Jade Cicada is a figure that needs no introduction. His years spent touring with Tipper, along with a number of legendary follow-up shows and curated events, have inspired a reputation that precedes him wherever he goes.
Whether you’re a die-hard Swarm member or a casual listener, it’s difficult to deny the impact Jade Cicada has had on the scene over the last decade. His 2017 debut album, Brood VII, made waves that are still felt (and heard) at shows today. He’s grown quickly, headlining festivals like Secret Dreams and selling out several of the nation’s most iconic venues. Few other artists bring his level of polished, heavy-hitting, and unbelievably intricate sound design to the stage.
While Jade’s name was once almost synonymous with Tipper’s, he’s become more and more of a draw on his own accord. His formal education in jazz and music theory, along with his passion for 1990s hip-hop, has coalesced into an experimental glitch-hop sound that is profoundly unique.
Although he has developed his own style, he’s also managed to maintain the delicate balancing act of continuing to evolve while avoiding stagnancy. This evolution was on display in his most recent EP, Lunar Fade, which dropped early this year and kicked off his nine-stop headlining tour.
Jade Cicada on his most recent tour. Photo by Alden Bonecutter
Today, Jade Cicada revived Lunar Fade by dropping the official remixes. Each of the four tracks is reimagined by a different artist, with all of them thoughtfully adding their own distinct flavors of drum and bass, trip-hop, and dubstep.
The first track, “Frame Shift,” is remixed by Machinedrum. The high-energy breakcore style is quick to grab your attention, and it doesn’t let up again for the duration of the EP. It’s much faster-paced than the original, but nothing about the tempo change feels forced or unnatural.
Next is the “Froggy Style” remix by Schmoop, which adds his signature wet sound and beat disruptions while still maintaining Jade Cicada’s personal flavor.
The songs on this EP have been reorganized from the original, so the “Goober Time” remix by Chee follows with a darker twist. This take is a slowed-down version, with a heavy-hitting bassline on par with Chee’s discography.
Kelpe has big expectations with the final title track, “Lunar Fade,” and he successfully delivers. While the tempo doesn’t change drastically, the London-based artist infuses this number with drum and bass and a playful reimagining of the sonic tones sprinkled throughout the original.
Despite the drastically different styles presented by each of these five artists, Lunar Fade (Remixes) still pulls together a cohesive journey that flows well from one song to the next. It’s the kind of project that can only happen when artists transcend being mere coworkers into real friends and collaborators, and it’s exciting to imagine what may be coming in the future as they work together more.
You can catch Jade Cicada at upcoming shows at Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Camp Alderwild, Sacred Acre, Hulaween, and more to hear these tracks (and many others) played out live. Be sure to follow along to see what’s next for this East Coast producer and his friends — it’s sure to be fire.
Jade Cicada is a figure that needs no introduction. His years spent touring with Tipper, along with a number of legendary follow-up shows and curated events, have inspired a reputation that precedes him wherever he goes.
Whether you’re a die-hard Swarm member or a casual listener, it’s difficult to deny the impact Jade Cicada has had on the scene over the last decade. His 2017 debut album, Brood VII, made waves that are still felt (and heard) at shows today. He’s grown quickly, headlining festivals like Secret Dreams and selling out several of the nation’s most iconic venues. Few other artists bring his level of polished, heavy-hitting, and unbelievably intricate sound design to the stage.
While Jade’s name was once almost synonymous with Tipper’s, he’s become more and more of a draw on his own accord. His formal education in jazz and music theory, along with his passion for 1990s hip-hop, has coalesced into an experimental glitch-hop sound that is profoundly unique.
Although he has developed his own style, he’s also managed to maintain the delicate balancing act of continuing to evolve while avoiding stagnancy. This evolution was on display in his most recent EP, Lunar Fade, which dropped early this year and kicked off his nine-stop headlining tour.
Today, Jade Cicada revived Lunar Fade by dropping the official remixes. Each of the four tracks is reimagined by a different artist, with all of them thoughtfully adding their own distinct flavors of drum and bass, trip-hop, and dubstep.
The first track, “Frame Shift,” is remixed by Machinedrum. The high-energy breakcore style is quick to grab your attention, and it doesn’t let up again for the duration of the EP. It’s much faster-paced than the original, but nothing about the tempo change feels forced or unnatural.
Next is the “Froggy Style” remix by Schmoop, which adds his signature wet sound and beat disruptions while still maintaining Jade Cicada’s personal flavor.
The songs on this EP have been reorganized from the original, so the “Goober Time” remix by Chee follows with a darker twist. This take is a slowed-down version, with a heavy-hitting bassline on par with Chee’s discography.
Kelpe has big expectations with the final title track, “Lunar Fade,” and he successfully delivers. While the tempo doesn’t change drastically, the London-based artist infuses this number with drum and bass and a playful reimagining of the sonic tones sprinkled throughout the original.
Despite the drastically different styles presented by each of these five artists, Lunar Fade (Remixes) still pulls together a cohesive journey that flows well from one song to the next. It’s the kind of project that can only happen when artists transcend being mere coworkers into real friends and collaborators, and it’s exciting to imagine what may be coming in the future as they work together more.
You can catch Jade Cicada at upcoming shows at Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, Camp Alderwild, Sacred Acre, Hulaween, and more to hear these tracks (and many others) played out live. Be sure to follow along to see what’s next for this East Coast producer and his friends — it’s sure to be fire.
FOLLOW JADE CICADA:
Website | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube | X | Facebook | SoundCloud
Follow Machinedrum:
YouTube | Instagram | Spotify | BandCamp | Facebook | SoundCloud
Follow Schmoop:
Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | BandCamp | Facebook | SoundCloud
Follow Chee:
Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | BandCamp | Facebook | SoundCloud
Follow Kelpe:
YouTube | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | BandCamp | Facebook | SoundCloud
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