Balkan Bump is the newest project from trumpet player, producer and ethnomusicologist Will Magid. Balkan Bump debuted with the single “Aymo” alongside superstar collaborators Gramatik and Talib Kweli. Gramatik quickly championed the new project; unveiling Balkan Bump's live show on his Re:Coil Tour and releasing Balkan Bump’s debut EP on his Lowtemp label imprint in 2018. Balkan Bump then blossomed to international audiences, performing at Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lightning In A Bottle and Electric Forest, and releasing collaborations with CloZee, The Gift of Gab(Blackalicious), The Geek x Vrv, Fakear, and more. Musically, Balkan Bump is a fusion of live instruments, world influences and lush electronic production. His releases flaunt experience as an instrumentalist and arranger, fusing energetic Balkan brass with heavy electronic production and hip-hop influences.
Rab was born. He began to experiment with sound. The back of his head fell on the ground. Sound was released from the THUMP. It was deafening and created around him the first note of Random Rab's music.
Derek VanScoten, the producer, teacher, and Emmy-winning musician behind Cloudchord, is a man who was made for music. Performing live with high-energy guitar since childhood, he mixes electronic with organic, and explores the sensual and angelic slide of the lap steel guitar.
With a motto of Energy without Abrasion, Cloudchord specializes in augmented possibility. His live show swells from downtempo to crowd-feeding productions, complimented by live guitars and the soulful foundation Derek’s two musical degrees provide.
Derek is regularly invited to sit in with Emancipator, Space Jesus, and Random Rab, and has done official remixes for Bassnectar, Of Monsters and Men, and Big Gigantic. With good friends across genres, he is at home everywhere, including on the stages of Camp Bisco, Insomniac’s Middlelands, Costa Rica’s Envision Festival, and at the Sundance Film Festival, where he scored an official selection. As a musical mentor, he is sought for workshops at Alex and Allyson Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, and at official Ableton events around the country.
At home, Derek’s creative expression is grounded in 90 minutes of daily musical meditation — exploring riffs and melodies without a set goal. On the best days he will play for three hours, because it makes him happy. Music is a love that gives him belonging in the world.
Follow Cloudchord for a well of new music, collaborations, and guitar videos with an occasional cameo from his daughter, Xyla. In everything Derek does, he likes the challenge of making music that moves your body, or your heart. Or both at the same time.
Recent Press:
"Austin-based Cloudchord has a knack for working his slick guitar playing into his songs and effortlessly puts this talent on full display" -This Song Is Sick
"Austin based producer Cloudchord has amazed with his atmospheric remixes of Big Gigantic, Savoy, Autograf, and more." -Run the Trap
"It actually sounds like something I would listen to while watching the sun slowly disappearing in a background... somewhere on a beach." -Stereofox
"Perfect for injecting some more energy into one’s day." -Dancing Astronaut
"CLOUDCHORD has developed a lightning-in-a-bottle sound as he precisely associates, and synthesizes separate genres with detailed production and skill."
-Beautiful buzz
"The airy effervescent, spongy soft future pop is sublimely intoxicating.” -I Heart Moosiq
"What do you get when you combine elements of shoegaze, jazz, low-fi, glitch and indie? ‘Forever For Now’ by the Austin-based Cloudchord." -Indietronica
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