of bass that hits you next. The drop is a slather of low-end that switches back and forth between each phrase.
Did you learn any new techniques in the production of this EP?
As a producer, you are always learning and trying new techniques. Firstly, I used Ableton’s operator a great deal more than usual in hopes to create a more gritty analog feel for bass patches. Also, using plugins like “Fresh Air” and Ableton stock multiband compressors really helped fill out the mix as well.
One thing to note is the syncopation on “The Block” was created by using an unquantized volume automation and that’s why you get such an organic flow. Lastly, layering percussion loops under your drums, and adjusting ADRS (Attack, Decay, Release, Sustain) on your drum samples helps A LOT. Be sure to take your music off the grid a bit, you don’t want to have a computerized feel, because computers don’t dance (Ty Dye Ky actually said this). You would be surprised what stock Ableton can do if you put trust in your export.
Lykwid
