Jessica Audiffred Rinses the Sweat-Drenched Bass Vibes on EDC Mexico 2019 Mix

With EDC Mexico on the horizon, bassheads from around the globe are converging upon Mexico City, ready to soak in the heavyweight sounds of their favorite producers. While many of the artists hail from abroad, there is one internationally known talent who won’t have to travel too far to the festival, as she calls Mexico City home.

Set to close out the first night of the festival on the Bassrush-hosted wasteLAND stage, Jessica Audiffred’s appearance at EDC Mexico caps off an epic run that has earned her headlining status across the globe. Having developed a hybrid style of bass and trap built on the DNA of classic dubstep vibes, Jessica’s output and live performances have caught the attention of heavy-hitters across the scene. With Skrillex’s Nest HQ prophetically earmarking her as a “tastemaker” that was “soon to be a major staple in the global dance scene” in 2016, Jessica has gone on to attract the attention of none other than Flux Pavilion, who quickly signed her to his legendary Circus Records imprint and helped elevate her sound and style to center stage.

The releases have been coming hot and heavy ever since, and she has quickly evolved into a favorite among fans and fellow producers alike. It’s a level of success that seems to have caught the artist by surprise and puts her in a nostalgic mood at times. Growing up with a Spanish mom and Mexican dad, Jessica remembers “a little bit of both cultures around the house.” Her mother preferred ‘70s rock and Elvis, while her dad played regional Mexican songs, but Jessica credits her brother as the “the real musical hero” for introducing her to electronic music. “He used to listen to trance and electronic music in general,” Jessica says. “When he would pick me up from school, he wouldn’t let me listen to anything else.”

The influence on her musical taste was immediate, and by the time she was 13, she remembers her favorite groups being Groove Armada, Massive Attack, and Fatboy Slim. Even so, she had no idea of the future that awaited her. The only instrument she played was piano, but even that was a casual interest.

By the time Jessica went to college, her career path seemed to be set on psychology. But that all changed when she attended an underground party and the DJ dropped some now-classic Rusko and Caspa vibes into the mix. “I was like, whaaaaaaaaat is that? I felt so attracted to it ‘cause, at that time, I used to listen to a lot of nu metal. For me, it had the same vibe and energy.”

From there on out, Jessica listened to a lot of dubstep. But it wasn’t until a few years later—when a DJ friend dropped an entire set of dubstep in the vein of Flux Pavilion and Doctor P—that she realized “this was the path I wanted to take from now on, and that’s what I’ve been playing ever since.”

“For years, I struggled with promoters. But I stood by my musical point of view, and now the bass scene has opened up so much more. We are not on the level I would like to be—we need a few more years to achieve that—but we are getting there, and we are not stopping.”

Jessica is quick to point out that this wasn’t as easy as it sounds, as bass music was essentially still very “underground” in Mexico City and the local community of artists and fans was very small.

“For us (Mexican bass producers), it was a little rough. When I started playing it at my shows, like six years ago, a lot of promoters were scared, to be honest. They didn’t want the audience to leave the party or festival, and a lot of people thought that dubstep, and bass in general, was just music made with blenders. No one really knew how it was made.”

Lucky for us, Jessica stayed true to her vision, not only connecting with like-minded bass DJs and producers, but also slowly opening up a path for other budding bass music artists to follow.

“For years, I struggled with promoters. But I stood by my musical point of view, and now the bass scene has opened up so much more. We are not on the level I would like to be—we need a few more years to achieve that—but we are getting there, and we are not stopping.”

Jessica’s own path began behind the decks. “When I got into DJing, there weren’t many production schools in Mexico,” she says. “I had a few friends around who would teach me how to make music here and there, but nothing really serious at the time. What I really wanted was to enroll and study production at a good school. When I finally did that and was finally able to explore the different software and hardware that was available, I had an opportunity to recreate some of my favorite sounds and melodies and begin to really shape my own sound. By the time I was finished with school, I was in the studio on a regular basis, creating and expressing myself.”

Flash-forward to the present, and her tireless work ethic and determination have paid off. Her tunes seem to have found a solid home with Flux Pavilion and the Circus Records family.

“The fact that I’m releasing most of my music on my favorite label is just crazy. I used to listen to Flux, Doctor P, and FuntCase in my iPod before my sets, and now I’m on the same label with them, releasing music and playing shows.”

