I first posted about the UK Dubstep trio MONSTA when Zedd’s Spectrum EP first came out. I selected their version of “Spectrum” as one of my favorite remixes of the track, alongside Deniz Koyu and Armin Van Buuren. More recently we posted about Monsta when the Skrillex & Nero remix of “Holdin’ On” dropped. And now we post about the trio (producers Rocky and Rufio and vocalist Skaar) for a third time as today is the day their first EP was unleashed to the world.
From MONSTA’s website:
MONSTA have been described as having the melodic synth thrum of Flux Pavilion, the tech-soul vocal drops of Moby and the reverberant snares of trip-hop act U.N.K.L.E. -but their sound is instrument-based and largely sample-free and it was Skrillex who found them.
“I was at South by Southwest with my manager Tim [Smith] and a few friends,” says Skrillex. “Tim says, ‘I got something,’ and pulls up [MONSTA’s ‘Holdin’ On’]. I said, ‘That’s a sick track and a cool vocal sample. Where’d they get that from? Is that Aretha Franklin?’’ But it wasn’t a sample. It was Skaar’s powerfully androgynous performance of an original song written and recorded by the group.
This EP has something for everyone – lots of melodic Dubstep, some Moombahton, some Drum ‘n’ Bass, and everything in between – an eclectic mix for sure. With three original tracks and those three tracks remixed by Skrillex & Nero, Dillon Francis & Kill Paris, and Alvin Risk, it’s truly hard to pick a favorite. Since the trio have a singer that means all six tracks give us some powerful vocals to go along with deep kicks and wobble bass lines. I really do not dislike a single song on the MONSTA EP and my guess is you won’t either (Skrillex and his OWSLA label know how to pick them). If you like what you hear don’t hesitate to show some love and purchase on Beatport HERE.
MONSTA – Holdin’ On (Original Mix)
MONSTA – Messiah (Alvin Risk Remix)
MONSTA – Where Did I Go (Dillon Francis & Kill Paris Remix)
**Grab the full Zip Package HERE**