Supersillyus @ Forbidden Bass Wednesdays

Come see Supersillyus lay down his unique blend of psychedelic dance grooves and electronic wizardry as a part of Forbidden Bass Wednesdays at Rehab Nightclub in Worcester. The party kicks off at 9 p.m. with opening performances from DJ Siga and NLYTN (DJ Lenny Sosa) prior to Supersillyus

18+ with a $5 cover charge gets you access to Rehab's 3rd and recently opened VIP loft on the 4th floor.

Enjoy Rehab's enormous dance-floor, killer lighting, and top-line bar. The VIP Loft is complete with DJ booths overhanging the dance-floor and amazing lounge. Bring 4 friends and receive a free wristband.

Grab your glowsticks for a night of seriously silly entertainment.

Desiderata Festival 2010

The Tribe is calling - the Desiderata Tribe. Prepare for a 5 day spectacle of electronic jams, visual and performing arts, independent films, yoga, and camping in the beautiful Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Desiderata features musicians, DJs, and artists from around the world crossing a variety of genres.

In addition to music and arts, festival-goers can also participate in wellness workshops, yoga, drum circles, campfires, tribal dances, World Cup match viewings, and interactive art exhibits.

Notable acts included Alex B (of Pnuma Trio), Juno Reactor, Future Rock, Talamasca, and dozens more.

Even more exciting! Base Trip Records' electronic wizard, Supersillyus, will be playing at the Lost in Sound tent. Friends of Base Trip Records, Wobblesauce, will also perform.

Desiderata will run from June 23-27th at Stone Tavern Farm in Roxbury, NY. Tickets are available through the official website.

Hope to see you there. WOMP!

Alex B (of Pnuma Trio) and Supersillyus at Wonder Bar

Come out to Wonder Bar on Friday, June 11th, to see electronic phenomenon Alex B (of Pnuma Trio) perform material from his newly released solo debut, Moments--currently #4 on iTunes electronic charts.

Base Trip Records' own Supersillyus will open the night alongside EJ3 Robot of the Boston-based music collective, Fameless Fam.

Set breaks will feature up and coming DJ, Krallspace.

Admission is 21+ only. Show begins at 9 p.m. and tickets are $15. Presale tickets are available through Lost In Sound.

Check out the Facebook event for more details.

The night promises to be full of chewy, chunky, electronic goodness. Don't miss it!

Paintings by Supersillyus

You may know Supersillyus as a musician, but he also moonlights as a painter. Check out some of this never-before-seen original artwork!

(WOW)

(mushroomushroomushroom)

(trippy)

More to come!

TEDxBU

This Sunday, April 26, founder of Base Trip Records, Conor Loughman, and Base Trip Records' artist, Aviator (Neil Anand), will be speaking at the TEDxBU conference on BU campus.

TED is a nonprofit organization that focuses on conferences to spread worthwhile ideas. TEDxBU is an independently organized TED event, hosted by students at Boston University. The conference is a free event where anyone can gather information about education, communication, leadership, science, and technology.

Conor Loughman will be speaking about Base Trip Records, specifically music and entrepreneurship in the record industry. Aviator will be speaking about thoughtfulness and the hip-hop scene. Be sure to check out our favorite members of Base Trip Records this weekend at one of the greatest idea-spreading events of the year at BU!

Over three hundred people have reserved a spot for this event, but there are still spots to attend the conference. Even if you can’t make it to the event, content will be available online shortly after the event. The event will take place at The College of General Studies (871 Commonwealth Ave) between noon and 5 pm. Speakers will give 45 minute sessions on each topic with a short break. For more information you can follow the event on Twitter or on Facebook.

See you there,

Devondra

The BU Today Sessions: Micah

Micah recently performed some of his unreleased tracks for BU Today. Check out the videos.

You can also read BU Today's interview with Micah, here.

Micah 2.0

Last time we talked you were thinking about making an artist name change to one more suitable to your growth as a person and artist. Have you made a final decision?

My final decision is my name, Micah. It’s easy and Conor said a really good thing the other night when I actually performed first as Micah. I think it was at chill out and he said, “You know what? Micah really fits you because you don’t need any of the labels or an alias. You just are Micah that’s it. That’s all there is.” I don’t need to define myself as some other name.

What is your new material like? You talked about incorporating personal changes and new experiences into your music. How is that going?

I’m working on a lot of demos right now, but there has been a lot of different music. I like it a lot because I just got a new Mac computer so it’s a lot easier to record demos and actually put the sound to something and be able to tweak it if I want to. Conor is teaching me how to use Pro Tools and we had our first lesson last week. Hopefully we’ll have more. It’ll be really cool to get into that stuff so I know what my voice sounds like and the potential is for that kind of stuff.

