Just a few weeks ago, the scenic Mishawaka venue in Colorado was graced by the good vibes and riveting talent of masterful producers, A Hundred Drums and Black Carl! Not only was this the pair’s first headline show in the bass capital, but in Black Carl’s words, the two were the first ever black headliners in bass and electronic music at this iconic, intimate mountain venue.
Right off the bat, creating an audio experience of distorted bass was Solfire, a Denver-based deep dub producer on the rise. The crowd began to fill in as attendees were spellbounded by the silky smooth transitions and experimental wubs of Dizzy!, another black creative making waves in the bass scene. Genre-defying producer, Chmura, was next up delivering effervescent basslines and charming the crowd with his unique sound.
Following those banger sets was the first headliner of the night, Black Carl! Unveiling sounds of the underground, his high energy saturated the air as he dropped unheard IDs, originals, and some brand new heaters from Of The Trees, Skrillex, and Vctre.
Closing out the night right was my girl, A Hundred Drums. The moon gleamed as she unleashed enchanting soundscapes and took listeners through an ethereal journey of dark, ambient bass. The Mishawaka mountain transformed into a jungle as this versatile queen spun the hottest tracks from downtempo to UK bass to psytrance. It was a truly unique and magical experience.
With spirited energy in the air, it was great to see history go down at such an intimate venue with fellow music lovers that are so passionate about this scene.
During Black Carl’s set, I watched a young boy probably around 13 years old, having the time of his life with his family and grooving harder than anyone on that mountain.
His pure energy was felt across the venue and his dance moves were noticed by Black Carl! himself. Carl eventually brought him up to dance on stage, creating an unforgettable memory in that boy’s life that he’ll cherish forever. This wholesome moment was so special to witness and just made my appreciation for the community flourish, summing up the whole vibe of this amazing show.
Black Carl’s talents have only grown and watching him passionately discover new levels to his crafts is fascinating. He is also such an authentic soul and genuine character. I was lucky enough to sit down with him after his set and speak on this event, his inspirations, and future releases.
The Black Carl Project is unique as it pushes boundaries and has no limits. Carl has experimented with his skills from a variety of genres from house music to dubstep to experimental. “I don't want to ever contain myself to one genre,” he explained.
This Mishawaka set reflected his versatility, ranging from many BPMs based on, “the vibe of the crowd.” Carl says his biggest inspirations include Skrillex, Tipper, and Jade Cicada.
“I want to inspire more people that look like me to do this because I love it so much,” said Carl, “there’s a gap between my people and this music, and I want to bridge that gap.”
“Mainly in the US, the common negative thing about this music is it doesn’t have words, but everything has beats. Whether it’s pop, reggae, blues, soul, everything has a beat and we are these beatmakers.” - Black Carl!
If you missed this legendary headline, don’t worry. These ultra-talented creatives are only going up from here. A Hundred Drums is coming back to the bass capital next year on January 13th and she’s bringing some serious production and support to the Ogden. You can cop tickets here: https://www.axs.com/events/501869/a-hundred-drums-tickets
Also stay tuned because Black Carl! is currently working on an album and new music for his collaborative project with Vctre, Integrate!
Comments