Smigonaut - Timeboxed

Keeping it in house for our 90th release, The Rust is incredibly proud to host the next iteration of the Smigonaut discography. Having been a part of our roster since its nascent days, his music has taken on dueling forms; be it his pensive, instrumental works or his more aggressive productions, there’s a guaranteed seal of quality to each successive release. This time, the aggression is at a fever pitch across the totality of the Timeboxed EP.

A potent blend of half-time, drum and bass, and sizzling uptempo, Timeboxed feels square in the center of Smigonaut’s catalog. Feint melodic elements dot the background of the EP, with its low end and percussion on full display. It’s in-your-face and concise, putting the driving energy of each track’s rhythm in the pilot seat. From the sound design, to the 1-2 punch of powerful breakdowns and tech-heavy syncopation, Timeboxed gives us a full serving from the Smigonaut plate, and reaffirms the all-encompassing musical vision that the project has striven for since its inception.

Eputty - The Possession

Hailing from Perth, Australia, the stalwart songwriter and producer Eputty has made consistent strides across the last 4 years, zeroing in on a sound and style that features contemporary electronic influence and an extremely pronounced compositional gait. Mingling high-powered sound design with a nod to the dance floor, there’s no shortage of impact to his personal catalog, but his latest collection of tracks stands several heads above his established works. Containing the excitement to ourselves until now, The Rust Music is especially grateful to host the release of his debut LP, The Possession.

Drum and bass, drumstep, meandering downtempo, and club-centric rhythms all make an appearance across The Possession. Coming out of the gate with blistering percussion, the album flows with a professional grace, as each track fits adjacent to one another with the ease of an intentional and well-crafted mix. The neuro synthesis and brackish, textured tones lend themselves to the particularly dark atmospheres that underpin so much of the flavor packed into these 10 songs, giving the entire package a palpable emotional heft. Whatever styles you’re attracted to, whatever rhythms rock you, there’s more than enough in The Possession to keep you hooked, and certainly more than enough to place Eputty at the top of your listening rotation.

Eputty on the Album:

“This project represents an exploration into a more serious sonic landscape, blending everything I’ve learned in production into a cohesive body of work. My goal was to showcase versatility, navigating through varying intensities of electronic music while maintaining a consistent atmosphere throughout.

Initially, this wasn’t intended to become an album, but as the tracks evolved, they naturally expanded into something far larger than I had planned. It felt as though the project took on a life of its own, with me in the passenger seat rather than behind the wheel—hence the title The Possession.

I’m deeply grateful to the artists who contributed their talent and energy to this project, as well as to my friends and family for their unwavering support in helping me bring it to the finish line. I hope listeners find something they connect with here and perhaps discover something new about themselves along the way. Enjoy..”

About Eputty:

Ewan J Colvin, better known as Eputty, is a prominent figure in the Western Australian bass music landscape. With roots firmly planted in IDM, Eputty brings a unique take on electronic music that has earned him support from acclaimed platforms such as Theuntz.com, Rendah Mag, Inspected, K+Lab, and Pluvio. He has shared the stage with notable acts like KOAN Sound, Copycatt, and K+Lab, and has performed at major festivals including Raindance Festival, Rootbound Festival, Esoteric Festival, and Archaic Festival.

With a debut album on the horizon, Eputty consistently pushes the envelope in his productions, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to his art. In addition to creating and performing music, he dedicates his time to teaching music production and engineering for other artists. Passionate about helping others, Ewan is committed to navigating the Australian scene toward more eclectic sounds and fostering a vibrant community of dedicated artists.

AcidSepp – Depth Perception

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

We're excited to welcome German producer Yannick Weber back to the label this week under his solo moniker AcidSepp. As one half of the Dysfunctional Family project, we're already somewhat acquainted, but we're about to get a much clearer lens through the sophomore release from his solo project, the ‘Depth Perception’ EP.

The release takes on a distinctly experimental identity, laced with elements of trip hop, glitchy IDM, and psychedelic downtempo, quickly weaving itself into an intricate and matured soundscape. Reminiscent of his work with Dysfunctional Family, AcidSepp’s ‘Depth Perception’ EP puts musical chops on the same pedestal as dialed-in sound design, giving the record a lushness usually reserved for strictly pensive music. For fans and appreciators of contemporary production and strong compositional focus, this EP is guaranteed to stay in your rotation.

iima - iima

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

From the inception of The Rust Music as an official operation through to now, we’re fortunate to have fostered friendships with a cast of adjacent and connected creatives in our hometown of New York, New York. Amongst that extended crew, AMAWALK has been a frequent flier both on the stage and throughout our release roster. After several quiet years, he’s taking a step back out of the lab into the light with a new project and eponymous release; iima. 

