Monstercat Uncaged today welcomes a first of its kind, a record in which Speed House’s female leader CHYL and Phonk group THIRST fuse their distinct stylings for an exhilarating record, “DRIFTER.”
THIRST and CHYL are ones to watch in their respective genres, and their cohesive synergy has birthed an unexpectedly electrifying and addictive masterpiece for EDM aficionados and gaming fans alike. Crafting the foundation of ”DRIFTER,” THIRST felt inspired to evolve their signature sound by infusing it with electronic elements reminiscent of more traditional influences. THIRST then connected with CHYL, whom they had met at a Monstercat writing camp, and invited her to lend her adrenaline-rushing expertise to the record’s original groundwork.
THIRST shares, “We were experimenting with interweaving more traditional EDM sound palettes into Phonk. We’d worked with CHYL a few months prior at the Monstercat writers’ camp, and during the process of creating the early demo, she came to mind. We thought it would fit perfectly as a collaboration. We sent it over and she was feeling it too, and the rest is history.”
CHYL adds, “‘DRIFTER’ is my first time working on a Phonk song and I’m super proud of how THIRST and I combined Speed House and Phonk throughout this tune. I’m extremely happy to see the strong reception from within the gaming community around the song as well. I’m stoked to keep exploring new sounds outside of my comfort zone and pushing my boundaries. Hope you enjoy it!”
THIRST boldly breaks free from musical norms, embracing creative freedom over the pursuit of perfectionism. They’ve quickly nestled themselves as a staple within the Phonk genre, amassing millions of streams across platforms with hits like “DANCE” and “1 2 3,” and within the Monstercat community with their debut “GET IN THE CAR.”
CHYL, known for her internet humour, adrenaline-pumping sets, and F1 inspired aesthetic, had never dabbled into Phonk until collaborating with THIRST. Recognizing the potential to blend her speed house style with their unique Phonk approach, she embraced experimentation. The record symbolizes her leap out of her comfort zone, and together, they crafted a new perspective on music production. CHYL’s records have soared beyond the live music scene, with placements in Rocket League, and songs going viral on TikTok, such as “Boom Boom” with over 400k creates. The past year has seen CHYL take to festivals around the world, making her debut at COUNTDOWN, to Monstercat Compound, EDC Las Vegas, HARD Summer, and a K1 Speed indoor go-kart racing venue. She joined heavyweights on tour, including Dr. Fresch at The Shrine in Los Angeles, Steve Aoki, and k?d.
THIRST is on an impressive trajectory, growing at a pace surpassing many, despite being a relatively fresh project. “DRIFTER” is poised to propel them to unprecedented heights. Stay tuned for what lies ahead.
CHYL is set to take over Monstercat’s ADE Showcase on October 19th, followed by performances at Hulaween, and Stereo Live Dallas and Houston opening for Habstrakt in December.
