The past weekend at Ultra Singapore everyone’s favorite shark, Jauz premiered a brand new future bass remix of Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead.” My first impression was “Oh wow yet another future bass remix.” 2016’s musical remix climate has been littered with almost nothing other than future bass remixes all throughout. I had caught myself before I had thought Jauz was jumping on the bandwagon of what’s trendy right now in the dance music scene. With a simple amount of digging through Jauz’s SoundCloud one would come to the realization that the LA-based producer has been making future bass for awhile now. In 2014 he released a stellar future bass remix to Childish Gambino’s “3005”. So I just want to start off by dispelling the notion that no, Jauz is not bandwagoning on a current trendy sound based on the fact that he’s been producing this style of music long before everyone began filling up their SoundCloud profiles with their own interpretations on the oversaturated genre.
Jauz’s remix to “Sleepyhead” begins with a simple bass-line paired with evocative piano notes. The intro is followed by high pitched vocal sample reminiscent of Akon’s take on Bobby Vinton’s “Mr. Lonely.” Next Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos takes the control of the track through his unique lyricism as the song slowly builds up. While listening to the Passion Pit remix it came to me that whether it be Passion Pit with Madeon or Tiesto’s remix of Passion Pit’s “Carried Away”, a little EDM makeover of Passion Pit never fails to impress. Once the track dropped it immediately reminded me of a song by one of Jauz’s good buddies, Slushii.
The sound and pattern of the synths sound very familiar to that of Slushii’s “So Long.” I’m sure Slushii and Jauz bounce ideas off of each other all the time and the tracks are different enough for me say that they are not carbon copies. Jauz’s remix also includes awesome video game-esque notes within the drop that makes me distinguish the track enough from all the other future bass remixes scattered deep within the trenches of SoundCloud.
Listen to Jauz’s Passion Pit “Sleepyhead” remix below.
