In 2008 Project Aspect (Jay Jaramillo) an Kruza Kid (Zach Karuza) started a bass music and self-expression movement out of Denver, Colorado, The Mile High Sound Movement (TMHSM). Ronnie Weberg aka Unlimited Gravity soon joined, making for a galactic trio set out to expand the realms of electronic music and art. Now with 20+ artists and official record label (MHSM Records), the collective is making waves that are being felt all around the nation.
The Mile High Sound Movement
This summer TMHSM is taking over stages at Electric Forest (Homemade Spaceship, FunkStatik, Project Aspect, Unlimited Gravity and Kruza Kid) Sonic Bloom (VibeSquaD, Homemade Spaceship, FunkStatik, The Dirty Gems, Nadasound and Notorious Conduct), Compound Sound Festival and Arise Festival.
What you can expect at these sets is “electronic bass music of different varieties and tempos”, says Label Manager, Cris Bachmann. You will also see artists like Dynohunter dive into techno and house and kLL sMTH working alongside Dirtybird
. What we remember from their past Hulaween, Sonic Bloom and Arise sets is quite honestly, otherworldly experiences. The sounds they present have been truly mind-boggling and original, a movement entirely of its own.As these pivotal performances come closer, hear from members of The Mile High Sound Movement and explore their latest releases.
Homemade Spaceship! Congratulations of landing sets at Sonic Bloom, Electric Forest and other big festivals this summer, that is super exciting. What goes into planning a festival set? How much do you plan in advance and how much is in the moment? What other artists do you like to mix into your sets? What track has been your dancefloor igniter lately?
So with a festival set its very dependent on what time it is as to how I will start off my set. If the sun is up and especially if its hot I’m gonna start groovy and as “not in your face” as possible, then I’ll slowly start bleeding in the heavier shit once I’ve built some trust with the audience.
And being an artist that plays mostly original music, my sets are somewhat pre-determined as I have a finite amount of music to play and a VERY FINITE amount of ways to smoothly and cleverly mix them together. One thing I do in the songwriting process is if I have a “Shmanger” at 87 bpm in E min, Ill try to write 1 or two strictly live songs/grooves in the same key and tempo that are almost an opposite vibe or much chiller. I will also arrange these tracks very “mix-able” so like the intro and outro are simple and easy to blend. If you ever see me on stage and it looks like reading something worrying or fucked up on facebook, its me tweaking improvising a new set on the spot on stage lol.
Oh and my dance floor igniters have DEFINITELY been my Beastie Boys “Intergalactic” remix with SoDown (Prob Never be released come see it live) This peekaboo Babatunde flip I made with Spades and Kyral x Banko, and this downtempo/deep house tune named “built for the wild” that’s on my new EP “Please Abduct Me”.
Also, mixing in Underlux, Maddy O’neal, Zurc, Spades, Project Aspect, Kyral x Banko, Tsimba, Sodown (always) Space Cake (Always) mixing in the homies always now and then keeps the sets fresher.
We know you have a new EP coming out soon. What was the track writing process like for your new EP? Did you collaborate with anyone? What effects and sound design were you drawn to use most? How would you describe this new musical journey?
My EP has songs from the past 2 years I’d say, and welp for the writing process my process is always just throw shit at the wall and see what sticks. Ive been obsessed and intrigued with shitty (technically) musicians my whole life like Kurdt Cobain, Matt Skiba, and Tom Delonge, so they are my spirit animals in a sense, I usually make a shitty song or a generic song and then turn into something original and cool after the fact.
Space Cake (fka Kinetik Groove) SoDown, and a relatively unheard of artist and great new friend JSTYU
Sound design wise I’ve been most proud of the weird abstract sounds I make in this stock Ableton synth operator. Making simple movements and adding crunchy distortions and shit until its unique. Also, I am always a student of percussion til I die and am always learning new ways to improve my drums and stuff.
The musical journey I could describe as shifting through the garbage searching for 100 dollar bills and you know they are there you just gotta keep digging, with new tools and techniques, haha idk never thought of that before its just always happening.
How has Dennis Rodman and Blink 182 influenced your life?
Dennis Rodman is a bad ass and does what he wants he is recklessly and unabashedly himself. He fucking married himself and carmen electra and is one of the greatest defensive players ever (rebound machine). I also grew up watching them being raised in the Chicago burbs.
Blink 182 basically raised me haha I still listen to them regularly I cant stop I’m addicted, makes me feel young and carefree, and they even went Emo with me at the right time haha
Funkstatik! You too, congratulations of landing a sets at Electric Forest and other big festivals this summer, that is super exciting. What goes into planning a festival set? How much do you plan in advance and how much is in the moment? What other artists do you like to mix into your sets? Any tips on reading a crowd?
Thank you! It is a very surreal feeling to be apart of such an iconic festival. I can’t wait to funk up that forest! so festival sets typically can change depending on the set time I’m given for that day. I do typically cue my tracks In areas I can easily change around feeling out the energy of the crowd. I play 100% all original sets, so knowing my own music comes easy and I write for any mood or feel.
FunkStatic
What was the track writing process like for your new EP ‘Duality’ ? What sound design were you drawn to use most? How would you describe this new musical journey?
FunkStatic ‘Duality’
The writing process for this new EP was incredible to me. A transition period in my personal life and you can feel it being written into sonic stories. Sound design has always been a huge part of my style. This EP focused on gaining depths of bass sculpture and tying the beauty of melodies to that. I did collaborate on one track on this EP, my good friend, Drop Doc. ‘Underground’ was created instrumentally by myself and included vocal sampling from him, really bringing out the vibes and completing the tracks intentions.
What is your spirit animal and why?
Hummingbird Fa sho. I have this amazing creature tattooed and it represents many great things in my life. As animals they are so kind and loving, id like to think I project that same love!
Explore the latest sounds designed by Dynohunter, Project Aspect, Cloud-d, Notorious Conduct, Kruza Kid & more!
photo credit Dynohunter
photo credit VibesquaD
photo credit kLL sMTH
Cloud-d by Joey Jene; Photographer
Project Aspect
photo credit Nadasound
photo credit Kruza Kid
photo credit Unlimited Gravity
Listen to the rest of the collective by heading to MHSM Records
Do your soul a favor, get fully lost in a set from one or all of the Mile High Sound Movement collective this summer. Get involved with the movement by reaching out and keep up with their next steps their social media handles linked below.
MHSM Social Media & Label Links
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Soundcloud / Spotify / MHSM Records