It’s rare to see a female MC. Or DJ. Rarer still to see a female music producer. To see one who deftly combines all three aspects in a live electronic act is virtually unheard of – until now.
Singing since she was a child in various choirs and theatre productions, ill-esha has always integrated her voice into her musical endeavors. After being told she didn’t sound “rock” enough in her garage band years, ill-esha found a more accepting home in the world of electronic music – making her first appearances in the late 90s as a vocalist and quickly picking up a set of decks to become the first female in the international drum & bass scene to simultaneously spin, sing and MC. Currently counting all styles of broken beat in her DJing repertoire, she has performed across the globe in various venues; from American raves to Asian waterparks to Canadian national television.
Restless of her original lyrics constantly dissolving into the void of freestyle performance, ill-esha began to pursue audio engineering and sat eagerly alongside her engineer friends, trading her vocals for production tips. After many successful releases over the last 7 years within the drum & bass sphere, the next logical step was to write an album’s worth of material encompassing all of her musical roots.
“The Perfect Circuit” is the culmination of a decade of global travel, an infinity of musical tastes, and simultaneous passions for technology and nature. An emotional fusion of acoustic and electronic components, it draws influence from rock, electronic, funk, jazz and hip hop. Debuting in 2007, ill-esha stormed the New Music West, Soundwave, and Victoria Electronic Music Festivals with the Perfect Circuit Band - a dynamic, rotating collective of talented musicians alongside her laptop, synths and effects. Continuing to garner critical acclaim in both the mainstream and underground, ill-esha’s song “Broken Windows” placed in the top 3 category finalists for the 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Competition; simultaneously, her newest electronic release charted at #1 for singles on junodownloads.com. The album was officially released on March 16th, 2008 and is available on CD and digital download through ill-esha.com.
Currently ill-esha is following her newfound passions for glitch hop and dubstep with the Integrated Grime Unit ....
Whether it’s that perfect sunrise at a beach or a desert party or in the depths of a dark urban winter in a dingy club, the euphoric sounds of the Headtron roster bring a certain bliss only obtained though fine crafting of sound and a great deal of musicality. The melodically driven music behind tough urban beats brings thoughts of Jazz, Chillout Music, IDM, Hip Hop and R & B all coming together for a morning of cocktails and a jam session and the result is a magical blend of all.
Headtron is a boutique music company founded in 2010 by Alex Becket in Los Angeles California, comprised of music producers, musicians, visual artists, videographers, designers, builders, and more. They strive to create next level electronic music made by original artists. Muti Music has already had the honor of working with Stephan Jacobs, very special guest ill-esha, +verb, ChrisB. and Sugarpill on EPs and remixes that all brought new takes on the ‘West Coast Sound’. We are now honored to be sharing music from the rest of the Headtron roster (http://www.headtron.com).
Artwork is by Ryan Johnson (http://www.artbyryanjohnson.com)
Reverie is just that, “a fun filled frolic down a bright colored graffiti sidewalk on a scorching summer day.”
Bouncing between Dubstep and Glitch Hop influences and bringing a funky, melodic and fresh take on both.
Ill-Esha hails from Vancouver, BC, Ill-Esha burst onto the North American electronic scene as a soul vocalist featured on various releases for the likes of Breakbeat Science, Fokuz, and BluSaphir, gradually becoming known for the seamless incorporation of original vocals and MCing into DJ sets expressing her unique take on bass music. Her multi-dimensional approach spans glitch hop, dubstep and downtempo, creating a dynamic live show which has set ill-esha apart amidst some of electronic music’s most groundbreaking acts.
With releases on trendsetting labels such as Muti Music, Daly City, Street Ritual, Subway, Haunted Audio, Dub Police and Simplify, Ill-Esha has ranked #1 on Junodownload, #2 on Addictech, and #3 on the Beatport Electronic charts as well as held the #1 spot on Soundcloud for 2 weeks in early 2011. Ill-Esha’s recent album, Circadian Rhythms, released on San Francisco’s Daly City, went public to critical acclaim in the electronic world catapulting her trademark blend of feminine energy and ruthless bass to further worldwide recognition.
Name: Afro Monk
Location: Glitch.fm / Dallas, TX
Publication: http://afromonk.com
Favourite Track: 33 And A Third
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Incredible album! Love Love Love Pretty Banger! Glad to see this finally sees a release! Joey kills it on 33 and a third! Slide Over is def my 2nd fav!
