BASURA REFLECTS ON BASS MUSIC ACROSS The Country & MASSIVE HEADLINING SHOWS AHEAD. [INTERVIEW]
As we explored the bass music landscape searching for new sounds and artists pushing boundaries, ready to make their debut in front of the Brooklyn underground, one name kept popping up. Kyle Green aka Basura, is an emerging talent in the industry turning all the right heads. Carving his path with seminal imprint Deep Dark & Dangerous, Basura has gained support from all corners of the scene and built undeniable momentum.
With his brand of hard-hitting original productions, dance focused deep cuts and smooth technical mixing style, Basura has muscled his way into the front lines of dubstep and bass. Kyle is set to join legendary pioneer Skream along with other cutting-edge artists at Shambhala Musical Festival as a part of the Skream & Friends Takeover at The Amphitheatre stage. Basura also finds himself among high-class company amidst the talented Lightning In A Bottle Stacks programming.
After securing major festival slots like these there's no doubt that Basura is set to leave his mark on Brooklyn as he makes his debut in support of powerhouse boss Veil. We caught up with the man himself ahead of his show this Friday April 11!
SMACK: Hi Kyle, we're stoked to have you out next month alongside VEIL. Tell us how the Basura project got started and the meaning behind the name.
BASURA: Thanks for having me. I’ve been producing music since 2009 and I went by “Yukona” My laptop broke around 2017 and I just stopped making and mixing music. In 2020 my great friend Will Giltner asked me why I wasn’t producing anymore so I explained I had no computer. And Will was nice enough to give me his old MacBook so I could start up again. I really wanted to come fresh with this so I dropped Yukona and thought of something new. My buddy Chris Garcia had said the word Basura and I thought it sounded cool. And once I found out that it meant TRASH in Spanish I knew I had my name!!!!
SMACK: Originally hailing from Arizona, what was your entry into dubstep and how did you hone your sound?
BASURA:I moved from Arizona to Denver Colorado in 2001. Once I bounced from high school in 2007 my buddy Jimmy Edgin showed me Woo Boost and from there I was absolutely stuck on Dubstep. From there I spent day and night searching everything I could about it.
I then found “Sub.Mission” in 2008 and went to my first Dubstep show at Cervantes Other Side to see Caspa and Rod Azlan. After that the rest is history.
SMACK: Deep Dark and Dangerous is one of the most influential dubstep imprints and Meow Wolf is a true bastian of creativity. What was it like contributing to the Danceportation lineup and how do events like that one put the focus back on fans?
BASURA: Wow being able to be apart of Danceportation was absolutely mind blowing. It was by far the biggest event I’ve gotten to play so far. My mum flew out from Arizona to see me play and I don’t know how to put it into words, it was definitely a night to remember.
I opened up the main stage that night and immediately after that I rushed to another stage to play an 2nd set, it was nuts. And honestly so happy I got to play that opening slot. Being able to warm up the night was something I considered really special.
Having events like this I think is good for the fans because they get a handful of their favorite DDD artists in one night. Not to mention DDD has such a HUGE fanbase and it’s amazing to see everyone from around the nation fly to one place to be together and dance.
SMACK: As a touring artist you have insight into the current state of bass music across the country. In your opinion what part does community play in underground music and how can we continue to build a thriving scene?
BASURA: In my opinion, underground music is more of a family than it is just a music night. And when you have a whole community to support your vision, the possibilities are endless. Over the past 3-4 years of traveling I’ve seen lots and lots of different communities and a lot of them are strong.
SMACK: I believe you're currently based out of Denver, which is the epicenter of electronic music in many ways. Do you ever find it difficult to stand out in such a crowded landscape?
BASURA: As of October 2023 I am now living in Davenport Iowa. My wife and I had our first child and we just couldn’t see ourselves building a life in Denver with the cost of living and everything so we made the decision to leave. I felt I was at a point with my music career that it didn’t matter where I was living.
But while I was living there I honestly didn’t find it to hard to stand out and I think that had to do with the relationships I had built over the years of being in the scene and it definitely had to do with the growth in my productions.
SMACK: In the last few years you've grown from strength to strength with huge releases and support from some of the biggest names in the industry. What sort of advice would you give to an artists trying to navigate the business of being a musician while maintaining authenticity and remaining creatively invested?
BASURA:I don’t give too much advice out as I’m also in the learning curve of how all this works but I’m starting to catch on pretty quick. I’d say my best advice is to be patient. A lot of people want that over night blow up but honestly when you blow up over night you tend to fall off after a couple years. If you want to make music a career you need to have patience. That slow burn is always so much more rewarding in the long run.
SMACK: We're always excited to bring artists to Brooklyn for their NYC debut, what sort of landmark, if any, does playing in this city have for you?
BASURA: I am beyond thrilled to make my NYC debut with SMACK I have never even been to New York so this should be a lot of fun. This is by far the biggest city I’ve gotten to play in I think. I just hope I run into Kevin McAllister… ;)
SMACK: What can the New York crowd expect from a Basura set?
BASURA: HIGH ENERGY!!!! I’ve been playing a lot of my sets out at 144bpm recently because it just keeps the momentum and energy flowing. Lots of originals and collabs with my friends.
SMACK: This year you're set to play both Shambhala and Lightning in a Bottle. How do bookings of this stature vindicate your path as an artist?
BASURA: Playing two of the biggest festivals this year is a huge milestone for me. It pushes that the music I create and the energy I bring to my sets are resonating with the right people. It’s not just about playing bigger stages, it’s about reaching a wider audience that connects with my sound and the journey I’ve been on. These bookings are proof that the years of dedication, experimentation, and pushing my craft forward are paying off. It also fuels my drive to keep evolving as an artist and bringing something fresh to every show.
SMACK: Do you find it difficult to stay grounded while levelling up or is this all part of the ride?
BASURA: I’ll be honest it’s for sure not for the weak. I balance having a full time job at Petco, being a full time Husband and Father, doing Mastering and Mix down services to the public and working on music. I for sure have my moments of self doubt but I think I’m able to manage all of it pretty well. At least things have been going pretty smooth as of recent.
SMACK: Finally what are you most excited for this year and can fans expect any new music in the months to come?
BASURA: I’m most excited to share with everyone my Debut Album coming out this summer on misfit media! I’ve put a lot of hard work into this album and I’ll have a couple collabs with some of my favorite artists on it as well. Having my guy Ben Pflefka with “Ben Jammin Media” along for the ride with me has been an absolute blast so I’m looking forward to traveling more with him and capturing this journey with me. That and just getting the opportunity to travel and play new states and meet great like minded people. I’m incredibly humbled to be here and be considered apart of the Dubstep Community.