The two-track EP feels at home within this producer’s traditional wheelhouse of sound, having been matured and sharpened at the edges. It’s distinctly melodious and in line with pocketed IDM influences and arrangement, bringing synthesis to the forefront for a succinct dance between harmony and rhythm. For fans from any end of The Rust Music spectrum, be sure to check out both iima and the legacy AMAWALK project to round out your listening plate for the day.

relativity lounge - caustic

The Chicago-native Relativity Lounge has long been an underground favorite across the US bass music circuit, especially considering his relatively humble profile as a producer and songwriter. With a clear balance between novel and tasteful, his productions have always maintained a steady vein of pleasant unpredictability in their various forms. For our 86th release, The Rust is especially grateful to platform the Caustic EP, the latest collection of tracks from a well overdue partner-in-crime.

The record is, above all else, particularly industrial; channeling clear influence from a dance-floor driven palate, the opening tracks introduce a minimalist sandbox of synthesis and sound design married to low-slung rhythms. Sparse melodic elements come up for air at key moments across most of the compositions, but otherwise take a backseat to the very physical bent present across every track. Ramping up the tempo for the EP’s farewell, the journey from open to close feels especially primed for the height of any night's function.

Johnny Mahon - Can't Get Enough // Rain Check

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

Coming back the Big Apple to source our 85th release, we're fortunate to have crossed paths with a fast-growing hometown staple who's been blazing a trail straight to the decks; Johnny Mahon has earned himself a well-rounded reputation as a versatile producer and DJ, showing off chops within a wide range of flavors particularly suited for the height of nightlife. As such, we're extremely pleased to host his latest minted work, a 2-track EP called ‘Can't Get Enough’ / ‘Rain Check (ft. Aazure)'.

Channeling contemporary liquid compositions, it's clear that Mahon knows how to deliver dance-floor grooves with finesse. Funk-laden and soul-driven, both tunes hit the Newtonian pocket of rhythmic dynamics, keeping the pace and vibe in steady synchronicity. Amidst the ongoing resurgence of drum and bass across the US palate, Johnny Mahon is especially suited to provide Grade A tunes and stellar mixes to an audience with a clear appetite, and this double-sided serving is sure to satisfy your next system music craving.

About Johnny Mahon:

Johnny Mahon was born and raised in New York, although you wouldn’t know it just from hearing his music. His refreshing blend between his NYC roots and his affinity for UK dance music has fans hooked, as he continues to further his mission to be a musical bridge across the Atlantic and fertilize the spread of UK Garage and Drum & Bass in the US.

After emerging in 2022, he now has an admirable collection of releases under his belt, with the likes of Deep Root Records, Southpoint Records, Tuned Out Records and more. The versatility in his productions are part of what keeps bringing people back - shuffling his discography could land you any range of emotions from lighthearted excitement to discourteous rebellion.

His rising stature within the industry has been bolstered by securing some rather reputable bookings, such as the main stage of Elements Festival, beside industry giants such as Skrillex, Tchami and John Summit, as well as tour support for Camo & Krooked and Wilkinson. His sets are always an audial marvel, with it forever a mystery if the next tune’s BPM is going to be 174 or 140.

If you’re a fan of UKG & DNB and want to see their popularity expand in North America, then stay locked in to Johnny’s ascent, as he’s already well on his way to becoming a major player in the scene.

Entangled Mind - Lucid Living LP (Digital + Vinyl Pre-order)

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

Entangled Mind - Lucid Living | Double Vinyl, 180g [LE300] (pre-order)
Entangled Mind - Lucid Living | Double Vinyl, 180g [LE300] (pre-order)
from $40.00

About Lucid Living:

Lucid Living is a vibrant and immersive journey through psychedelic bass and downtempo. In contrast to Entangled Mind's debut album, Eternal Motion (2021), a more introspective and melancholic work, this latest offering explores new territory with confidence, finding the joy in moving through a dynamic experience of intricacies and peculiarities. 

At the heart of Lucid Living lies a harmonious fusion of organic instrumentation and top-notch electronic production and sound design, as well as a notable emphasis on collaboration. Entangled Mind themself plays guitar, synths, handpan, bass, djembe, and shakers, as well as plentiful field recordings, making for a very personal soundscape. Further pushing possibilities through synergy with collaborators, and tapping in on additional musicians for features, each song is thoughtfully composed and differentiates itself from the last, while still flowing together as a fulfilling and cohesive experience. 

