Uppermost, The Last Honest EDM Producer
I remember when I first heard the surging electric sound of Uppermost. Autumn 2010, Santa Clara, California, I was sitting in a black Dodge Durango, parked in a dirt lot.
The vehicle belonged to my friend and old business partner Danny. His truck was stock throughout except for the earth-shattering sound system that he installed – that’s how Danny is, music is all that matters.
Four of us bass-heads (2 DJs and 2 graphic artists) sat back in our black leather seats, watching the dust swirl outside of the truck, listening to the buttery growls of Uppermost ricocheting between the sub-woofers, bouncing off the car windows, thudding in and out of our eardrums. We were hooked.
Danny suggested we try and make a move at Uppermost – the producer was unsigned and Danny wanted to see if we could be the first Americans to bring his innovative mind to the ‘States. We set out under Danny’s strategic plan and under my creative direction.
Morrie (The Savoia Founder) and I began developing album artwork for the musician. We sat in my top floor flat, turned up the wattage on my Polk 6-piece stereo while letting our fingers start the Photoshop Magic.
While we designed, Danny made his networking push: reaching out to agents, hitting the social media airwaves, learning everything he could about Uppermost.
In 2 weeks we created a package to be proud of and we sent it over to Paris.
We waited anxiously to hear back from France. Finally we received communication – an email to Danny. You could taste the anticipation, anxiety and excitement in the air as Danny hovered his mouse over the email link in his gmail inbox.
Four pairs of eyes peered on the glowing iMac screen. Our pupils widened after Danny clicked his mouse. A white screen, a creeping-ly slow status bar – loading the response.
“Thank you…” the message began. Smiles peaked at the corners of our mouths but soon turned to deflated frowns. Uppermost and his management would not be signing with us nor would he be traveling to the U.S.. Our high spirits collapsed but we kept reading.
They loved our initiative, our artwork, our passions but Uppermost would not be leaving Paris. His representation explained to us that his heart is in the local club scene. He was witnessing EDM exploding across radio airwaves and into the mainstream, and he wanted no part of it.
Uppermost would not have his music changed, influenced or critiqued by mainstream conformity. He would not change what he was doing and is doing. He would and continues to produce the music he loves for his people and if others find it appealing, well they can listen too but Uppermost would not be catering to their needs.
It is this writer’s opinion that Uppermost’s Electric heart will always remain in Paris and so will his music. He is a producer for the people. He is the last honest EDM Artist.
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