Subtronics

Subtronics

Artist

Jesse Kardon (born December 23, 1992), better known as Subtronics, is a EDM and Dubstep DJ, who entered the scene by bringing a fresh and hard-hitting new sound with its proportional and experimental production, along with his chopped-up vocals samples that creates a new atmosphere in his songs, bringing together a “unique blend of cutting-edge sound design” in his catalogue.

The name of Subtronics is a wordplay and fusion between what Jesse loves the most: Subwoofers and electronics, making known the creation of the name as one of the major exponents of the genre out today.

Before getting involved in the world of production, the Philadelphia-based DJ was mainly inspired by the band, Radiohead, and also had a drum set back then. It wasn’t until later—during high school—that he would know the first wave and popularity of Dubstep, with names like Caspa, Rusko, Skrillex, Excision, 12th Planet, and Skream surrounding their explosive and aggressive sound design, prompting Jesse to continue this path.

What would be the first move at the start of Jesse’s career would be his remix to JPhelpz’s 2014 song, “Genius.” It wouldn’t be until the next year, in 2015, that he would gain more traction through the release of his debut EP, Panick Attack, which would come with a distinct Riddim sound characteristic of him.

The next year, Subtronics releases his second EP, Impact, and later it would be followed by his third EP, Cyclops EP, released at the end of this year — From this project, it would be where his “Alien” persona would be used for the first time in his music, which prevails to this day.

2018 would be a year where the Subtronics name would gain more support from major labels and producers, starting first with his EP, Depth Perception, released in January 2018; this would be followed by the release of the EP through Disciple Round Table label, Thermal Expansion, released a month later. It would not be until March 2018, when through Never Say Die: Black Label, he would release, Wook Laser, the EP that would boost his career the most; This would be followed by his last release that, Pashmina Death Sauce, released in September 2018 through Kannibalen Records.

In 2019, Subtronics would release a total of 2 EPs: June’s, Cyclops Army, and August’s, Wooked On Tronics, released through his new independent label, Cyclops Recordings. This year it would be where Subtronics would reach a streak of collaborators with names like PhaseOne, Rusko, Snails, Kayzo and Zeds Dead — His biggest accolade that year was the release of his hit-single collaboration with GRiZ, “Griztronics” which managed to peak at #9 on Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts; Jesse would also peak at #10 on Billboard’s Next Big Sound charts.

Three years later, after the release of his 2020 EPs, April’s, Scream Saver, and October’s String Theory, alongside his 2021 collaborations with names like Excision, SLANDER and Marshmello — Jesse would finally releases his 17-track debut album, FRACTALS, released on January 14, 2022. The album has full of changes in his sound that he has been improving for more than a decade, alongside trying new genres in a more experimental way.

Subtronics would talk more in-depth about the feelings and their hard work improving their sound in an interview with YourEDM, on the same day as the album’s release:

I’ve wanted to talk about this album for so long, I’m overly transparent about my creative process, so not being able to share it with everyone has been an adjustment. I will say, I have poured so much emotional, mental, and sentimental weight into it. Putting such a huge project out there, something that I’ve been working on for well over a year, is kind of terrifying. I’ve reworked every detail of every track, made improvements, and built a universe around all of it. I have definitely evolved and grown with my sound design and I am beyond excited to share FRACTALS with everyone.