Embracing entropy and a limitless nature, the album serves as a testament to the boundless creativity and expressive potential, and embodies what it means to live more lucidly in this ever-evolving world that we’re all entangled in.

Artwork by Vibrational Perspectives

Release Credits:

All songs written, produced, and mixed by Entangled Mind except:
Orbit co-written + handpan by Amy Naylor
Eastern Lasers originally written by BioKoi, remixed by Entangled Mind
Ghost Pipe co-written & produced with Xenolinguist
Breakthrough co-written + vocals & Native American flute by Janeth Gonda
Creation co-written + vocals by Delgira

Featuring:
Mattie Rosi on flute on Ossicle
R!llo on didgeridoo on Orbit, tabla on A Sunny Spot
Matthew Rennick on violin on Tree of Life
Pete Callard on guitar on Feral Noodle
Janeth Gonda on vocals on Feral Noodle
Eric Fraser on bansuri on Creation & A Sunny Spot

Mastered by Itay Berger / aka Kukan Dub Lagan at
Kukan Dub Mastering, Barcelona, Spain
kukandublagan.com
Info@feellifemusic.com

About Entangled Mind:

Entangled Mind is the alias of Marissa Barbato, a Boston-based producer and lifelong musician. Balancing organic instrumentation with skillful electronic production, they use sound as a medium to inspire connection. With intuitive phrasing, complex layering, and thoughtful arrangements, they weave together their own recordings and carefully crafted sounds into meaningful commands of tension and release. Translated onto the stage, their live performances take on a narrative force, captivating audiences in a unique journey every time.

Tygris - Shadow Box

With a healthy catalog of dynamic tracks across the tempo spectrum, Tygris has delivered precision, fidelity, and musical clarity year after year alongside our internal cast of talented creatives. For The Rust Music’s 83rd release, we were given the opportunity to debut the next iteration of Tygris compositions, this time reaching towards a new bounty of songwriting fundamentals and engineering choices for fresh inspiration. For his first full release of 2024, he’s coming out of the gate at full speed with his newly minted Shadow Box drum and bass EP.

Fusing his in-house blend of pulsing side-chains and throaty synthesis with the trappings of drum and bass productions feels, in a word, natural. Each track is an entire narrative of its own, taking listeners on multi-tiered instrumental journeys through the Tygris palate. Honing in on percussive runs and rock-solid bass lines, the EP pays its respects to the influences that shaped it while pushing Tygris’ arrangement and production skills to their next fulcrum. For fans, collectors, and selectors of contemporary drum and bass music, Shadow Box is sure to be an instant grab and a stalwart favorite for 2024.

Artwork by Pete Cote.

pheel. x Rasp-5 x Wessanders x LuFilthy x ESOK x Lucinda x Ohmizzu – Trenches

pheel. x Rasp-5 x Wessanders x LuFilthy x ESOK x Lucinda x Ohmizzu – Trenches [RUSTS045]
pheel. x Rasp-5 x Wessanders x LuFilthy x ESOK x Lucinda x Ohmizzu – Trenches [RUSTS045]
$1.00
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Listen on: Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music
Watch on: YouTube

Release Credits:

Production by pheel., Wessanders, & ESOK.
Vocals by Rasp-5, LuFilthy, Ohmizzu, & Lucinda

Artwork by Savannah Welsch
Video by Zachary Carter

TRENCHES (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

callmenikkip - it's just a phase

callmenikkip – it's just a phase [RUST082]
callmenikkip – it's just a phase [RUST082]
$4.00
Add To Cart

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

About ‘its just a phase’:

Blasting signals out from the heart of Asheville, North Carolina, Nikki Perri’s callmenikkip project is a part of the burgeoning new face of American electronic music, bringing a swath of textures, rhythms, and motifs from outside the usual bass music zeitgeist. Channeling a year’s worth of consistent, sometimes grinding creative work into a single package, her latest collection of tracks comes with fresh appeal and dynamic drum and bass compositions. Just in time for the Rusts 82nd release, we're incredibly excited to present callmenikkip’s it's just a phase EP to our wider fanbase.

