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Keys N Krates are creating music unlike anyone else right now. Having a name for themselves by performing their hip hop and bass-heavy influenced sounds at clubs and festivals around the world, what sets this Ultimate Music Experience outfit apart is the fact they play live as a band.

Formed in Toronto by drummer Adam Tune, the trio, made complete by synth/keyboardist David Matisse and internationally award-winning turntablist Jr. Flo, came together in 2008 with the sole purpose of bringing their blend of live electronic instrumentation to the stage. Matisse says, “We all met through a mutual friend (Abby) and had the same idea to form a band that messed with DJing and sampling with live instrumentation. We started jamming together and it all of developed from there into us touring as this live remix band, and then eventually making our own music playing it in our live show.”

Often called the world’s only “trap band,” the boys were reluctant to accept the title at first, but now have learned to embrace it. Tune explains, “At the end of the day, people are going to call us whatever they want. We are referencing everything from classic house music to Timbaland in our beats, but I think the trap references tap into what the current sound is, and we are okay with that.”

In 2009, the boys released Live Re-Mixing 101, showcasing a series of tracks that journeyed a history of hip hop and dance music that was stripped apart and rebuilt in real time. Featuring some classic tracks from Mos Def, Tribe Called Quest favorites, The Fugees, Dr. Dre, and Simian Mobile Disco, that same year, the trio was named one of URB Magazine‘s “Next 100.” “We never really saw that as pressure, Flo says, “we were just stoked at the recognition and some of the doors it opened for us.”

Working with producers like GRANDTHEFT, Keys N Krates started working on their own sound. Their first EP Blackout, released in 2011, was fueled by fat bass lines, synth chords, and live instrumentation with just the right amount of electro influence, proving that even the cleverest of hip hopper can rave once in a while too.

What truly separates Keys N Krates from the mass of newcomers out there is the unique, completely live show. Flo explains it best, “Our live show is what really gave birth to this whole thing. At first we just really wanted to do something new and cool that was live, so we started with doing these live remix/covers of rap tunes and jamming on those. We always wanted to be a modern party band so we very early on wanted to draw on pop culture references to get people into it right away. However, we eventually started making our own beats and music that was more bass driven so we had to figure a way out how to play that live and keep with our mantra of doing everything 100% live with no backing tracks. So we replaced our live kick with a trigger kick that plays a lot of 808s and punchy kicks and that was kind of the game changer for us, in having a bigger more bass driven sound, and also having our own original beats incorporated into our show. So now when you come to see us it’s a lot of our own music but mashed up with familiar samples and references. It’s a party.”

Still celebrating the release of their most recent body of work, the SOLOW EP is out on Dim Mak Records in September 2013. We hope to hear the banging single “Dum Dee Dum” when Keys N Krates make their way to South Padre Island to play at Ultimate Music Experience. Tickets are still available online.

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We’re less than a month away from heading to South Padre Island for the 2014 edition of Ultimate Music Experience. Starting with the official pre-party at Clayton’s Beach Resort with Steve Aoki on March 12th, the next three days will see UME take over Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark with sounds from some heavyweights in dance music from March 13-15th. Tickets are now available, buy your tickets online today!

Though we aren’t usually ones to brag, our UME lineup is massive this year! We’re so honored to hear and host many fresh, exciting, and diverse sounds from the handpicked roster. For this sound clash, we’re pairing two of our performers who are shaking up the “standard” forms of production. Though one is known for introducing the world to festival trap, and the other for carving a nîche in the Dirty Dutch sound, get ready for two very different epic performances by Carnage and Sandro Silva when they make their way to UME.

Carnage

Carnage has had a tremendous impact on dance music this past year. From being selected to play some of the biggest festivals in the world, to introducing fans to a new sound by making a name for himself in the big room house circuit, this Ultimate Music Experience talent is unstoppable.

After bursting onto the scene with his remix of Hardwell’s massive single “Spaceman,” Carnage was the first to fuse two very distinctive sounds to create “festival trap.” Incorporating lively stab strings in his early productions, much like the big room style, Carnage paired the familiar sound with bass heavy trap beats. Tracks like “Bang” and “Turn Up” with Borgore were international hits, inspiring many to try the new style out for themselves – even UME veteran Tiësto has dropped some productions from the Chipotle lover. Not wanting to be pigeonholed to one genre, Carnage’s latest releases see him exploring new styles, “If I want to make a rap record I make it; if I want to make a house record I make it. If I want to make some pretty shit I make some pretty shit.”

We’re really loving Carnage’s latest releases which are oozing with that big room “festival-style” sound but woven into genres like deep and electro house, drum and bass and anything else that strikes his fancy. Marching into 2014 with a documentary and an artist album to be released later this year, we’re ready to turn up with Carnage at Ultimate Music Experience.

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Sandro Silva

With releases gracing many respected dance music labels like Dim Mak, Musical Freedom, Mixmash, Revealed Recordings, and Spinnin’ Records, Sandro Silva has made quite some traction in the four years since his first release, “Prom Night.” The debut track was even picked by Pete Tong as an “Essential Choice” on his famous Essential Selection show. His following release “Told Ya/Blaze” just added fuel to the fire as many headliners championed the track in their own sets.

Crafting a future sound of electro, the tribal loving producer breathed new life to the Dutch house sound, incorporating progressive synths and moombah elements to his productions. Often creating his own synths free of any VST usage, Sandro Silva’s unique style comes from a rather unconventional production techniques, “I really hope to make [my music] even more special than it is now, by using my own unique sounds. I’m trying to be different and original but in a way in which many people can understand it.”

Sandro’s latest release with newcomer Junkie Kid, “Miraj,” is out now on Doorn Records. The Middle Eastern-inspired track layers melodic chord progressions with boisterous horns. Never shy of an iconic show, we are going to have one epic night when Sandro Silva performs at Ultimate Music Experience.

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