Now the music you’re working on, is it similar to your old persona, Rapper Steph, or is it different?

The music is definitely different because I’ve definitely grown in my music and you can tell through the lyrics in my songs. I’ve just gotten a lot more used to be being on the mic and recording myself and knowing exactly what I want different parts of my music to sound like. It’s more experiential so I know exactly what I want to sound like. It’s pretty cool.

Since you’ve been working on new material, have you booked or are you planning future shows?

I just did Jamnesty and tomorrow I’m doing Human Rights Week. I was just on the phone with somebody who works at Hampshire College. I’m doing their Spring Jam which is their second biggest event of the year at Hampshire College in Western Mass. There are four other colleges around there: U Mass Amherst, Amherst, Mount Holyoke and Smith. It’s just a giant day where everybody is outside; it’s like an arts and music festival. It’s also Accepted Students Day so they invite all of their accepted students to their campus. It’s going be a pretty big audience and I’m really pumped about it.

Are you planning on releasing a mix tape any time soon?

I know Aviator took that route and he got a lot of plays. I wouldn’t be opposed to it and I’m working on a lot of stuff that is mix tape quality because it is using borrowed beats from Mos Def and Florence and the Machine. That is a possibility, but I was just planning on releasing those tracks as freebies. I mean a mix tape would be really cool, but right now I’m focusing on putting out an album. We’ll see what happens. If I had the music for it, I would definitely do it. I’ve really been building up the last two and a half years on making an album; an album with original beats and all of that stuff. I’ve never really thought about the idea of a mix tape. It would be really cool, but I need to write a little more music and material, so that would take a little time.

You just signed with Base Trip Records. How did it feel when you finalized it?

I’m going to be honest; it felt kind of scary because I’ve never actually committed myself to anything that’s longer than half a semester or maybe even a semester. I mean it was really cool because it made everything very official. Only time will tell and I’m not going to push time. Time does its own thing. I am not in control of time.

Any new updates in the life of Micah other than what we’ve discussed tonight?

I’m in the process of getting my name legally changed. That’s really rad. It’s going to be Micah Andre. I have to send in all of my petition stuff to the newspaper so they can make it a public notice. Once I do that and bring it to the probate court I’m done; it’s legal. I’m pretty much through the hard part.

Thanks Micah,

Devondra

Do The Silly Dance

Rob Uslan may be working at a restaurant to pay the bills right now, but it’s the vigorous work he’s putting into his next album that he considers his real job. Supersillyus (Uslan’s stage name) says his next album is taking a direction change. “While the whacky bleep-bloops and psychedelic riffs are still a driving force, there is certainly more of a dance element flowing through my new album,” says Supersillyus. He feels the dance element will make his music more widely appealing.

Supersillyus’ creative flare is not limited to music. He also enjoys drawing and graphic design. His most recent design can be seen on the sleek cover work for Aviator’s mix tape, “Thank You, Come Again” and he’s currently working on album art for InfinitRock’s beat tape.

Although his life is currently chaotic, Supersillyus remains dedicated to connecting and inspiring people through music. He leaves me with these words: “I’ve seen the way music has affected my life and the lives of my peers and if there is any way I can come close to having that kind of effect on another human being, I will spend the rest of my life trying to do so.”

Love, Cristin

BTR on NPR

On April 12th, National Public Radio WGBH featured Base Trip Records on The Callie Crossley Show as a part of their "Local Made Good" section. Conor Loughman and Supersillyus (Rob Uslan) spoke with Crossley about the record label and played several tracks from Supersillyus and Micah on-air. Jump to the 41 minute mark to hear Base Trip Records, unless you want to sit through 40 minutes of talk about libraries and Jewish delis (maybe you do).

Aviator Chic

Ankur Chaturvedi, childhood friend of Aviator (Neil Anand) and Base Trip Records member, caught up with his buddy for a little Q&A about new material, opening for KiD CuDi, and his general life. Enjoy.

1) Going back to the old days of Aviator, how has your music evolved?

It was all about tightening everything up, word economy, and restraint. I’m trying to say more with less, these days.

2) Are any of the old rhymes still in your work? Or did you choose to get rid of them as you grew as a person?

Sometimes I resurrect an old line or too. As a person, I’m not really one to sit back and reflect on old times for too long. I don’t have boxes of memories and trinkets. Just the same, I don’t listen to my older music because I’m always thinking about the next move.

Sometimes a person will throw on and old song of mine and I’ll listen along. Oftentimes, I’m surprised by the gems I find among the utter dross I was recording as a kid.

3) Were you always about the lyrics, like you are now?

