V/A - Oxidized, Vol. 3

Artwork by Mocktail

The Oxidized compilation series is a charity project we have been working on since the inception of The Rust Music, with Oxidized, Vol. 1 being our very first label release in February 2017. At the end of each year we select a new charity, aid organization, or non-profit, to which all proceeds from the series are donated. In the past we have donated to organizations focusing on natural disaster aid, environmental restoration and preservation, as well as civil/human rights advocates and COVID-19 relief efforts on local, national, and international levels. Proceeds from the Oxidized series in 2022 and 2023 will be donated to support equal rights to healthcare and access to abortion.

Across the last 6 years, we've recurrently tapped into a network of both our roster talent and our close associates across the experimental electronic music spectrum to craft our first two Oxidized compilations. Now, for the final entry in the Oxidized Trilogy, we've brought together 32 producers, songwriters, and musicians from the US, the UK, Germany and Georgia to craft 28 tracks that cross through a medley of motifs in Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, Downtempo, and more. Please relax and enjoy this curated selection of moods and attitudes, courtesy of The Rust Music and our extended kinfolk.

MALAKAI - Breathing Room

Art: Jules Schaeffer

Patience in production has always been a particularly sharp knife in MALAKAI’s artistic multi-tool; from his earliest releases and onward, his deliberate walk-over-run attitude has continuously paid off in the form of an increasingly dynamic and meticulously curated release palette. Consequently, Breathing Room is inarguably the most dynamic MALAKAI release to date.


Breathing Room wastes no time in setting up the pitch, opening up with the fresh break-beat cuts that have already begun to poke through MALAKAI’s discography. Maintaining cruising speeds throughout the entire journey, the EP combines his time-honed penchant for harmony and atmosphere with rambunctious rhythms and the right dash of emotional sizzle. For new and recurrent appreciators of salient, stirring music, Breathing Room is sure to be a revolving favorite.

MALAKAI - Odd Views

Art: A.L. Grime

Art: A.L. Grime

With sharper edges, elevated sound design and a new posse of collaborators, MALAKAI comes correct on his fourth EP, Odd Views. It’s been more than two years since the New York City-based producer first released with The Rust, but in some ways it feels like a lifetime ago.

On these four tracks it’s plain to hear that MALAKAI’s sound design and songwriting have improved and his intent has sharpened. The sonic material itself isn’t revolutionary, but the subtle ways he moves and shapes the sounds gives attitude to the songs. Strong as ever is MALAKAI’s ability to communicate a feeling with melody, harmony, and note choice. Only now, the feelings are different. He’s deviated ever so slightly from his usual earthy, acoustic, mystical motifs. The void that remains is filled with something grittier, more urban, more direct.

His friends have changed, too, It’s reflected in the posture of this EP, which features Thought Process, pheel., and cuts from Bogtrotter. These producers, who are heavily influenced by hip-hop, deliver great bounce and buoyancy on their features. It’s still MALAKAI’s signature sound - grazing along, moving forward with swing and without haste. Not quite glitch hop, not quite dub, not quite hip-hop, but a home brew with all these ingredients. The edges are again sharper, the movements more crisp. There’s less to think about and more to groove on.

MALAKAI - Saros [New Cycle]

Coming back around for its second pass through the gauntlet, MALAKAI’s methodically sculpted Saros EP has been remixed and reimagined by a select cadre of forward-thinking producers on Saros [New Cycle]. Primate., pheel., Foxtail, and wiseyoungfool bring forth unique flavors of experimentation on each respective remix.

From wildly enhanced percussive movements to fresh synthesis and juggled arrangements, each producer has spared no effort unleashing a renewed creative wave over Saros. Having no mind to miss out on all the fun, MALAKAI also snuck in a VIP of “My Middle Name..“, reinvigorating the track from the top down with a fresh lease of life. Considering each new take falls in line with the MALAKAI ethos, fans of his original catalog will thoroughly enjoy the musings on Saros [New Cycle].

The Rust Music - Oxidized Vol. 2 [VA]

Art: Mocktail, 5AM

Art: Mocktail, 5AM

The Rust Music is proud to release it's sophomore compilation album, Oxidized Vol. 2. Featuring 26 producers from across both coasts of the US, Canada, and Scotland, this collection of tracks boasts meticulous composition, arrangement, sound design, and cohesion. 
It encompasses multiple styles and flavors of glitch, neuro, psy, IDM, downtempo, dubstep, trip-hop and lo-fi hip-hop. 

100% of proceeds will go to Hurricane Maria Relief.

MALAKAI - Saros

What tends to separate electronic producers in a vast sea of equivalency is their approach to musicality; the tonality, notation, instrumental dialogue, and sonic color palette chosen by particular artists are what sets them apart from the pack.

MALAKAI breathes that methodology tenfold, and his most recent release, Saros should make that lucid to those not in the know. A choice blend of downtempo and glitch hop, abrasiveness is left at the door in favor of curating a soothing journey full of melodious interplay, expert percussion programming, 

The Rust Music - Oxidized Vol. 1 [VA]

In late 2015 I started building weekly playlists as a platform for me to share some of my favorite tunes that I found rummaging through SoundCloud. I enjoyed writing about tracks as I listened to them, and I realized that there's just such an incredible breadth of music being released every single day. Why not combine the two? It's overwhelming, and the sad truth is that much of it might not ever get the admiration it deserves. 

This is why I created The Rust - I wanted to spread the music to the masses, and share the music that inspires me with people who would appreciate and vibe with it. That's what I've finally gotten the chance to do with Oxidized - Volume One. 

This compilation is a collection of 10 tracks from 11 astonishingly talented musicians, all of which I'm happy to call friends. This project has been in the works for a long time, and I'm elated to finally share each of these spectacular works of art with you. 

Normally when I post things on The Rust, I give a lengthy description and my detailed opinions on the piece. However, this time i'm sharing music with you, not words - I think I'll let it speak for itself. 

Thanks for staying chooned. It's because of all of you that I do this... 
All proceeds of the compilation will be donated to ACLU Worldwide