Events

Manic Focus is the electronic music project of John “JmaC” McCarten, a Denver-based producer with roots in funk, soul, and new-era hip-hop. A multi-dimensional artist with a rowdy style that spans multiple genres, Manic Focus transcends sound waves by fusing soulful blues with heavy-hitting bass, creating a resonating tone that’s entirely his own.

Originally hailing from the Twin Cities, McCarten grew up with classical piano lessons from an early age, developing a trained musical ear and laying the groundwork for his future in beat production. In his teen years, McCarten developed a deep appreciation for hip-hop music, citing musical influences such as Atmosphere, Brother Ali and MF Doom. In high school, McCarten would spend day and night in the basement of his family home teaching himself Ableton software, relentlessly trying to replicate the hip-hop rhythms he grew up on by making beats for his friends for fun. It was around this time that McCarten realized his music had a profound impact on those around him, and the self-taught producer began making his own music full-time.

Over the last 6 years, McCarten has released six full-length albums, each one a new evolution in sound and approach. The producer continues to push himself to new musical limits by incorporating original, sample-free recordings, which is especially apparent in the material from his latest album Lost in a Digital World, released in September of 2019. Lost in a Digital World further cemented McCarten in the upper echelon of producers and paints an aural illustration of his creative process and experimentation with different genres. The album draws elements from the realms of house, dubstep, trap, hip-hop, electronic, downtempo and beyond, and is perhaps his most cohesive body of work to date.

5AM is Philly-based producer, musician, graphic designer, and creative magnate Sam Andrus. Once a student at the Rhode Island School of Design burning the midnight oil in the studio with a soundtrack always in the background, Sam has since forged his inspirations from jazz fusion, funk, and future beats into a style of bass music known to captivate audiences with a spectacle of mesmerizing detail and high resolution sound design. 5AM’s music merges worlds as it expertly weaves electronic production and live instrumentation through creative processing and meticulous mixing. To bring his journey full circle, Sam has expanded his project to form the5AM Trio, a collaboration complete with live drumming from ZONE Drums (Aaron Harel) and turntablism, bass guitar, and keys from Tygris (Zach Plocic). 5AM has soared to new heights, becoming the first electronic music producer to perform at the historic Kings Theatre in New York City for the sold-out Tipsgiving. 5AM is now a seasoned performer who’s shared the stage with Tipper, Shpongle, Jade Cicada, kLL sMTH, Detox Unit, Kalya Scintilla, Random Rab, and more, and lived and built strong roots up and down the east and west coasts of the US.

Thought Process is the musical vision of Denver-based artist Joseph Rich. Blending styles of Sampled Based Hip Hop, Breakbeats, and High Fidelity Sound Design, his unique fusion of sounds paints an illustrious and cinematic soundscape that will move and excite dancefloors.

Phyphr (real name Nick Locke) is turning heads with his vibrant twist on electronic funk, soul and blues. Combining live guitar with electronic elements, funky grooves and catchy hooks, Phyphr delivers a live performance you won’t forget.

The rising electro soul artist has opened up for national acts like The Floozeis, Manic Focus, Daily Bread, SoDown, Marvel Years, Maddy O’Neal, Jason Leech, Shooka, Cofresi and Recycled Funk. He recently performed at ReVibe Retreat, as well as a New Year’s Eve Livestream by River Beats, whose fans nominated the producer for Breakout Artist of the Year for 2020.

Music made with love and intention.

Local to Odessa, Delaware, Mike Barry sculpts, manipulates, and designs compositions of various styles to express emotional feelings, periods of time, and experienced circumstances to create an “audio journal” for future reflections.

With styles ranging from Electro-Soul, Lo-Fi, Experimental Bass, House, D&B, Ambient/Downtempo, and more, this melting pot of sound and emotion has something that anyone can enjoy, anytime, at any place.