Ian Snow is a seasoned Chicago-based producer, one who has become a staple in the scene with a sound that fuses psychedelic inspiration, stirring melodies, and emotional appeal, all fortified by an ice-cold low end. Making his debut on SLANDER’s Heaven Sent imprint comes “Ice Waves,” a bone-chilling dubstep creation with a cinematic edge—pulling from a near-death experience and effectively signaling a new chapter of his sonic evolution.
“Ice Waves” is a spine-tingling dubstep cut that’s hypnotic, emotive, and heavy-hitting. A glitchy intro tunes itself into focus as cosmic bleeping tones and glacial melodies lay the cinematic foundation. The slow-burning introduction conjures imagery of a barren soundscape before enveloping into the powerful drops. Gesticulating sub-bass, gleaming arpeggiations, and haunting atmospherics sweep in with an arctic aesthetic. Dizzying melodic flourishes saunter amongst the darker undertones, offering a compelling counterpoint. The refined approach to dubstep offers a breath of fresh air, proving that emotion and precision can be more impactful than extreme complexity.
The catalyst for Snow’s new single stems from a brush with death. After surviving a near-fatal car accident, he would then revisit an older project—approaching it with a reinvigorated drive and newfound sense of purpose—with the track being emblematic of a pivotal point in his life’s journey.
Ian Snow recounts the incident, saying “As the car rushed toward me at 40MPH, I had limited choices: crash and burn, or rise above. I closed my eyes and jumped. I vividly remember flying through the air thinking two things: the first being, ‘welp, I'll see ya on the other side,’ assuming I’d either wake up from a coma, or death. Followed by, ‘holy shit, did I just clear that?’ before I rammed into the windshield, shattered it and barreled through the air like a spaceship crash-landing on an unknown planet.”
After surviving the collision that should have claimed his life, Snow pondered, “when I die, how do I want to be remembered?” Upon returning home from the hospital—which he left miraculously unscathed—he felt his soul swerve in a new sonic direction.
Drawing from the expansive soundscapes that first ignited him at underground bass parties and formative festivals like Electric Forest, he began to write a new chapter in his musical legacy—‘Ice Waves’ marks this game-changing inflection point.
"Up until that point, I had been involved in music—but on the commercial side—not taking my solo project seriously whatsoever,” says Snow. “It shouldn’t have taken a near-death experience to shift my mindset, but that’s what happened.”
Through ‘Ice Waves,’ Snow sought to explore a new realm of artistic integrity, while reinventing the sound of his project. But it was a journey that would take time.
“I loved the concept, but not the execution. I just didn't have enough experience with production or mixing yet, so I shelved it, knowing I’d return when I was ready. That time arrived last year, when I completely revamped the track. Despite much of my music being aggressive, the melodic aspect of electronic music will always stay near and dear to my heart. That’s why I’m stoked to finally be releasing ‘Ice Waves’ through Heaven Sent—a label that’s become a staple for the melodic side of bass music."
Rising from the Chicago bass scene, Ian Snow is a producer (formerly known as SNOWMASS) who has been delivering a blizzard of dubstep tracks fusing psychedelia, melody, ice-cold low-end, and all manner of emotion. He has collaborated alongside Fancy Monster, Ravenscoon, Born I, and Kini Solana, while enjoying radio support from heavyweights like Zeds Dead and GunFight. He has also graced top-tier festival stages, including Beyond Wonderland, Lost Lands, Spring Awakening, and Lightning in a Bottle. He is slated to join Buku on tour on the day “Ice Waves” is released into the world, and has a run of back-to-back headline shows in Kentucky. Further ahead, he has a festival appearance slotted at Same Same But Different.
“Ice Waves” is a thematic melodic dubstep anthem that transports listeners to another planet filled with ice, frigid winds, and an underlying sense of beauty.
Ian Snow’s new single “Ice Waves” is available on all platforms via Heaven Sent.