OCTOBER FEATURE: REAPER

REAPER’s debut EP marks his first foray into Monstercat territory!

Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to introduce the world to some of the best young producers. Everyone starts somewhere, and, given the chance, talent will shine through when it’s called upon. With his single “SAWTOOTH,” which came out in late August, REAPER wasted no time making his name known to Monstercat fans everywhere. He’s got a signature style that hits all the right notes for our drum ‘n’ bass die-hards, as well as a high level of skill and dexterity that surfaces in each of his tracks.

The five tracks found in REAPER’s RAPTURE EP speak volumes for our latest lineup addition’s ability to have fun with what he does. Much of his featured sound design, influenced by sci-fi sources such as Pacific Rim and Star Wars, mirrors his capacity to draw from the fantastic and funnel it into his creative process. This menacing musician oozes potential and, needless to say, we’re super stoked to bring him onboard!

We’re going Halloween masks off to sneak in a few quick questions with REAPER. Let’s get started!

How about an icebreaker question or two to get warmed up?

How were you first introduced to Monstercat?

I discovered Monstercat in some production forum back in 2011. I was listening to artists like Stephen Walking, GQ, Project 46, and Tristam!

What made you decide to pursue releasing on Monstercat?

The Monstercat team, culture, and community all felt like a great fit for me and my music.

In terms of your favorite artists, you’ve already pointed out a handful, including Noisia, Muzzy, and Illenium. What is it about their music that you either admire or find interesting?

I love artists that make music that have conviction. I admire the fact that I can understand the world they’re trying to create with the music, while leaving parts of the story open to interpretation. And on top of all of that, the artists mentioned above have insane sound design and engineering talent.

You mentioned in your recent AMA that you’re into video games, listing Apex Legends, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, and Rocket League as some of your favorites right now!

Let’s take a step back: how would you rank your top five video games of all time?

Ranking would be too hard so I’ll make a list. These would definitely be in my top five if I disregarded any of the new battle royale games. Super Smash Bros., Super Mario Sunshine, Sonic Adventure Battle 2, Horizon Zero Dawn, Monster Hunter Freedom.

Would you say that you get a lot of creative inspiration from gaming?

Yes! Story-driven games always inspire me to create music. I find a lot of similarities between being immersed in a video game and being immersed in music creation.

Talk about the REAPER motif! Is it something related to a past gamertag or is there another story behind your moniker of choice?

REAPER is unrelated to my gamer tag. It’s more of a cool idea that just made a lot of sense with my music. The face and the name is meant to instantly prepare you for an intense experience with dark, aggressive, and abrasive music.

You’ve been a big science-fiction fan for quite some time!

What is it about science-fiction that hooks you—and where do you see the connection between science-fiction fandom and electronic music?

Because of how “new” electronic music is in relation to music in general, it’s always given me this feeling of existing in the future. I feel the same thing while watching a sci-fi film. I love that both electronic music and science fiction make me dream about the future and step back from reality.

We couldn’t help but notice the Rebel Alliance patch on your jacket! Which of the Star Wars movies is your favorite?

I am a Star Wars fan! Episode V is my favorite because of Hoth. You’ll notice a lot of my sounds designed with Star Wars alarms and lasers in mind.

You noted that “SAWTOOTH” was written to the visuals of a kaiju fight in the first Pacific Rim movie. Talk about that a bit!

I really loved the fight scene with Crimson Typhoon’s rotating claws, so I muted the film and started writing a song to the scene.

Were the other songs on the RAPTURE EP also written in a similar way?

Almost everything on the EP was written with a science fiction film in mind. I love writing drum and bass set to action sequences.

 

 

RAPTURE, which released October 10th, has already become a huge hit!

Tell us your thoughts on the entire process now that RAPTURE is out! What were some of the difficulties you ran into and what went really well?

I didn’t really experience any difficulties. I wrote the whole EP in a very short period of time because everything flowed so well. I had a detailed vision of what I wanted the EP to represent, and that made songwriting, art creation, and branding of the EP very cohesive.

What inspired the final title for your EP?

It’s about the end of our current world and the struggles that the survivors face. The EP title makes me feel unsafe and that’s what the EP is intended to make listeners feel.

Everything, from the EP’s title to each of the song names, is in all-caps. Is there a reason behind that?

It’s like a warning sign. It’s meant to grab your attention and produce thoughts of curiosity and maybe even hostility.

What did you learn either about yourself or the way you work during the process of putting together RAPTURE?

I learned that I love recording and manipulating vocal samples. I also became very fond of simple arrangements that keep you focused on the evolution of the melody and sound design.

Bonus Question!

RAPTURE is being released during one of the most befitting months: October. Halloween being the other major hallmark event of the month, what is your most memorable Halloween moment?

My favorite Halloween moment was when my mom made me a Spy Kids costume when I was like 7 years old. I felt so badass showing off that costume to friends. It’s a memory that always makes me smile!

In REAPER’s story, RAPTURE is just the beginning!

This Halloween, we are super excited to welcome REAPER to the Monstercat family with the release of his first EP. Those heavy-hitting beats are beyond sick, incorporating inspiration from the realms of science-fiction and video games. The theme of his debut EP is the titular world-ending event, weaving together a story through sound about the survivors of a calamity. It’s ambitious, it’s creative, and we love it! If RAPTURE is any indication of what’s to come, we’re confident fans will be very happy with this heat-bringer’s sounds for a long time. We can’t wait to see what he’s got in store next!