Check out the F I R S T SSKWAN Release! The full 7 track LP Available on the SSKWAN Bandcamp, go follow along and check out the record!
sskwan.bandcamp.com
The “Rise of WAKAAN” dates back to 2015, when Martin Stääf (known as the Liquid Stranger) booked a North American tour to promote his aspiring idea for a bass music collective. This vision culminated in 2019’s sold-out WAKAAN Music Festival, but rather than savor the accomplishment, Stääf announced mid-performance the birth of a new sub-label, SSKWAN.
Fast forward through 2020, this promise has materialized in the form of an epic LP from New Jersey-producer, Au5, who provided support on that first WAKAAN tour 5 years ago. With his polymorphous-production catalog, Au5 was a polished choice to debut the eclectic stylings of this new label. It’s his first downtempo-focused project since 2010.
ALCHEMY opens with a 7-plus minute title track; an astral collage of house, ambient and downtempo where style dictates the evolving narrative. “Vapour” is a kaleidoscope of sound and mood, while “Etheros” takes listeners through a cloud of ambiance that utilizes atmosphere over beat production. “Myst” distributes more tangible dub and basslines, a downtempo adventure that continues on “Neptuna.” The album wraps up with the fully-serene “The Cliff” and a wondrous, sublime approach on “Return to Moonland,” which caps the abundantly genre-fluid style of this new label.
WAKAAN now has the status and demand among modern alt-bass fans that demands consistent, familiar output, but with SSKWAN returns the magic and mystery that this movement first captured. Experience the awe and wonder all over again with ALCHEMY.
“Alchemy LP is a healing journey through different environments, reflective of the combinations and alchemy of the natural elements. A meditative interplay of melancholy and delight, with the intention to stimulate, relax, introspect, and lastly inspire the mind and soul. It is a reset button for a chaotic world.” - Au5