Focus Five: Volume 72

Little is known about bauti. The artist hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina. His SoundCloud bio simply reads “17”, which I presume is his age. And he burst onto the scene at the start of the year with one of the biggest debuts I can remember in a long time. ‘check’ landed in my SoundCloud feed with a simple but impactful artwork and a short lowercase name I’d never heard of. When I pressed play, I was immediately captivated. The single-word namesake vocal is hypnotizing and as the deep bass, ominous soundscapes, and snappy drums hit I was hooked. That was even before we got into the real drop (it just keeps getting better). The track has been steadily gaining ground, landing in Spotify’s coveted Trap Mojito playlist, and was a must-include when I put together my recent guest mix for HeardItHereFirst.

Proving the first track was no fluke, last month bauti followed it up with ‘ONFIRE’ a fittingly titled torcher alongside alti. The track possesses a similarly dark and dirty aesthetic while taking things deeper. If you’re still not fully convinced bauti is one of the key artists to watch for 2024, peep the ‘SHOWCASE 2K24‘ mix he put out and try to doubt me. bauti is truly just getting started.
-C





Hoax

When you see big players such as Hospital Records betting hard on a new artist, you know you’re in for a treat. That’s why I feel I don’t deserve much credit for this month’s pick, but at least I hope I’m doing my part by putting Hoax on your radar. Class of ’00, based in Bristol, Hoax has a history of releases on imprints including Onyx, Pick ‘N’ Mix, and Wub Club before joining the Hospital family back in April. He’s no stranger to delivering dancefloor weapons as proven by the success of his 2022 single ‘Crowd Control’, but with his latest two releases, he flaunted the realm of possibilities of his sound. Rumbling basslines and immaculately crisp productions are the main ingredients that Hoax smartly mixes in ‘Sparkly’ and ‘Outlaw’, in the latter case in tandem with an infectious vocal flow provided by Degs. It’s a fresh sound that will delight the ears of those who are into the new-gen drum&bass movement. Also, don’t forget to check his SoundCloud page for some extra flips and dubs.
-AA

rivoices

With the wave environment continuing to rise and obtain strength from listeners around the world, artists such as rivoices are pushing the movement with grace and passion. Serenading us with crisp, organic, and magnificent tones. Taking your breath away with every given moment, making you feel like you’re truly floating through an unknown space. The amount of detail and careful placement of each element in his works is simply remarkable. As if you were transported into a Denis Villeneuve film making you the main character of his next big picture.

One of his recent pieces, ‘damaged’ is a gritty, dark, and euphoric adventure. The space being filled with such character and emotion will leave tears in your eyes. The drums, melodic structure, and slow-paced rhythm will completely hypnotize your spirit like never before. And incorporating that vocal just gives the tune even more swing, aura, and attitude! You can listen to this one over and over again for hours on end.

His newest track is a collaboration between himself and almogfx! Another fantastic musician who has some serious talent in their own right. This one will immediately send shivers down your spine and make you shut down in the best ways. The gorgeous yet haunting environment wraps you in a blanket of protection and perseverance. It’s an everlasting feeling you won’t ever want to let go of due to its sheer raw power. Both artists complement each other beautifully. And tying it all together with such a soft and angelic vocal really gives it body and another layer of purpose. Breathtaking beyond belief. The wave scene is constantly improving and evolving with every given moment, and thanks to artists such as rivoices, it’ll go even farther than ever.
-JD