For years, brostep thrived on internet communities, festival stages, and a constant influx of young producers pushing the genre into unexpected territory. Now, BARELY ALIVE are attempting to give that creative ecosystem a permanent home with Killed It! Vol. 1, the debut multi-artist compilation from their newly expanded imprint.
This 18-track project transforms Killed It! from a label built around BARELY ALIVE’s own releases into a platform dedicated to showcasing the full spectrum of modern brostep. The compilation brings together established names, underground producers, and emerging talent, all united by a shared appreciation for the raw energy and larger-than-life sound that defined an era of bass music.
For BARELY ALIVE, the release also marks a new role as curators. After spending more than a decade helping shape brostep’s identity, the duo are now focused on championing the artists carrying that legacy forward. Central to that effort is Vishal Bhanderi, director of label operations at NIGHTMODE, former A&R and label manager at Disciple, and founder of artist management company To Be Fair.
Working alongside BARELY ALIVE, Bhanderi brings years of experience developing bass music talent and is helping guide Killed It!’s transformation into a platform built to support artists across every level of the modern brostep ecosystem.
A New Generation Steps Into the Spotlight
Killed It! Vol. 1 wastes little time establishing its mission. Opening track “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DUBSTEP,” a collaboration between BARELY ALIVE and Cyclops, serves as both an explosive introduction and a statement about the label’s purpose. Fueled by eccentric vocal samples and intense sound design, the record channels the unpredictability of classic brostep while updating it for modern festival stages.
Another standout arrives in the form of Bizo’s “Good Times,” which blends nostalgic piano melodies and emotional lyricism with crushing bass drops that evoke the genre’s early years. The track encapsulates one of the compilation’s defining ideas: honoring brostep’s roots without becoming trapped by them.
Across the remaining sixteen songs, artists including Smiles Only, Edison Cole, K1N, elden, Marcix, LOST FRIEND, sapphi, Ganimed, KING WORM, Shming, AUDIOWEAPON, Empty Stomach, and Phaceless explore wildly different corners of the sound. Some lean into melodic experimentation, while others embrace the unrelenting aggression that made brostep famous in the first place.
“We wanted to kick off the label’s next chapter with bangs, growls, and lasers,” Killed It! explained. “‘Killed It! Vol. 1’ is a heartfelt statement from a community of artists bringing their own perspective to brostep and an introduction to the sounds audiences can expect to hear much more from in the future.”
The compilation arrives during a particularly active period for BARELY ALIVE, following the release of their 100% NO AI EP and a string of major festival performances. But Killed It! Vol. 1 feels like something bigger than a typical label launch.
By creating a space where veterans and newcomers can exist side by side, BARELY ALIVE are making a broader statement: brostep’s story is far from finished, and Killed It! intends to help write its next chapter.
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Raised in upstate New York, I was always a big fan of music but never really listened to electronic music. Within the first month of attending Florida State University and meeting some new friends, I was introduced to the rave scene. After seeing Ekali at my first show, I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have dived into every subgenre of electronic music, picked up DJing, and mixed for clubs and different entertainment events in Tallahassee. Once graduating with degrees in marketing and hospitality, I was hired for a sales position. However, I recently decided to leave my sales job to pursue my dream of working in the music industry. Currently, I run Magnetic Magazine's Melodic Techno Charts, along with my role as a PR and marketing specialist for different artists and labels. Some of my favorite artists are REZZ, Kyle Watson, TOBEHONEST, San Pacho, Josh Baker, HUGEL, ARTBAT, Vintage Culture, Ganja White Night, CamelPhat, Green Velvet, Jungle, Milky Chance, Paco Versailles, Franc Moody, and RÜFUS DU SOL. My favorite festivals are Hulaween (by far), EDC Orlando, and all the different venues during Miami Music Week. Outside of music, I love sports (especially hockey, soccer, tennis, basketball, and spike ball), going to the movies, working out, sushi, Chick-fil-A, food in general, and hanging with my dog Maui and my cat Loki. Feel free to reach out to me via my email or on IG, I love expanding my network of friends and business opportunities!