Name: Joe Muggs
Publication: Mixmag
Favourite Track: Sidewalk Chalk
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Huge release! Love the contrast of the more crunchy elements with the cosmic sounds….
Name: Alan Ranta
Location: Vancouver, BC
Publication: Exclaim! / PopMatters / Tiny Mix Tapes
Favourite Track: The Golden Mean
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Ill-Esha is not just one of Canada’s best female producers; she’s one of the best producers on the continent.
Name: Greg Reve
Location: SA
Publication: www.soundcloud.com/GregReve
Favourite Track: Sidewalk Chalk
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Probably my favourite Muti-Music release ever so far. Fucking brilliant! Clean chewy producton & enough soul that would put any angel in heaven to shame. Everything I love about this music combined into one. If I could favourite them all, I would. 5/5
Name: Praketh Sunder
Location: India
Publication: Decompressio Chamber (Coming Soon)
Favourite Track: Retrospect
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Always been a big fan of what Ill-Esha does ...love the heavy retroish funk vibe in her productions ...big Ups!
Name: Knowa Knowone
Location: Oaktown
Favourite Track: Sidewalk Chalk
Rating: 5/5
Comments: Epic. Totally amazing. Sidewalk Chalk is so rad, i’ve been waiting for that one since she played it for me in the studio a couple months ago. Looses a little steam towards the end, but i’m just not that into dubstep right now.
Name: Star
Location: Bay Area
Publication: http://beglitched.com
Favourite Track: The Golden Mean
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Cherry blossoms has been ruling my world lately… I am hoping for some more ill-esha vocal goodness on this release! 
Name: K-Tee Shogun
Location: Shogun Audio
Publication: www.shogunaudio.co.uk
Favourite Track: Sidewalk Chalk
Rating: 4/5
Comments: Wow - i like this a lot. Im not familiar with Ill Esha but this is so damn funky. Full support from Shogun Audio
The original mix is like being inside a world of playful toy robots and pixelated objects that then go on to teach you a thing or two.
Some of our favorite producers right now the take those sounds to varied heights and other unusual places and through a myriad of contemporary and emerging genres that make this EP a very pleasant listen. We’re stoked that +Verb found his way to us.
“Giant robot laser battles; tender mechanized love-making; the blinking blips and bleeps of artificial intelligence communications: these are the computerized moods that will wash over you in the most calculated of ways.”
+verb (pronounced “Adverb” by humans) is a new blog favorite in the genre of bass. Recently featured on Soundcloud’s “What’s Hot” list for a collaboration with Stephan Jacobs, the world is anxiously preparing for an invasion of his robotic army.
With forthcoming releases on Vermin Street and Simplify Recordings and hot on the heals of his recent EP on Car Crash Set and a stellar remix of Starkey on Civil Music, +Verb now delivers a melodic glitched out chill track ‘Cough’ which then get’s remixed by some of the hottest folks in the ‘glitch’ scene right now.
We’ve gathered a collection of who’s-who from the Canadian and US Glitch Hop and Dubstep scenes that each deliver a unique remix as well as adding extra melody and flavor to Subverts anthem track ‘Speaker Humpin’. Four versions were heard on the Village Stage at this years Shambala Music Festival by a few thousand bass addicts and mosh pit revelers.
The mixes take you through multiple aspects of contemporary bass culture and if bass is your thing then there is a version for you.
About Subvert
Subvert hails from Calgary, Alberta and his winding path in music started in 1996. Proof of his dedication to ‘bass’ is in his track record of creating the world’s loudest competition vehicles, designing pK’s 90,000 watt sound system and managing the Village Stage at Shambhala Music Festival. He started DJing in 2000 and combined with his extensive work on sound systems and attention to precision sound, he was ultimately & naturally led down the path to creating his own music productions and once again the low frequencies consumed him.
Subvert’s sound is a combination of throbbing, relentless basslines, melodic strings and haunting pianos singing through midtempo glitch / acid crunk and dubstep. His attention to detail and the ability to tune into ‘bass that works on a sound-system ’ can be felt in all of his music productions, he is an expert in the subsonic, the crowd and the show.
Subvert’s ‘Dirt Nap’ EP rocked the Addictech and Beatport ‘Grime / Dubstep’ charts and lead to him being featured in XLR8R magazine and radio play on multiple urban music shows, his Speaker Humpin EP on Muti Music and Party Alarm EP on Rottun Recordings blurred boundaries between edgy Dubstep, Glitch Hop and Big Beat. Also having released on Punch Drunk and Rottun Recordings, this artists talent has been noted.