Who is SuperAve.?
Since his emergence last year, the anonymous producer has sowed this question throughout the EDM community via viral Soundcloud hits (“2047”) and electrifying performances (Harmony, SummerEyes).
In addition to earning praise from listeners, the producer has gained favor from his contemporaries, popping up in sets of artists like Zeds Dead, Jantsen, Subtronics, Mersiv, and Peekaboo. In the past year, he’s also found releases with Ganja White Night’s SubCarbon Records (“Been That”) and MorFlo Records (“Dreams”, “CHROME”). Amplified by the intrigue of his masked persona, his crunchy, halftime bass style is bound to spring to life when live shows presumably return later this year.
On January 1st, he dropped his first all original mix, The Block is Hot Vol. 1: Who is SuperAve. Packed full of ID’s and originals, the mix features 13 upcoming tunes all set to release this year. Part of that package is an upcoming EP with a yet-to-be-named, “very special” label, which the producer teased will come out sometime this Spring.
CULTR caught up with SuperAve. to discuss his identity, journey thus far and what we can expect from his project in 2021. Find our full Q&A below and stream The Block is Hot Vol. 1: Who is SuperAve.
CULTR: The alias by the name of SuperAve. has been mysteriously releasing music for about a year now, yet no one knows exactly who SuperAve. is. Is this a side project of a bigger artist? Will we ever see your face? Who is SuperAve.?
SuperAve.: Keeping my identity concealed is definitely intentional. It’s something that comes from my personality. I’ve always been a “lay back in the cut” kind of guy. It also comes from my fascination with mystery and mystique.
Growing up I remember buying CDs and reading the liner notes with all of the producers and engineers in them. I would see the same names over and over, I didn’t even know what they looked like and still admired them. Without hearing them say a word or know who they really were I felt like they made an impact on me just through the music they made. I want to bring some of that mindset into what I’m doing.
The one thing that I can answer is that this is definitely not a side project or a rebrand. I do get a bit flattered whenever I hear that though.
CULTR: Will 2021 be the year we get to know SuperAve. a little better?
SuperAve.: Absolutely, this year things are going to the next level. I’m going to be painting a clear picture of who I am through music, visual art and interacting in a few different ways. You’ll be seeing me “out in the open” and a little more in your face this year in the best way possible.
Also, even though I do keep my identity under wraps, I do enjoy interacting with all of the people following my project. Whether it’s fans, people in the industry, or other artists, it’s always fun to connect over our similar tastes.
CULTR: Zeds Dead, Jantsen, Subtronics, Mersiv, and Peekaboo are just some of the artists who have supported your tracks in their live sets. How does it feel to have some of the biggest names in bass music playing out your songs?
SuperAve.: It’s an extremely rewarding feeling. It’s that validation we’re all after on a certain level. Getting plays from the top dogs in our scene is still, to me, the biggest compliment that you can get. They get to choose from hundreds, thousands of tracks to put in their sets and getting one of your own chosen is super special. Even more so when it’s artists like those that I follow and admire.
The first artists to play a track of mine on a big stage was Zeds Dead at Lost Lands. At the time I had around 300 followers on Soundcloud and had uploaded “2047” on my free account maybe a week or two prior. It still makes me smile how fast things can spread and how from one day to the next thousands of people can be dancing to your music. I can’t wait for the day where I get to be the one breaking that unknown artist making heat with 300 followers to a wide audience.
CULTR: It seems as though your sound is heavily influenced by nostalgic hip-hop. Has hip-hop always been an inspiration in your production and if so who are some of your biggest influences?
SuperAve.: Man, hip-hop is the foundation for me. It’s shaped my tastes and my music in ways even I don’t think I fully understand. It’s the music I can first remember listening to, falling in love with and becoming obsessed with. Almost all of my memories as a kid have hip-hop music in them somewhere, and those sounds, rhythms and moods influence all of the music that I make. Sometimes consciously, sometimes unconsciously.
I grew up in what I think is the “golden era” listening to Outkast, Jay-Z, Nas, Dre, B.I.G., Jadakiss, Pac etc. But even back then I found myself following certain producers sounds like The Neptunes, Timbaland, Kanye, Premier, 9th Wonder, and Just Blaze. It was back then that I realized how you can make your sound your calling card. From The Neptunes outer space sound, 9th Wonders soulful boom bap or Timbalands mind warping rhythms you knew it was them as soon as you heard it.
Also I think we’ve been in and are continuing another golden era. With artists like J.I.D, Cordae, Cole, Kendrick, Schoolboy Q, I’m constantly inspired.
CULTR: I think it’s safe to say that you’re making some of the heaviest bass music out. Who are some artists on the electronic side that you look up to as well?
SuperAve.: There’s so much talent out there it’s hard to keep up at times, but I always admire artists who can make my face scrunch up with a frown as soon as I listen. Artists like Zeke Beats, Jantsen, EPROM, Zeds Dead, Peekaboo, and UZ are just a few that come to mind.
At the same time, it’s also the new guys on the come up that are killing it too. Like when I stumbled on Eradikid I think he had around 250 followers on Soundcloud and when he dropped “Ranfla”, it immediatly blew me away and was one of my favorite tracks of the year.
The other side of me is the complete opposite of heavy. When I’m not listening to hard bass music or hip-hop I’m probably listening to Soulection Radio, something very vibey and chill.
CULTR: Any collaborations with any of these artists that we should be looking out for?
SuperAve.: For sure, I have quite a few collabs in the works with the homies Sully, Mersiv, Bailo, Chomppa and a few others. Also a couple of collabs with some artists we talked about above that I want to keep under wraps for right now. Gotta save some as a surprise.
If you could work with any artist in the world dead or alive who would it be and why?
Phew, that’s a big question. There’s no way I could only go with one, but I’ll shoot for the stars and start with Dr.Dre. I’d love to just soak up as much knowledge as I could from someone who is a true master of their craft. I love the perfectionist and someone who is fully dedicated and obsessed with their art.
I’d also love to work with Zeds Dead one day. Everything they make feels so authentic and intentional. It takes a while to mature as an artist and I feel like they reached that point very early on. I’d love to see what our styles together would create.
CULTR: Do you have any projects or big releases planned for 2021?
SuperAve.: For sure, my debut EP is dropping this year on a very, very special label. I couldn’t be more excited to release this project on a platform of the size. It’s going to be such a good feeling. I’ll be announcing a release date pretty soon, so the mystery will be over pretty soon.
That along with some super special collabs and single releases, 2021 is going to be a lot of fun.
CULTR: We heard a lot of unreleased music in your latest all original mix. Can we expect all of this music to be released in 2021?
SuperAve.: The vast majority of it yes. There’s some cuts from the EP in there along with a bunch of the tracks I’ve been working on this year that I have some special plans for. There’s 13 IDs in this mix and you should see pretty much all of them released at some point this year.
CULTR: What’s the message you want people to take from your SuperAve. Project?
SuperAve.: The overall message of confidence and freedom of expression is a driving focus of my music. Along with a look into my world, and a peak into my viewpoint is another take away.
But more importantly I want people to have a feeling. That feeling is going to be different for different people, but as long as it makes you feel something then I’ve done my job.
