On February 29, Denver, CO-based collective Qualia took over Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom for their second showcase event. Following their recent compilation release, Qualia took the audience on a journey through meticulously crafted soundscapes. The lineup included many familiar faces to the collective, like Comisar, Phurn, Saturna, Lowcation, and Daggz.
The Qualia Showcase: composing narratives through sound
Self-described as “an inclusive sound collective formed to push a sonic narrative through depth and intention,” Qualia’s attention to detail is felt in all aspects of their curation. Fort Collins-based HMNGBRD Productions‘ stage design was front and center. The aesthetic had a clear spotlight on natural elements. Forgoing the typical focus on large LED screens, instead, they opted for foliage adorning every part of the stage. Denver’s Quantum_FX provided additional lighting and production aspects to tie the room together. All the pieces lent themselves perfectly to the more “natural” feeling brand of freeform bass music that the Chmura-lead collective has quickly become known for, while live painters added a real-time evolving element to the space.
Comisar lead off the night, setting the vibe with his ethereal blend of downtempo and freeform sounds. Playing out his then-forthcoming Hidden Origins EP, released only a day later via CloZee‘s label Odyzey Music, was the perfect way to introduce the audience to the night’s impending auditory journey.
Phurn continued the night with his melodic take on bass music, playing perfectly into the introduction provided before him. Not to be outdone, he showcases his range and versatility, including some unexpected genres, such as UKG.
As the crowd began to thicken, Saturna took the stage. He added elements of world bass and “tribal” sounds to the mix, while perfectly blending with the natural stage aesthetics. Finishing his set with an absolutely ethereal flip of Rufus du Sol‘s “Innerbloom,” he enamored the audience and had many singing along to the familiar tune.
By the time Lowcation’s set began, the crowd locked in, responding in unison to the ebb and flow of downtempo and more high-energy tunes, including several collabs with other Qualia artists. As the energy increased, there was a noticeable shift in the production. The previous cooler hues of blues and greens began to shift towards more lively red tones, foreshadowing the set to come from the headliner Daggz.
The night’s crescendo
Opening with his hard-hitting track “Clones and Gods,” immediately followed by his grimy flip of Shades’ crowd-favorite “Two One Six,” Daggz spent no time at all bringing the energy up to eleven, revealing the true breadth of Qualia’s sonic range. The curation of the entire lineup was no more apparent than at this moment – the energy having palpably increased throughout the night, culminating in this set.
There was no holding back! He explored an array of tempos, from half-time to the ever-familiar 140 bpm dubstep sounds, even playing out some new riddim-inspired works. The minor technical difficulties early on were no match for the onslaught Daggz brought to the stage.
The night ended with a Qualia fam b2b, with many Qualia alumni and friends joining the already stacked lineup onstage. This included Chmura, who delighted the audience with familiar and unreleased tunes to cap off an incredible night of music.
Every part of the night felt wholly intentional, from the lineup and flow of the music itself to the production and stage design. The musical journey that was curated truly exemplified the range and skillset of the collective as a whole. Every artist brought their own style, all while being cohesive and staying true to the unique sounds of freeform bass that Qualia aims to present to the underground music scene.
Check out the latest compilation from Qualia below!
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