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CUTDWN gives fans a preview of the destruction to come at EDC Las Vegas with an exhilarating Paradigm Shift guest mix.
For years, hard music has been on a steady incline in America, and plenty of artists laid the foundation for a scene that’s thriving today. Still, American Hard Dance is no stranger to fresh faces with great ideas, and this is the case for phenom CUTDWN. In three short years, he has gone from novice DJ to superstar powerhouse, but it all stemmed from a lifetime of passion and dedication.
Like many fans, CUTDWN was initially exposed to hard dance music through YouTube. While scrolling through old World of Warcraft videos, he stumbled upon Cascada‘s iconic record, “Everytime We Touch.” A couple of videos later, CUTDWN ran into a goldmine when he discovered the hardstyle classic “Rock Civilization” by Headhunterz. “The second the drop hit my speakers, I was absolutely hooked,” he told EDM Identity.
Since then, he admits that his taste has grown more obscure — but in the best way possible. In other words, “The music got harder, faster, and more distorted.” This initial discovery contributed to the creation of CUTDWN, but there’s a lot more to his story, like how he dabbled in live music through his old metal band. “I played guitar and had a KORG synthesizer that I used to make little rave breakdowns for our band,” he said.
Arguably more significant is that he became an angel investor in the now wildly successful Dubstep FBI, led by Christina Vessa and Yesenia Vizcaya. This partnership led to the launch of their management firm, Millennial Momentum, which helped bring light to artists such as Hartshorn, TYEGUYS, DEATH CODE, and more.
After some time, CUTDWN decided that he wanted to join them on the front end of the scene, so he picked up a copy of Ableton. “One thing led to another, and after a lot of social media posts and 50+ releases, I ended up being on the EDC Vegas lineup!” he shared. “Small moments add up to continuous momentum!”
Photo Credit: @media.by.han
Since the project’s inception, CUTDWN has risen in the ranks of hard dance in America, eventually becoming one of the most influential figures today. Consistent releases, destructive performances, and the creation of his label, Carnage Merchandise, have all contributed to his success while elevating American Hard Dance at the same time.
Despite his reputation as a consummate professional, he stresses how important it is for hard dance to be an outlet for fun that’s meant to be enjoyed outside the constraints of normal life. “As soon as I unplug my USB and I’m off that stage, I’m literally just another fan in the big, old collection of hard dance enthusiasts,” he confessed.
CUTDWN may be my current identity, but I’ll forever be Joe. I’m just another dude making beep boop music, hoping it’ll entertain even one person.
CUTDWNContinuing his journey, CUTDWN is set to perform at the mighty wasteLAND at EDC Las Vegas next week, but the party is starting even sooner. Today, he stopped by to deliver an exhilarating guest mix for his debut on our hard dance mix series, Paradigm Shift! For nearly an hour, fans will get to know who exactly the carnage merchant is and what to expect from him at EDC Las Vegas.
In the words of CUTDWN himself, “You will get your entire money’s worth for the EDCLV weekend at my set alone.”
Hard dance is alive in America. Hardstyle set the tone so hard techno could dominate. I am hopeful that hard dance will grow a strong foundation in America. More producers and artists, more independent promoters, and more competition, which all lead to more growth and opportunity!
CUTDWNMake sure to stream CUTDWN’s Paradigm Shift guest mix on SoundCloud, and make your way to wasteLAND on Saturday at 7pm to catch him live!
Stream Paradigm Shift 052 || CUTDWN on SoundCloud:
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The post CUTDWN Previews EDC Las Vegas Set with Chaotic Guest Mix appeared first on EDM Identity.
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