Demo Submission Guide
We only accept demo submissions through LabelRadar: https://bit.ly/RushdownDemoSubmit
Before submitting a demo to us please refer to the advice below for the best results!
Things to Avoid
These are aspects that will guarantee an instant skip from our demo panel.
Mixdown not up to par
It takes only a couple of seconds to gauge where an artist is at with the quality of their mixdowns and this is the number one thing that will ensure a skip. It doesn’t matter how great your ideas are, if this isn’t solid it’s impossible for us to accept a release.
Sonically too close to another Rushdown artist
A recognisable signature style and identity is super important to us. We’re most interested in artists that aren’t afraid to be themselves and inject their unique personality and techniques into their music.
Use of resonator / harmonic basses with nothing else to differentiate yourself
With this style becoming pretty trendy we wanna make sure our releases are always moving forward and don't stagnate! We’re hearing a lot of new producers try their hand at tunes in the colour bass / melodic riddim realm and its already becoming a bit samey. If you can stand out from the crowd here that’s a BIG plus.
Seven Lions / Illenium-style supersaw tunes
These may be melodic but they’re already widely popular and accepted within the dubstep scene. We’re more interested in the combination of melodic and heavy sound design and new techniques for merging those two worlds.
Completely atonal / non-melodic tracks
Similarly there are many labels open to these so we’re not eager to release this kinda thing.
Unfinished / unmastered tracks, remixes and copyrighted material
We only accept finished, mastered, original tracks.
YES PLEASE!
These should explain what we’re looking for when deciding what we release.
Tracks within the colour bass universe - bass music combining melodic and heavy elements
This can be any tempo or sub-genre although we have a slight preference towards dubstep / 150bpm.
A combination of sonic styles we’ve never heard before / unique concepts and world-building
This is one of the easiest ways of creating something brand new and the more specific the combined elements are the better.
Examples from our discography:
modus - The Astral Realm EP: Enigmatic and tightly detailed tunes with a sci-fi theme and modus’s signature piano sound. Seamless transitions between tracks creating further immersion.
L.M. - Hyperlight EP: A full project devoted to the universe of indie-game Hyper Light Drifter, exploring existential themes and representing the unique visual aesthetic of the game in audio form.
Similar Outskirts - Titans EP: Super fun, playful tunes with each track themed around specific legendary Pokémon from his favourite generation of games. The EP also contains a loose narrative and features seamless transitions between tracks.
PLEEG - Mirage EP: Exploring colour bass in an entirely new way by removing the dubstep elements entirely and taking twinkly sound design into other genres such as trap, drum & bass, nu disco etc.
Convexity - Timequake EP: Early 90s CRT aesthetic combined with fresh jazz harmony, a new approach to snare design and their own take on colour bass.
Really solid tunes in a pre-established style that fit the label
These could be tracks where their selling point isn’t necessarily uniqueness or novelty but rather well-crafted ideas formed into fun tunes to play out live. These could be callbacks to old brostep or UK dubstep vibes with plenty of melodic content for example.
IDEAL
These are other things to keep in mind but definitely aren’t dealbreakers.
A solid, unique and recognisable artist name
This makes your music more memorable, easier to submit to stores and more suitable for strong branding.
Tracks suitable for live shows
With the live experience being so important for the dubstep scene we’re always looking for DJ-friendly tunes to include on our discography. Receiving play-out support from other artists is a great way to catch the attention of new fans and expand your audience. If your track makes for a great DJ tool then that’s definitely a bonus.
Other things to bear in mind
The number of followers you have isn’t important
Our focus with Rushdown is to support underground melodic producers and offer their first rung on the ladder in the industry to develop a following and catch the attention of larger labels and artists. The quality of the music is our top priority!
What if I want to submit an EP?
Pick your strongest track from the EP to submit through LabelRadar. If it interests us and we respond positively, let us know that it’s part of a bigger project and we can listen to the full EP.
Ready to submit?
Use this link to send us your tracks!: https://bit.ly/RushdownDemoSubmit