Through four dedicated tracks, it's just a phase eschews the flattened dynamics and decibel-driven weight that have pushed key genres and styles in the American landscape for the last several years. Instead, through pivoting the focus towards the melodic and narrative elements in each track, callmenikkip lays out fundamental full-time rhythms that feel at home both on the dancefloor and in a solid set of headphones. Showcasing the creative bridge between physically and emotionally-charged dance music, each song is as palatable as the last, putting her grasp music theory fundamentals fully on the same table as her clear rhythmic finesse. For fans and appreciators of high-fidelity, low-drag drum and bass music, it's just a phase will surely find a long-time home in any discerning catalog.

Release Credits:

Production, mixing, & mastering by callmenikkip
Artwork by Vurp Visuals & callmenikkip

Callmenikkip on ‘it’s just a phase’:

“This EP is a reflection of the ups & downs of life. Like the moon, we all go through our moods & phases; however, at the end of the day, we must remember it's all temporary. These tracks were all written over the course of 2023, which was the most difficult year in my adult life thus far. Being the deeply emotional witchy/crystal girlie I am, I've always identified heavily with the symbolism of the moon and her phases. She reminds me to take a deep breath and remember: this too shall pass (which it did, and I'm so excited for the blessings that are manifesting this year after the trials and tribulations of the past).”

More About Callmenikkip:

callmenikkip creates & curates genre-fluid sounds that make you breathe & feel. Nikki P was born & raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA -- music has been an integral part of her life since she was a baby. Growing up she participated in as many music-related school programs as she could; at 12 she began writing her own original tracks, singing at the piano. At 15, Nikki discovered the depths of their love for Hip-Hop/R&B and started making beats on Garageband, releasing a few tracks on Soundcloud under the moniker "nikki p"; however, production and releases slowed down towards the end of high school/start of college.

In 2018, by chance, Nikki went to her first electronic music festival solo and fell in love with the scene. Following that weekend, the callmenikkip project was born -- over the next few years they taught themselves synthesis and upgraded from Garageband to Ableton. After graduating college, Nikki moved to Asheville, NC in April 2020 to further pursue their sonic endeavors. Over the past 4 years, callmenikkip has made a splash in the Asheville and Denver electronic scenes with her genre-bending yet ever-chill sound. callmenikkip excels at crafting and performing hybrid live sets, delivering a smooth blend of original tunes and hand-selected tracks by artists of all sizes & origin.

Zonra - The Folded Road

Zonra – The Folded Road [RUST081]
Zonra – The Folded Road [RUST081]
$7.00

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Listen on: Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Music

Across our list of affiliate producers and friendly creatives, Jackson Hale continues to deliver pristine polish and professionalism through his Zonra project. Across the arc of his aural evolution, the staples of the Zonra palette have gradually taken on clearer compositional heights, with yearly successive releases driving home the developing narrative within Hale’s musical vision. Once again, we find ourselves excited and honored to platform the latest collection of minted Zonra works and his 5th release with The Rust; The Folded Road.

Consisting of 7 tracks written and produced across a  6 year span on the road, The Folded Road offers a variety of snapshots into the effusive stages of the Zonra sound. Resting primarily in the down tempo wheelhouse, every song features the techy ambience at the core of Hale’s signature style, while perusing both gentle and hard-hitting percussive backdrops across the record. Throaty synthesis and distorted, reverberant pads mingle with delicate pops and transient downbeats in the same simmering dish, dovetailing the early in-roads of Hale’s discography with the contemporary shape of the Zonra catalog. For fans and appreciators of compositionally-driven, emotive electronic music, your next pocket of sound can found within the folds of our 81st release, The Folded Road.

Eue – Purple Sky

Eue - Purple Sky [RUST080]
Eue - Purple Sky [RUST080]
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About Eue and ‘Purple Sky’:

For our first release of 2024, we’ve chosen to present a particularly avant garde producer, Eue, and their extraordinarily lucid Purple Sky EP. The French multi-instrumentalist has a pronounced penchant for electronica across a range of styles and tempos, from Industrial dance-floor rhythms to neo-soul downtempo grooves; this time around, he’s chosen to lean into a blend of contemporary bass music and nu-jazz compositional motifs.

Across four unique tracks, Eue manages to channel a phosphorescent fusion of neuro, IDM, and modern jazz fundamentals, blending asynchronous percussion and aqueous instrumental lines. The two solo original compositions sit alongside two collaborative tracks, featuring the talents of Android Dreaming (US) and High Dude (FR), rounding out the record with a healthy mixture of influences. For fans and appreciators of exploratory songwriting and production in the space of glitch music, Purple Sky is uniquely suited to satiate like-minded palates.

VIdeo: Eue – Purple Sky (Ft. Android Dreaming)

Music by Eue & Android Dreaming.
Video by Eue.