Get to Know Rising Bass Music Phenom AYCH

6 days ago 7

Ahead of his MMW debut, AYCH chatted with EDM Identity about touring for the first time, producing with friends, and his upcoming b2b at Deadbeats 10 Year: Miami.

Nashville-based artist AYCH (pronounced H) has been steadily building a fanbase after gaining traction on SoundCloud. Jump-starting his career with flips, the up-and-comer has racked up thousands of plays on his renditions of “Pride” by Key Glock and Mac Miller‘s “Nikes on My Feet.”

Along with putting his own spin on popular tracks, AYCH shines in the realm of original recordings. Landing releases on Bassrush Records, Subsidia, and Gravitas, the rising act has been flaunting his knack for crafting dynamic soundscapes with impactful low end. His latest release, “BAD4ME,” moves AYCH into a new lane sonically, expanding his range.

Along with getting booked on support slots for major bass music artists like Saka and Whethan, AYCH has graced the stage at festivals like Deep Tropics and Sound Haven. As he’s recently signed with Corson Agency, fans can expect to see a whole lot more of the standout DJ as the year progresses.

Before heading to Miami to perform alongside a massive lineup at Deadbeats’ 10-year Miami Music Week celebration, AYCH stopped by to chat about his project and drop off a flaming hot mix. Keep reading for more insight into the mind of the next hot bass act, and be sure to give his mix a spin!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 495 || AYCH on SoundCloud:

Where did your passion for electronic music begin? Have you always gravitated toward the genre?

My sister used to drive me to school when I was younger, and she would play FuntCase, Skrillex, Zeds Dead, deadmau5, Cookie Monsta, and other pioneers that shaped the scene.

I spent a lot of time in my bedroom watching live sets and would dream of playing massive stages and making music that had the same impact. I was pretty lucky to have found it so young because it shaped my taste in music, and a lot of the same stuff inspires my productions today.

Nashville is known best for country music, but it also has a growing EDM scene. How does being based in such a music-centric city influence your creativity and artistic output?

It’s really inspiring to be around such a strong community. There are so many cool people pushing the culture and raising awareness towards the underground.

The passion for sound in Nashville is really special as well. It’s rare to go to a show and not have top-of-the-line sound, which is kind of a deal breaker for me if I’m seeing a bass music artist.

Big shout-out to Sacred Hive, club no. 9, Sound Over Silence, Acoustic Artifakts, Poindexter Design Lab, Something Good, and all of the Nashville homies that have supported the scene in any way. We have something so special out here.

Photo Courtesy of AYCH

Your latest release, “BAD4ME,” has more of a sultry sound with building tension that lends perfectly to a dark club setting. What was the inspiration behind creating this track?

A lot of the inspiration for this one came from my background in orchestra as a kid. I grew up playing the cello, and a lot of my earlier releases had classical elements in them.

I wanted to go back to those roots and show more of that side of myself in the production. I think a lot of people know me from my trap tracks, and I enjoy making them, but my heart has always gravitated toward melodic music.

Gabriel Eli blew me away with his vocals. I sent him the idea and basically said, “Do your thing,” and he had the verse and chorus back to me in 12 hours. The song was finished within maybe three days of starting it in Ableton.

That doesn’t happen very often, but it’s really nice when the universe gives gifts like that. Gabriel’s work ethic is like no other, and I couldn’t have done it without him. He is truly gifted.

You’re preparing to perform in Miami for your first Miami Music Week as part of Zeds Dead’s 10-year celebration of their Deadbeats label. How does it feel being showcased during one of the largest weekends for dance music in the world?

It feels like a dream, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of such a milestone event. Zeds Dead has always been a big inspiration of mine, like many other producers.

I think it’s a goal for a lot of people in the scene to be showcased on a Deadbeats event, so I’m really honored that they thought of me and are giving me the opportunity to play my tunes on such an important stage.

Photo Credit: @nathanlanemedia

At the event, you’ll be playing back-to-back with OVEREAZY. How do you approach planning a b2b set vs a solo AYCH performance?

This is my first time doing a b2b with someone on a stage this size, but Grant [OVEREAZY] and I have been making so much music together over the years and know each other’s taste, so I don’t think we’ll have any problems curating a fun set.

As of right now, we’re compiling a ton of music from our favorite underground producers and artists that inspire us. I think it’s gonna be a cool blend of a lot of our own tracks, as well as bangers that we think you’re missing out on.

If you’re gonna be in Miami, come out early and show some love. We’ll be out in the crowd after, hangin’.

You’ve had a lot of firsts lately, including wrapping up your first tour supporting Effin. What was it like finally hitting the road, especially with an artist whom you’ve grown alongside?

That experience was life-changing for me. I have always wanted to travel and play my music, and to have the opportunity to do so with Effin in so many sold-out rooms was a blessing.

That tour made me a better producer and DJ. I hadn’t had a ton of experience in bigger venues, so I got a real quick idea of what I had to improve on. It was also nice having a legend like JD [Effin] around to give me feedback and advice on my music, sets, etc. He’s a really good dude and made the experience so enjoyable for me.

I was pretty anxious about the travel at first. There were times when he could have bumped me out of the green room or left me out of dinners, but he welcomed me with open arms, which made a massive difference.

Photo Credit: @nathanlanemedia

How important are relationships with fellow artists when it comes to reaching your goals and building a community within the bass scene?

Community is everything. It’s so important to be nice to your peers and be open to collaboration.

A lot of people have the mindset where they need to do everything on their own, but that’s just not really how I wanna do things. Making music with my friends is where I find the most joy, and where I seem to push myself the most in the studio. There are so many times I’ll be stuck on a song, slide it over to someone like SCHMUX or VelcroShirt (Velk), and I’ll get something back that’s miles better than what I had before. We then just keep bouncing ideas off one another until we don’t feel like working on it anymore.

My friends have influenced so much of my music and how I approach songwriting, mixing, and production in general. I’m always learning and absorbing information from them whenever I can.

We’re all out here just trying to improve, and I think that’s what’s kept me so inspired over the last couple of years: exploring and discovering new things together.

As one of the rising names in the next generation of bass artists, what do you hope to achieve as you continue to make a name for yourself in the scene?

All I can hope for is that people continue to connect with the tunes I’m making. I don’t know what’s gonna happen in the future. For now, I’m going to keep writing music I’m proud of and do my best to contribute love and positivity while giving back to the community that’s granted me this opportunity.