- A footwork EP from Bangalore, a city with strong electronic music roots.
- There's something in the water in Bangalore, the secret ingredient, perhaps, that helps its artists stand out. The city adopted rock and metal early, got into post-rock well before the rest of India and also established itself as an experimental hub. A lot of beatmakers, plus noise, trip hop and, thanks to Oceantied, footwork artists, live in the city and its neighboring areas.
Oceantied is Ketan Bahirat, a footwork producer who didn't start out as one. In the beginning, he made more ambient, video game-inspired sounds, as well as post-rock with his band Until We Last. In 2016, he went to the Red Bull Music Academy. Only in the last two years, though, has he focused on footwork. His latest experiment is On The Floor Vol. 2, which has enough punch to start a dance battle. The sound choices, combined with footwork's traditional cut-ups and layering to the vocals, stand out. "Breaking Through" has a great vocal sample and hi-hats that cut through the mix. "Be Alright" is a straighter, more minimally percussive beat, while "Watch This Music Work" is the EP at its most melodic—its outro makes for a sweet ending. Bhairat has spent years honing a sound. Here, it shows.
Tracklist01. Breaking Through
02. Be Alright
03. Watch This Music Work