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Over the past two years, we have watched this next label transform from the likes of a promising, transgenre EDM collective with loads of potential into the fierce jungle feline you see before you today.

Monstercat is most certainly where it’s at when discussing labels that have set the tone for the next few years of electronic dance music releases.

How, you ask?

Well, that next part is a bit tricky.

To begin, this Vancouver-based music label has elucidated talents from some of the most unheard of, eclectic groups of musicians in all of dance music. Not only have they championed said undiscovered artists onto the scene, but these new talents have proceeded to swell their fair share of waves in this vastly expanding ocean we affectionately refer to as the “EDM-o-sphere.” A quick glance at the “current roster” on the official Monstercat web page will reveal a staggering number of widely popular producers you may not have necessarily associated with MCat.

7 Minutes Dead, Astronaut, Au5, Braken, Case & Point, Direct, DotEXE, Dzeko & Torres, Droptek, Falcon Funk, Favright, Fractal, Haywyre, Hellburg, Insan3lik3, Krewella, Lets Be Friends, Mr Fijiwiji, Noisestorm, PIXL, Pegboard Nerds, Project 46, Rameses B, Razihel, Rogue, Soulero, Splitbreed, Stephen Walking, Throttle, Tristam, Tut Tut Child, Varien and Vicetone.

(Just to name a few of our favorites.)

However, words will only get us so far. You need to HEAR what we mean.

Without hesitation, the fat cats over at MC have released their 17th compilation LP to date. So far, “Monstercat 017 – Ascension” has garnered attention from every corner of the EDM world, making this their most supported album to date! With a four-hour laundry list of tracks, fantastic production quality throughout, and loads of prodigal EDM producers on top of it all, Monstercat presents to you a release that will only serve to exacerbate their stranglehold on the EDM industry.

Keep it up boys and girls.

This next enigmatic, neo-futuristic producer by the name of Ross Ryan is unlike any other EDM musician whose sound we’ve been fortunate enough to sonically indulge ourselves in. His latest EP, “Home,” which was recently released on Subterra Records, combines so many sounds and genres that after a few listens, our heads began to collectively spin. Utilizing his years of experience in studying and creating music (both on the computer and in various bands), StéLouse, pronounced “Stay Loose,” has hybridized a unique stylistic approach that we simply adore.

One of the most difficult aspects involved in presenting music to you, the listener, is finding a way to classify it. Not only are the lines between genres slowly becoming blurred by the popularization of electronic dance music as a whole, but we now find EDM creeping its way into every imaginable musical motif. If we had to begrudgingly describe what StéLouse sounds like in terms of what you’ve already heard before, lets say he’s an amalgamation of complextro style, nu disco melodies, future bass-resemblant percussion and vocals, and various other classic electronic progressions.

To be honest, each track on Ross’ “Home” EP is entirely idiosyncratic in its own right. We did the best we could with a sentence. Regardless of what it is, all you need to know is how it sounds, and that is AWESOME.

The first track off StéLouse’s release on Subterra titled “Spaceship Gurl,” vaguely reminds us of what we’d hear from a few of the artists over at Monstercat, only with a twist. Engrossing the listener within a bevy of glitched, nu disco space age samples, Mr. Ryan dials the time machine that is this song back to the early 1980’s and shows off his talents on the synth.

Following up the first track, StéLouse completely changes directions with both the original and VIP versions to “Hold On,” featuring another talented Subterra artist, Curious Kontrol. Interestingly, the song shares the same title as another jam from an artist that pioneered similar vocal modulations and downtempo, fine-tuned percussion pieces (which can be found on both tracks): Flume. An homage perhaps? We’d like to think so.

Lastly, Ross Ryan aka StéLouse wraps up his EP with two original jams, one that shares the album’s title and the other named “Start Something” featuring Kate Wild. In an effort to not bore you to death, we’ll let you experience these two on your own. However, we certainly dig ’em.

Give a listen to “Home,” which can be found below. Also, be sure to follow Subterra Records and StéLouse in whatever way you can to remain privy in regard to future releases. We’d hate for you to miss out.

Follow StéLouse:

@stelouse
facebook.com/stelouse
twitter.com/SteLouse
www.youtube.com/user/stelouse

Follow Subterra Records:

@subterra-records
facebook.com/subterrarecords
twitter.com/Subterrarecords
instagram.com/subterrarecords