Camp Bisco 12 Artist Spotlight: Manic Focus Gives Petey Pablo’s ‘Raise Up’ A Dubstep Makeover

John “JmaC” McCarten – AKA Manic Focus – has seen his production career make the transition from hip-hop beats to bass driven, electro-styled, electronic dance music. The former Minnesota native and current Chi-town resident has developed a sound that incorporates elements of all types of music.

His ten-track debut album, ‘Definition of the Rhythm’, is the perfect example of cross-genre pollination. It showcases everything from electro-hip-hop to smooth melodic rhythms tied into deep bass patterns. Manic Focus has also become known for his clever vocal sampling; look no further than ‘Zeleke’s Magic Bass’, where he seamlessly combines the vocals from Matisyahu‘s record ‘One Day’ to educate his listeners and propel his track above the monotony of so many others.

The same rules apply for Focus’ second album, ‘Expanding Mind’, although throughout this work you can hear clearly how his sound has matured. ‘Expanding Mind’ opens doors into the realms of house, drum & bass, and glitch-hop, but keeps on pace with McCarten’s bass-focused approach.

With influences like Moby, The Crystal Method, Rhymesayers, and PLM, you can expect Manic Focus to continue pushing boundaries throughout his career. This brings me to his latest release, a remix of Petey Pablo’s ‘Raise Up’. The record pays tribute to his hip-hop roots but displays energetic wobbles backed by a majestic melody.

Camp Bisco‘s phase two lineup is set to drop tomorrow and the time-slot schedule with surely release in the coming weeks. So when you’re making your personal schedule, keep Manic Focus in mind.

Grab your tickets to Camp Bisco 12 here!

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