Ambur Masen, Author at MendoWerks

7Sep

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Artist Spotlight: crowit.

If you’re looking for a new artist to check out, then you’ve come to the right place: in this edition of ‘Artist Spotlight‘, MendoWerks Magazine sat down with German electronic music producer, crowit. In the three years that he has been releasing music, this artist has explored a variety of genres, such as ambient, wave, hardstyle, hyperpop, future garage, and most notably, hardwave. His music has found homes on labels like Karmakontra, Lost Sounds, Cyberwave Collective, and Baku Records. As you listen through his discography, you will notice quite a number of collaborations--such as those with Azcona Savage, xanashimi, Exodynamics, shrxpnel, and others--which only further demonstrates crowit.'s versatility. If follow the wave music scene closely, then you might recognize crowit. from h...

10Aug

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

Artist Spotlight: Shark4Sale

If you’re looking for a new artist to check out, then you’ve come to the right place: in this edition of 'Artist Spotlight', MendoWerks Magazine sat down with Swiss wave artist, Shark4Sale. You may recognize Shark4Sale from his releases with Liquid Ritual, Tribal Trap, and Wave City - or perhaps, through his participation in a few years’ worth of wave wardubs on SoundCloud. If you’re unfamiliar with Shark4Sale, then get yourself ready for some music that is perfect for feelsy, crying-in-the-club moments. In other words, one of the most intriguing things about his music is that no matter how much drama Shark4Sale manages to pack into a given song, there’s still this lovely, soothing undercurrent that’s present through much of his work. After spending some time with his discogra...

HMU on Music, Collaboration, Dont Die At Work, and More. [Exclusive Interview]

9Aug

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

HMU on Music, Collaboration, Dont Die At Work, and More. [Exclusive Interview]

Get ready to meet the Los Angeles-based electronic music producer HMU. Known for his unique blend of bass, hip-hop, twerk, and trap music, HMU is not only a great musician, but he’s also a graphic designer and the founder of Dont Die At Work, an online music community turned music label. HMU's most recent release is a grimy collaboration with London-based emcee, KXNE, called “Pages." It was released via FUXWITHIT earlier this summer. Check the new single out below. Previously a SoundCloud-based music collective, HMU recently relaunched Dont Die At Work as a full-fledged independent music label at the end of 2022. Through the label, he seeks to spotlight up-and-coming, boundary-pushing musicians as well as continue to foster an online community for artists. As as experienced des...

17Jul

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

Artist Spotlight: AYDO8

If you’re looking for a new artist to check out, then you’ve come to the right place: in this edition of 'Artist Spotlight', MendoWerks Magazine sat down with California-based multi-genre electronic music producer AYDO8. After spending some time with his discography, I can honestly say that AYDO8 jumped very quickly into my “Top 5 Wave Artists That I Need To See Live ASAP”–especially for an all-original set. It’s just banger after banger after banger. One thing that’s most notable is that AYDO8 truly knows how to maximize the dramatic impact of his vocal samples, like in “To The Edge.” Most recently, he released “Buried (waiting for you)” on Alter/Ego. which also displays this expert use of samples. Another personal favorite is his 2022 DEKTORA release, “Lets Go“. As a die-hard N...

Get to Know: Era Lø [Exclusive Interview]

12Jul

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

Get to Know: Era Lø [Exclusive Interview]

Earlier this year, we connected with Reno's own music producer, singer, virtual music festival founder, and mental health advocate, Era Lø. We chatted about her background in social services and how this experience has informed her artistry as well as about some exciting events she's been working on all summer, including her very own virtual music festival, which is scheduled for September. Coming up this month, Era Lø will be performing at Cypress in Reno as part of a Fem DJ Showcase on July 20, as well as during a benefit stream for Palestinian Families on Twitch on July 27. Without further ado, let's dive in. A Chat with Era Lø AM: Thanks for chatting with us! Would you please take a moment to introduce yourself to our MendoWerks readers? Era Lø: Hola Mariposa...

FUTURA X is bringing WAVERUNNERS to Dallas

21Jun

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features

FUTURA X is bringing WAVERUNNERS to Dallas

One of the most exciting things happening in wave music right now is a little group called FUTURA X. And no, I don't just mean their upcoming WAVERUNNERS event that's scheduled for this weekend. Though, let's be honest... that show is going to be amazing. Introducing: FUTURA X Based in Dallas, FUTURA X is responsible for hosting some of the most impeccable wave events in the United States. This wave music collective curates uniquely diverse lineups for each event that they put on. They have even collaborated with other passionate wave music superpromoters like Tears in the Club and vibe.digital on some occasions, including the recent skeler tour stop in Dallas. Bolstering wave community seems to be FUTURA X's primary goal, and I would definitely say that they are accomplishing it...

11Jun

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Interviews

Artist Spotlight: LYFFE

If you're looking for a new artist to check out, then you've come to the right place: in this first edition of MendoWerks Magazine's 'Artist Spotlight' column, we are highlighting LYFFE, an up-and-comer in Chicago's underground electronic music scene. Something we really appreciate about LYFFE is that he creates music that actually gets people dancing--even if, like me, they aren't the sort of folks who often dance. Throughout his discography, you will find nothing but high energy tunes that are going to inspire movement in one way or another. At the same time, despite the energy, some of his tracks retain that particular kind of moodiness generally found in the slower, softer OG wave music that's best saved for a deep listening session rather than the dance floor. As LYFFE has rel...

13May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Songs On Repeat: “Ascend” by VILLA

While "Ascend" by VILLA hasn't been out as long as the first song I wrote about for this column, it is another example of a song that has been lingering in my 'On Repeat' playlist since its release day. This song is an epic tune that never fails to get my blood pumping--and it is especially effective when listened to at loud volumes during my dreary morning commutes. There is something thoroughly enjoyable about the unsettling subtleties of this song contrasted by just how truly grand it is. Thoughts on "Ascend" by VILLA In reference to this song, the artist tweeted, "it truly feels like you’re listening to a symphony in a haunted church" -- and she's absolutely right on that. With "Ascend", VILLA combines the grandeur of symphonic and hymnal music; however, it's almost if ...

18Apr

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

The Tragedy of MNQN: the AI Gone Rogue

Six years ago, Dustin Bates shared a copy of a cease and desist order that he issued against Ohio-based tech company, The Sentience Corporation, due to complications with one of its AI projects, MNON (later called 'MNQN'). In his letter, Bates alleges that this AI project, and thus the company who created it, was guilty of "stealing and advertising the likeness of [his] voice in music works and marketing materials." The offending songs not only contained unauthorized use of the STARSET frontman's voice, but were also distributed to all major streaming platforms without his knowledge, thus "intentionally violating [his] rights and the rights of [his] songwriting business." He goes on to explain that these actions "constitute theft, conversion, misrepresentation, and unfair competiti...

Framing Hanley Returns (Again?) with “Say Less”

4Apr

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Framing Hanley Returns (Again?) with “Say Less”

If you were (an emo kid) on the Internet at any point in the 2000's-2010's, I guarantee that you've come across Framing Hanley at least once. If you were anything like me, then finding out about the band's indefinite hiatus and subsequent "farewell tour" in 2015 was nothing short of heartbreaking--especially given the fact that all three of their albums up until that point were solid bodies of work. What I didn't know until recently is that this "farewell tour" wasn't exactly the definitive ending that I had anticipated it would be upon leaving my local stop on that tour. As it turns out, the band announced the end of their hiatus in 2018, and in 2020, they released a fourth album, Envy. During their hiatus, Framing Hanley released One Màs More, a project split between new renditions ...