Absolutely. I’m a lyricist. That’s my job and it always has been. My job involves certain essential components – lyrics and content, flow, and performance. Everyday I’m working on one or more of these components. The wheels don’t stop. Even if I wanted them to, they wouldn’t give in. I’m afraid it’s going to be fatal.

4) The typical interview question... at the time, did you think you'd try to rap professionally?

Yes. At age 10 I knew. As I get older I delude myself with games and jobs, socialization and intellectual masturbation, but music has always been my love. It’s as Duke Ellington once said, "music is my mistress and she plays second fiddle to no one."

5) Have Chester's beats affected your style? Or would you say it’s the other way around—seeing as how you're the older brother.

Chester, InfinitiRock, is five years younger than me – making him 18 years old now. He has always been a prodigy. By age 10 he had already mastered “beat-making” and was moving into a different echelon. At this point, I really think he’s just doing it to piss everyone off and shake people up. There are lots of subliminal messages and textures in his music.

Even though I’m older, I find myself consistently humbled by the kid and his work. He has so many songs and so many styles. None of these songs are repetitive, either. That being the case, I’ve been trained by his music to do the same thing. In my mind, he’s paving the way and I’m just chasing along. We both play an equal and integral part to the work, but his music has always affected my style.


6) Do you guys sit together and come up with tracks? Does he make a beat, and you rap on top? Or do you write a rap, and he comes up with a beat to match the flow? How would you describe the work sessions?

Sometimes I sit with him in the studio while he makes songs and sometimes I come up with lines in my head, but more often than not, he comes up with a beat (or a batch of them) and sends it to me online. These serve as the catalyst for my lyrics. If I’m feeling a certain way and I know that lines are packing my head, I will actively seek out of one of his instrumentals, one that matches my mood, and begin to write everything out on top. I try not to leave a song unfinished. After 12 years of writing, I’ve developed certain techniques and habits. Though I’m a relatively easy-going and amiable guy, I’m a perfectionist and an asshole in the studio.


7) Was opening for KiD CuDi at the House of Blues your largest performance so far? Did you get to mention "They Ain't Right" to him?

It was absolutely my largest performance to date. It was a sold out show at the one of the foremost venues in the country. When I stepped out on that stage in front of all 3,000 of those kids, I didn’t say one word for about a minute. I just soaked in their energy. It was palpable. It was humbling. It was terrifying. It was incredible.

I didn’t mention the song to him or chose to play it at the show. I recorded a song over the instrumental of his most popular song, so I think I made the right decision by letting him have his moment. I think it would have been in poor taste if I acted otherwise.

8) How did you feel before the performance? During? Afterward? How would you compare it to the smaller venues you've performed at?

Before, I was petrified. I was pacing around my dressing room. I thought I was going to vomit for hours. During, I was petrified. I turned my head off and let myself get into my zone and put on the best show I could, but I was absolutely petrified by all of those people and the bright lights. It was surreal. Afterwards, I was relieved to be over with it all and I was curious to know how it was from the audience’s perspective (the perfectionist thing).

The smaller venues make you feel big. Everybody is packed like sardines into a basement or hole-in-the wall club. People know your words, they’re in your face, and they’re on level ground with you. At the house of blues, it made me feel gigantic to a point of discomfort. Bigger sardine can, more sardines, elevated stage. Very scary, but I never let them see the whites of my eyes.

9) What's next for Aviator? I hear you're finishing up an album. Can you tell us what it's called? How would you compare it to the mix tape?

So much. The album is on its way. It’s called Bigger Than My Matador. The title is a little ambitious-sounding. It’s basically about being the bull and conquering the matador before he conquers you. After dropping such a feel-good mixtape like "Thank You, Come Again," I think the album might surprise people and might even make them feel uncomfortable. It’s very emotional and raw. There are songs about absolute helplessness, trust lost, and reconciling my precarious position as a “conscious” rapper. There are also really accessible songs on there.

I’m just working on keeping it all together, man. I turn 23 this Monday. I have a new job, a beautiful girlfriend that I adore, and a promising career in music. I just want to keep it this way forever.

Thanks, Avi,

Th34nk (Ank)

To Infinity...

18^th birthdays have their perks--the right to vote, buy cigarettes, lottery tickets and porn to name a few. But for New York super-producer, InfinitiRock, this was just the icing on the proverbial birthday cake. After officially signing with Base Trip Records on his birthday, March 12th, InfinitiRock released his debut beat tape, “17Years.” The release features 40 tracks of hip-hop and electronic beats influenced by everything from Hindi instrumentals to European pop.

InfinitiRock’s name reflects his approach to music and tireless work ethic. Since he first began experimenting with beats 12 years ago, InfinitiRock has produced new tracks almost every day. He says that he never takes breaks, which is also why he never puts spaces in his track titles. “I have no time for spaces.”

