The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new track from Varg2™ & Exploited Body. “Bass2™ (Cease & Desist)” comes off the new 12”, Etsin Turvaa, on the always excellent Northern Electronics. Recorded in Helsinki, the two artists conjured an explosive five track EP which sources club material, mutant techno strains and shattered sonics for a heavy mental trip with surprises lurking around every corner. From the elegant to rugged, chaos to calmness this will be one of the most interested releases you hear this year.

Today we host the track “Bass2™ (Cease & Desist)” and to find out more about the project and what the artists have been up to during this time, we also present a great Q&A with both. (see below)

Etsin Turvaa is out December 4th on Northern Electronics. Get yours on Bandcamp.

-JRS

The Brvtalist: Let’s start at the beginning - how did this collaboration come about and what were any inspirations for the project and/or for the EP?

Exploited Body: This record began as just a fun weekend in my hometown of Helsinki and eventually grew into something so much more. We’d previously met in Copenhagen and Prague last year and have kept in touch over social media ever since. Jonas (Varg²™) was set to play a show in Helsinki last November so we made a non-plan to go to the studio and just see what happens. We ended up spending most of his trip at my studio just banging out track after track until we had what would later be known as ’Etsin Turvaa’.

Varg²™: What he said basically. Been a big fan of Noah (Exploited Body) since we first met, I mean both music and as a person he’s highly lovable. It worked really well in the studio, so we locked ourselves in and just forgot the concept of time.

TB: This was recorded together in Helsinki. Tell us a bit about the recording process and making the tracks together.

Exploited Body: For me it was the least stressful record I’ve ever made, it just came together very naturally. Varg²™/ Jonas has this healthy sense of not caring too much and just going with what feels right. Those who know me know that I’m extremely neurotic when it comes to my music, so it has been liberating to work so closely with someone whose almost like the polar opposite of me.

Varg²™: Tbh it was so easy to make this record, it just came out of us. Noah is a insanely talented studio engineer, which mixes well since I'm just insane. Like if I say something, and just hum it or whatever, Noah can draw that up in a song very fast. So, its a very lucky pairing over here I would say. I feel lucky.

TB: Where have you both been based during the pandemic period? Tell us how you’ve been spending some of the time?

Exploited Body: I’ve been based in Helsinki, Finland. Have spent pretty much all of my time working on music, my own and some collaborative projects as well, which to be fair isn’t very different from what I usually do anyway. However, it’s been an interesting challenge to work very extensively with someone like Jonas over the internet.

Varg²™: LOL, been a hectic year. Was doing a Asia tour when this broke out, then I tried to move to Rome, then Skellefteå, now back in Copenhagen. Been playing a lot of Fortnite, Overwatch and Super Smash. Also tons of new music.. Wont say to much but been working very close with Noah on several releases. Got way too much weird material for 2021.... Damn, I wanna tell u. Whatever… l8r.

TB: Any silver linings or things you’ve liked about the period?

Exploited Body: I’ve kind of had this epiphany that there’s no rush to just keep knocking out release after release more often than not resulting in an inadvertent drop in quality. Just been taking my time with stuff, but also trying not to get too comfortable with having looser personal deadlines. Other than that a lot of big things are coming to ahead all around the world, which will hopefully lead to some meaningful change eventually. Black Lives Matter, ACAB, forever and always.

Varg²™: A lot of very urgent and important political discussions has flourished around the world, so so important. Personally its been good for me to take a pause. Work inwards a bit, pretty sick and necessary. Got back to making music, which was something I really been wanting and trying for a bit. A lot of the reason how I made it back to that is thanks to Noah tbh.

TB: Would love to hear your thoughts on the live music and party/event industry in Scandinavia.

Exploited Body: As pretty much everywhere else, most clubs in Helsinki are directed more to a casual clubbing audience, so not a lot of opportunities for left-field dance music in general. However, there’s a ton of really great stuff bubbling under the surface and I think they will be becoming more prominent following this pandemic due to more localized programming at clubs.

Also want to give a big shout-out to Post Bar where we first premiered the tracks from ‘Etsin Turvaa’ just hours after completing them!

Varg²™: I dont really know anything about live events in Scandinavia tbh. But what I do know is that it was really weird to be in Stockholm while the rest of the world was on lockdown. Full of parties, underground parties as well as more organized events. Right when we finally got restrictions, I got offered (and of course turned down) to play in a suburb of Stockholm at an "Anti Corona” warehouse rave, payment offered was 300 Xanax bars, LOL.

TB: What’s coming up next for you both + anything else you would like to mention

Exploited Body: Lots of great releases coming up on my label Changeless by SITOI, APEAK & 111X. More new music from me as well, but I can’t really disclose too much yet. All will be revealed soon enough!

Varg²™: Lots of new stuff, Noah just sent me mix downs of some new tracks with me, Bladee & Ecco2K. Got a lot of new music starting to come out so I guess like, keep your eyes peeled or whatever. Also shout out to everybody thats into our music, really brings a smile during these times. Love and respect to all of u <3

Still fuck all cops.

#blacklivesmatter

#georgefloyd

#trayvonmartin

#sandrabland

#ericgarner

#breonnataylor