Local duo HEIRZ, consisting of Bellingham residents Alex Sutherland and Haakon Taylor, have been making waves in the underground bass scene over the past few months. HEIRZ’s first EP as a pair, Rogue, is out now on MalLabel music, and it definitely a heater. If you are familiar with the label, it features music from Bleep Bloop and other underground bass artists. The duo often draws influences from Bleep Bloop, G-Jones, Eprom, and more, so this placement seems entirely fitting.
If you’re in the Bellingham area tonight, June 22, Maya Concept Co. will be hosting a Rogue EP release party at the Shakedown. This event will not be one to miss! Local artists from Seattle will also be coming up for the party.
DnB extraordinaire Korra the Kid and Bellingham artist SQUANCH will be kicking off the night. Known Seattle producer DOOZY will be performing at 10:30 prior to HEIRZ at 11:30. Bellingham and Seattle artist Prongs will be closing out the show at 12:30. Tickets are $7, and you can purchase them here or at the door.
Sutherland and Taylor performed under individual alias’, SouthLvnder and Haakeye, before coming to to make the duo HEIRZ. They’ve been working under the alias for the past nine months after competing and winning in a remix competition together.
There is no doubt that these two have production talent, and it clearly shows in their intricate attention to detail. The first single to release, and the last track on the EP, Is It begins with a deep, anthem like progression, which certainly prepares the audience for what’s to come. The following three and a half minutes are full of crunchy synth and baselines that will certainly get you moving.
The title track of the EP Rogue has a more melodic style to it versus it’s crunch single counterpart. The intro begins with harmonious synths, but slowly transitions into a low underlying progression. What follows is resonating bass line reminiscent of G-Jones or Eprom. While this bassline continues, the duo’s intricate production style starts to shine, as varying synths and layers of different beats all form together seamlessly. The rest of the song continues between having a melodic feel to booming bass.
Next, the track I Don’t starts off with a more soothing in contrast to some of the other songs. Beginning with a piano on its own, it begins to build into various synths that add a harmonious ring. This synths are the center piece of the song, and their changing progressions and blend well with the underlying beat. I Don’t shows off the duos more melodic side, and is a representation of how they can manipulate their synths to change the feel of a song.
Following, is the track Run It which comes back to that more cutting bass style that’s prevalent in Is It. The intro gives you that wringing in your ears like that more of aggressive, yet vibrant atmospheric sound. The rest of the song weaves in and out of varying sharp synth and bass lines that certainly make you feel like you just entered ran into the aliens in outer space.
The final track off the EP Jazzy Shit starts off more slowly, similarly to I Don’t. In contrast to some of the more heavy basslines throughout the album, this track switches between low, rich bouncing bass tones and vibrant, more uplifting synths. This track is a true reflection of both of their styles; with Sutherland’s drum experience shining through on the bass line, and Taylor’s knack for synths perfectly blending the two together.
“[We’re] just looking to make bass music that can actually stick around for longer than a couple months.” – HEIRZ
These two are going to making waves in the northwest soon, so make sure to keep an eye out for them, and you can check out the full EP for yourself below!
With recent opening spots at Q Nightclub for Dimond Saints and Juelz, there will certainly be a lot more of them in the coming months. You can also catch HEIRZ, Korra the Kid, and other local artists at Electric Summer Camp on July 20 and 21.
What are your thoughts on the EP? Do you have a favorite track? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media!
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