When asked why she thinks her sound and style vibe with Circus so well, Jessica points out that it goes both ways. “Circus understands my sound, and I feel really comfortable with them—because that’s my vibe! Everything I do at the studio is Circus material. I want people to know that I love the old dubstep vibes… the simplicity of it, the melodic vibe, the skank, the dynamic and the old synthesis. Everything reminds me of why I started to like bass; it’s a feeling I wouldn’t change for anything. I have a lot of releases still to come on Circus, and I’m really excited for you all to hear them!”

Jessica’s link with the Circus family not only solidified her success at home but also instantly catapulted her onto the international stage, with appearances at EDC Las Vegas and EDC Orlando in the past year securing her position as a top-tier talent. “The fact that I was invited to play those festivals just blew my mind. I’m so grateful for everyone who trusts in my music and in me.”

“The fact that I’m releasing most of my music on my favorite label is just crazy. I used to listen to Flux, Doctor P, and FuntCase in my iPod before my sets, and now I’m on the same label with them, releasing music and playing shows.”

Even more impressive is Jessica’s commitment to her own A Records imprint, which she envisions as a space for “exposing amazing music that I get sent by many talented producers all over the world. It’s cool to have your own label for your releases and get them out whenever you want to, but for me, it’s a way to give other producers an extra push. Every single release on A Records is a song or an EP that I believe in.”

The mentorship role is one that seems to come naturally to Jessica, as she is eager to provide guidance to other up-and-coming artists who may be looking to her as a role model. When asked what specific advice she’d give an aspiring female hoping to follow in her footsteps, Jessica says, “I’d tell her the same thing I tell myself: Just be you and work hard, ‘cause there’s a lot of competition out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a boy; you have to prepare yourself as the musician you want to be, as the producer you want to be, or the DJ. There’s a lot of people that will take your place in a second if you’re not ready, so be the best version you could possibly be in every aspect. The rest will come.”

Which brings us back to where we started: her set at EDC Mexico this weekend. For those who don’t know or just want to dive straight into those Jessica Audiffred vibes, she’s hit us with a teaser in the form of an exclusive 30-track guest mix.

“My sound is classic dubstep vibes, simple and melodic, with a lot of skank and yet fresh, with groove and a lot of rhythm,” she tells us. “Every once in a while, I’ll drop a super filthy tune.”

And her upcoming set? “At EDC, you should expect a fire AF party. I like to feel that I’m playing a sweaty, dirty underground set, even if I’m closing the wasteLAND stage this Saturday. I want all of you to feel that you can let go and have fun.”

With Jessica Audiffred at the dials, getting sweaty and having fun is the only way to get down.

Jessica Audiffred EDC Mexico 2019 Mix Track List: Born I Music x Aquarius “G Chain” (Jessica Audiffred Remix)
Jessica Audiffred “Wasted”
Jessica Audiffred “Like What The F”
HE$H “NUN HOLD MY STRAP”
Boogie T & Subtronics “Senpai” (L.U.X Remix)
Ray Volpe “Sell Out”
DPMO – ID (Codd Dubz Remix)
RVMDON “I Am Turok”
Crizzly, Pasdat & Bass System “RIOT” (VIP)
Dizzo “HATERS”
Excision ft. Space Laces “1 on 1”
Snails “King Is Back” (Mastadon Remix)
Yookie & Jeff Kush “Bassquake”
NTCRCKRS “Bring It Back” (VIP)
Excision & Dion Timmer “Hoods Up” (HE$H Remix)
Wooli & Kompany “Thicc Boi”
Somnium Sound “Waver”
Jessica Audiffred “Let’s Get It”
Jessica Audiffred “Ghost Valley”
Oliverse “Get High”
Jantsen ft. Yaysh “Feel Right”
Bommer & Crowell “Yasuo” (Ivory’s “Wizuo” Remix)
Fatal “No escape”
LAXX “Friends” (Krimer Remix)
Travis Scott “No Bystanders” (Crankdat Re Crank)
FuntCase & Wooli ft. Clipson “Man Don’t Want War”
Joyryde / Ivory “DAMN” x “93” (Mashup)
Yookie & Kai Wachi “F U”
Megalodon “Half Breed”
Jessica Audiffred ft. Exile Di Brave “Steppin’”

Jessica Audiffred is playing at EDC Mexico 2019, which takes place Saturday, February 23, and Sunday, February 24, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit the official website.

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