KOAN Sound ( ; named after the word kōan) is an English electronic music production duo from Bristol, consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow.
A track from the Max Out EP is titled "One Hand Clap" – a reference to a well-known kōan with the implied answer of silence. They initially gained recognition as dubstep producers, with earlier popular tracks including "Akira". Some of their many types of music includes glitch hop, neurohop, and Drum & Bass. The duo have since released music on various labels including Inspected Records and Owsla, and have worked with a number of other artists, including producer Asa and singer Ed Sheeran.
Career The duo cite bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Incubus as early influences. In 2005 the duo began to explore electronic music through artists such as The Prodigy and Noisia.
On 23 May 2011, KOAN Sound released the Max Out EP. The release was seen by many as a turning point in their production, gradually moving away from the dubstep template of their earlier music and displaying a wider range of styles.
On 1 November 2011, the duo released the Funk Blaster EP on Skrillex's label Owsla. The EP reached number 1 in the Beatport releases category.
During 2012, KOAN Sound performed across Europe and North America. They supported Skrillex alongside Diplo and others on the Full Flex Express Tour in 2012.
On 4 September 2012, The Adventures of Mr. Fox EP was released. The release includes remixes from Reso, Neosignal and Opiuo. A remix of "Introvert" by Vexisle, a duo of KOAN Sound's frequent collaborator Asa and Kursa, was released soon after as a free download. The EP track "80s Fitness" (music video by director Tim Hendrix and producer Filippo Nesci) featured on an advert for The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw and received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. Their songs have been played by Skream and Benga, MistaJam and Annie Nightingale among others, and they completed a Daily Dose: OWSLA After Dark mix for MistaJam.
On 22 October 2013, the duo's collaboration EP with Asa, Sanctuary, was released through OWSLA and Inspected. This was considered to be another turning point in their production, where they began to incorporate more orchestral, organic and ethereal elements in their music, as well as releasing various tracks that sounded almost completely acoustic.
Their fourth OWSLA release, the Dynasty EP, was released on 1 April 2014. One of the four tracks, "7th Dimension", entered the UK Indie Breakers Chart at number 12.
Their fifth release, Forgotten Myths, was released in 2015 through Culprate's Open Outlets label and Shoshin.
Their sixth release, an album titled Polychrome, was announced on 1 November 2018 and released on 7 December 2018.
On 20 September 2019, they became a featured artist on the rhythm game osu!.
Discography Albums Year Release Label 2018 Polychrome Shoshin 2023 Led by Ancient Light Shoshin
Extended plays Year Release Label 2011 Free Self-released Max Out Inspected Records Funk Blaster Owsla 2012 The Adventures of Mr. Fox Owsla 2013 Sanctuary (with Asa) Owsla / Inspected Records 2014 Dynasty Owsla 2015 Forgotten Myths Shoshin 2019 Intervals Above Shoshin 2020 Silk Wave Shoshin2021 Chronos Vision Full Circle Shoshin2024EvocationShoshin2025 Glyph Shoshin Echoes Shoshin Spiral Unfold Shoshin 2026 Moments of Opening Shoshin
Singles Year Title Label 2008 "Clowny / Blessed" Abducted Dub 2009 "Boo & Yarr (by TRiLLBASS) / Mafia (TRiLLBASS Remix) / Alchemy" TRiLLBASS2010 "Coast To Coast / Hesitation (featuring Asa)" Screwloose Records "Jumpsuit Adventures / Blueberry Pie"2011 "Akira / Endorphin" "Garden of Buddha / Zappa Bomb Squad" Dubsaw 2012 "Risky Endeavours" Unsigned 2018 "Chilli Daddy" Shoshin "Viridian Dream" Shoshin2020"Virtue"Shoshin2021"Chronos"Vision
Other appearances Year Track Release Label 2008 "Mafia" TRiLLDigi 002 TRiLLBASS2011 "Kaneda" (with Asa) Sweeter Things EP Screwloose Records "Blue Stripes" Dubstep Onslaught EMI2012 "Look Who's Back" (featuring Foreign Beggars) OWSLA Presents: Free Treats Vol. II Owsla "Beyond the Shadows" (with Gemini, Culprate and Asa) Beyond the Shadows Inspected Records 2013 "Cascade" (with Culprate, Asa and Reso) Cascade Inspected Records 2014 "Mosaic" (with Culprate, Asa and Sorrow) Mosaic Inspected Records 2015 "If You Hadn't" (with Culprate, Asa and Opiuo) If You Hadn't Inspected Records
Remixes Year Track Artist 2009 Catch You Asa 2010 We Can Have It All Danny Byrd2011 This City (with Asa) Kito and Reija Lee Raw Tones (with Asa) Gatekeeper Promises Andain The A Team Ed Sheeran Keep Rising LoKo Kill Everybody Skrillex Deal With It Kill The Noise2012 Days Are Forgotten Kasabian Green and Blue Neil Davidge Vengeance Rhythm Two Fingers 2013 Axion Reso 2014 Life Opiuo (featuring Gift of Gab and Syreneiscreamy)2019Meanwhile, In The FutureKOAN Sound 2021 Distance Apashe (featuring Geoffroy)Reflex Angle Hudson Lee and Frequent
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