REAPER continues his dominion over the North American drum & bass scene with another massive single on Bassrush Records.
“Monster” sees the anonymous artist reconnecting with venerated Texas-based singer-songwriter Josh Rubin for their second collaboration, serving as the follow-up to their acclaimed 2021 breakout anthem “RUNAWAY,” which has amassed over two million streams to date.
“Monster” is a gripping ride that fuses introspective emotions with an outwardly pulse-raising drive. Josh Rubin’s enthralling vocal croons set the stage, with threads of pain and uncertainty sneaking into the foreground. The lyrics trace the reflection of a recent romantic fallout while shadowing the process of internal critique. The reflective throughline is amplified exceptionally with REAPER’s signature sound. A lofty, dream-like bed of sound gives Rubin’s voice room to breathe in both the introduction and breaks. As the emotion swells, so does the production, with roaring cinematic builds and blistering drum and bass drops that pack a distorted drive that’s offset by a tinge of melody. The half-time conclusion explodes into a gritty breaking point that mirrors a sense of self-realization.
Opening up about the meaning behind the track, REAPER says, “I’ve always felt that ‘Monster’ is about a moment of self-realization. It’s about realizing yourself, using that realization to find a resolution; and using that truth to habilitate yourself into something better. The way the song travels between Josh’s angelic vocals and the gripping basslines shows the intensity of that inner dialogue of a self-discovery moment.”
Josh Rubin expands on the track’s significance by sharing: “‘Monster’ is a reminder to be more present in the now and to not get too caught up in the past or future. Too often, I find myself trying to analyze every little aspect of every moment of my life instead of just being in that moment and, unfortunately, it’s had a negative impact on some of my relationships. You can’t live your life based on what you think is going to happen or what has happened in the past. Instead, take every moment for what it is and just be present and live life to the fullest.”
The ever-mysterious REAPER has taken the bass scene by storm, quickly catapulting himself into the upper echelon of drum & bass in North America and beyond. He’s hot off a string of European debut shows, including sold-out nights in Paris and Toulouse. The appearances follow an impressive run that featured sets at EDC Orlando, Countdown, Nocturnal Wonderland, and support for Kayzo on his back-to-back North American tours in 2021 and 2022. REAPER is set to embark on his debut Asia tour with stops in Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. He also has a jam-packed festival season ahead with appearances at Toxic Summer in San Francisco, Rampage Open Air in Belgium, Bass Canyon at The Gorge, and Sonne Mond Sterne in Germany.
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Josh Rubin is quickly becoming a mainstay in the electronic music scene. The singer-songwriter has become a go-to collaborator working with artists such as REAPER, Fransis Derelle, ATLAST, Mazare, and more. 2023 is set to be his biggest year to date as he transitions from high profile vocalist to a DJ/producer in his own right. His debut electronic EP is due out this summer.
Powerful in every sense of the word, “Monster” is a menacing yet reflective offering that continues to harness the collective talents of its creators to the fullest.
REAPER & Josh Rubin’s new single “Monster” is available on all platforms via Bassrush Records.
