mm something's brewing

Margarita Bassova (rita bass) is a sound artist, dj, vocalist and producer residing in Naarm (Melbourne). Her practice is inspired by her ever-evolving connection to cultural heritage, dissection of personal mental health, and exploring the interplay between music with other artistic artforms.

Rita’s creations vary in style, ranging from ambient electronica to bass-driven jungle, but are unified by the common thread of her own voice seeded within the compositions. Her works defy genre convention, with a particular affinity for the unlikely intersections between left-field pop, post-punk and drum and bass.

'Toska' is a dream-like reflection, an attempt to grasp onto old familial memories and suspend them within time. It explores feelings of physical and cultural distance from family, during a period where I’ve never felt further away.

The foundation of Toska is field recordings captured while visiting family in Russia in 2019. Frozen in subzero temperatures, we found ourselves skiing, ice-skating, falling over, laughing and screaming. I asked various family members to send me voice recordings to build upon the sound world, which I then heavily distorted and contrasted with my own vocal chops.

This sound work will be immediately relatable to many people across the globe, to many children of immigrants. It’s about longing for both familial connection and a sense of home that’s eluded us, never allowing us the chance to truly experience it as our own.

'TOSKA' by Margarita Bassova

(sometimes skeeta)

dj/producer based in naarm spinning/making bass-centred music.

1/2 of @strangeinteractions and director of @vervezine

contact me at ritabass.dj@gmail.com

Creating on the unceded sovereign land of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation.

https://paytherent.net.au/