Music has always been an influential part of InfinitiRock’s life. Growing up in an Indian family, his parents would often play traditional Hindi music around the house. “I didn’t speak or understand Hindi,” he explains, “so the voice was merely an instrumental tool, rather than a lyrical one.”

InfinitiRock is not the only Anand making music. In addition to his solo work, InfinitiRock produces beats for his older brother, Neil—Base Trip Records’ hip-hop artist, Aviator. Their musical collaboration began about 12 years ago when Neil turned to Chester and said, “Let’s make music! I’ll be Atari, you can be Pacman.”

InfinitiRock’s beats back most of Aviator’s raps. The brothers collaborate rather than compete, bouncing sounds off of one another until they find the right mix. “We have separate targets and different ears,” the young producer says. InfinitiRock produced many of the tracks on Aviator’s mix tape, “Thank You, Come Again,” and Aviator’s debut L.P., Bigger Than My Matador, due out later this Spring, will exclusively feature his brother.

Music isn’t the only passion in the young producer’s life. InfinitiRock loves cooking and admits that if he wasn’t a musician, he would be a chef. “I have a similar approach to cooking as I do with instrumentals,” he says. “I add a lot of details to create one dish.” Next year, InfinitiRock will attend SUNY Purchase pursuing a degree in Biology.

Be on the lookout for InfinitiRock’s first E.P. expected next month.

Love,
Cristin Cummins

Aviator Opens for KiD CuDi!

Aviator opening for KiD CuDi at the House of Blues Boston!

Kid Cudi at the House of Blues.

Rocking the National Geographic Tee.

Aviator at House of Blues! The crowd joins in the "A" for Aviator hand gesture.

Aviator and Kid Cudi at The House of Blues!

Boston University took over the House of Blues Boston on March 20th for the spring "Scarlet Fever" concert. The audience teemed with excitement as local artists, including DJ E-MARCE, Taylor Walker, and Aviator, shared the stage with hip-hop phenomenon KiD CuDi.

Aviator performance included tracks from his new mixtape “Thank You, Come Again” and opened with his signature song, “Tell Me Why.” Avi’s energy was contagious and got the crowd making the two-fingered A in no time. He proved, like the track states, that “the mic looked right in [his] arm.” Avi connected most to the audience with his song “Bring Nick Back,” giving a shout out to “all [his] 90’s kids.” References to “Hey Arnold!” and pogs hit a sweet note for Generation Y as well as the artist himself – the song is an homage to his days growing up with his little brother who provides the infectious beats in the background). Other songs performed included “I Like It” and “Jai Flow,” a tongue-in-cheek allusion to his Indian heritage.

The pairing of Aviator with KiD CuDi was a logical move based on their similarities. Both artists started rapping at a young age. However, CuDi was only a few years older than Aviator when he released his first mix tape in 2008. A year later, he released his first album, “Man on the Moon: The End of Day.” But Aviator isn’t far behind CuDi. Later this Spring, Avi's expected to release his full-length album “Bigger Than My Matador."

Until next time,

Sam

Aviator and Kid Cudi at The House of Blues!

Holy mind-blowing opportunity, Batman!

This Saturday, March 20th, Aviator will open for Kid Cudi at the Boston House of Blues as part of Boston University's Scarlet Fever spring weekend.

Also lending their artistic talents are DJ Taylor Walker and Jay K the DJ.

Tickets are currently on sale in the Link at the Boston University George Sherman Union and the Activities Info Desk:

$10 in-advance tickets for BU students with a BUID

$12 at the door and for non-BU guests (must be accompanied by a BU student)

The BU Programming Council is also offering $8 tickets for BU groups of 10 or more. You can reach the BUPC for more info at bupc@bu.edu.

Doors open at 6pm and the show will run until 10pm.

You can also read the BU Quad's recent profile on Aviator, here.

Come support Aviator, Base Trip Records, Kid Cudi and America (because why not?) this Saturday. We guarantee you'll have a mind-exploding time!

Love,

Base Trip Records

Boston Rapper Showcase

Come out to The Western Front in Cambridge, March 18th, for a rapper showcase headlined by the Boston hip-hop group, partyboobytrap!

Aviator will also perform, alongside Daniel Joseph, Brokn Englsh, Deal the Villain, and St. Joe Louis.

Show begins at 8 p.m. Admission is 21+ only (sorry to the underage).

Sure to be a night of rapper's delight! Bring yourself, your friends, anyone, and everyone.

Also, check out these links for additional info about the artists:

http://www.famelessfam.com/

http://allstonhiphop.wordpress.com/

Love,

Base Trip Records