KOAN SOUND

KOAN Sound is an electronic music act consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow, both hailing from Bristol, UK.

The group’s early origins and influences lie mainly in acoustic based music, from bands such as Incubus to RATM, but it wasn’t until 2005 that the duo became immersed in electronic music through acts such as Noisia and The Prodigy. Soon after, the growing Dubstep scene in Bristol began to inform their productions, eventually leading to a string of releases on various labels.

In early 2011 KOAN Sound released their first extended single, the ‘Max Out EP’. The release signalled a turning point in their production, gradually moving away from the 140bpm template and showcasing a wider range of styles than before. It also helped bring more attention to the act, and led to working with a number of artists, including singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Later in the year the group would unveil their biggest release to date, the ‘Funk Blaster EP’ on Skrillex’s OWSLA imprint. The EP achieved the No. 1 spot in the Beatport releases category, and received exclusive featuring from US-based magazine Rolling Stone.

The duo rounded off the year with DJ sets across Europe and North America, and picked up ‘Best Breakthrough Artist’ at the Dubstep Music Awards in November.

RANDOM RAB

Emerging from his own distinct corner of the West Coast electronic music scene, Random Rab offers a powerful and unique contribution to sonic exploration. Often referred to as “The Master of Emotion” his music is patently beautiful and melodic. With diverse influences ranging from trip-hop, classical and Arabic to bass driven compositions, his songs are considered anthemic and timeless. As a multi-instrumentalist and singer, his tracks are organic, uplifting and stand on their own as a distinct genre. Listeners of all types of music can find something they can relate to in his sound.

There is no doubt that Rab understands a multitude of musical styles. He has been the front man of a heavy metal band, toured as a classical trumpet player, played bass in a country music band, was a scratch DJ for a jazz fusion project, was the singer for a rock band in Mexico and has collaborated with countless musicians of all styles. From acoustic performances in the Himalayas to rocking packed clubs in New York, Random Rab has found a way to connect with people of all kinds.
With a dedicated fanbase born from the San Francisco underground, Random Rab has become a Burning Man legend known for his sunrise sets that have now become one of his most sought after performances. His current popularity can often be traced to his breakout album, The Elucidation of Sorrow… This album firmly established him as a recognizable force in the electronic music scene. His latest and 4th album aRose, catapulted him into the state of momentum that is now taking hold internationally.

Sometimes performing solo and at other times featuring collaborative musicians, the live experience is focused on a high quality translation of sound that is simultaneously sexy and psychedelic.

DAVID STARFIRE

David Starfire is a producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and DJ based in Los Angeles and San Francisco. His production style is eclectic, fusing world music with dance and hip hop and everything in between. He’s developed quite a following and his unique sound is catching the ears of music fans across the globe. David is signed with the internationally known label Six Degrees Records, home to artists such as The Orb, Bebel Gilberto, Cheb i Sabbah, Karsh Kale, Midival Punditz, Michael Franti, DJ Spooky and many others. He's released 2 records through them, “Bollyhood Bass” in 2010 and “Bombay Beatz” in 2007. His tunes have been played on BBC, NPR, National Geographic, XM radio and various stations around the world.

David’s heritage is Creole and he follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, Oscar Rouzan, who was a famous horn player in New Orleans and played with the likes of Paul Simon, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt and numerous other great artists. His aunt is Wanda Rouzan, who is also well known in the New Orleans jazz scene as one of the premier musical ambassadors. David started playing the guitar at 8 and by 17, he was composing, producing and recording songs in his bedroom on a 4-track and could play 5 instruments. He then became enthralled with electronic music and gravitated towards computer music production using sampling and drum machines. By 19, David was in a signed band and touring with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Filter and Skinny Puppy. After a brief solo career in NYC and several bands later, David moved to San Francisco and was part of the critically acclaimed band Cellophane Masses. Soon thereafter, his interest shifted towards producing world music and started incorporating rich, textured world music sounds with electronic music.

His signature sound landed him several DJ gigs at large scale international festivals all over the world such as Winter Music Conference, Coachella, Love Parade, the Forum, Musikmesse, Electric Picnic, Shambhala, Harmony, Burning Man, Lightning in a Bottle, Lovevolution and Earthdance. He’s performed at private parties and conventions for Lucas films, Virgin Galactic, Roland, Digg, MacWorld, Flaunt Magazine, CAA and others. He’s had DJ tours in the US, India, Canada and Europe with rave reviews. He also sets himself apart from other DJ’s by playing bass guitar and electronic hand drums during his set and for certain show incorporates a live band with vocalists.

Random Rab / / Jewel of Now
7,363 views on YouTube

Random Rab - The Riddle
104,943 views on YouTube

Random Rab - Shishala
4,587 views on YouTube

KOAN Sound - Funk Blaster (OFFICIAL VIDEO) Dir. by Scott Pagano
349,001 views on YouTube

KOAN Sound - Trouble In The West
1,189,264 views on YouTube

David Starfire "Load"
9,971 views on YouTube