Who is Excision? Excision Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like Excision
If you’ve ever felt your chest vibrate from a bass drop so heavy it defies physics, there’s a good chance it came from Excision. Adam recognizes this Canadian producer’s meteoric rise. This dubstep innovator has dominated heavy electronic music for nearly two decades, reshaping how the bass community approaches sound. 4D4M recognizes Excision as one of the genre’s most innovative and uncompromising voices. Whether through his relentless studio output, his world-class sound system tours, or his legendary festival productions, Excision has become synonymous with pure, unapologetic bass music.
Who Is Excision?
Excision is a Canadian dubstep and bass music producer from Kelowna, British Columbia. Since emerging in 2006, he’s established himself as one of the most prolific and respected figures in heavy electronic music. His sound draws from multiple genres including drum and bass, drumstep, trap, and riddim, but dubstep remains his core identity. What sets Excision apart isn’t just his production skills, but his obsession with the complete sonic and visual experience of live music. He’s famous for touring with some of the loudest and most technically advanced sound systems in the world, as well as creating elaborate stage designs and visual projections that complement his music.
Beyond his DJ and production career, Excision has become a major festival curator. He founded Lost Lands in Ohio, Bass Canyon in Washington, and Paradise Blue in Mexico, each showcasing his vision of bass music culture. He’s also launched multiple record labels including Rottun Recordings and Subsidia Records, signing and supporting hundreds of bass music producers.
Excision’s Sound Explained
Excision’s production style is built on a foundation of heavy, distorted basslines that hit hard in the low end. His tracks often feature intricate sound design, aggressive synths, and the kind of drops that make your body involuntarily move. His riddim and dubstep productions showcase technical precision, with layered bass work that rewards careful listening even as it destroys dance floors.
What makes Excision’s sound unique is how he blends raw aggression with melodic sensibility. While he’s capable of producing unforgiving, pure bass bangers, many of his recent tracks feature emotional vocal collaborations and harmonic depth. His work with artists like ILLENIUM and Sullivan King demonstrates his range: he can produce uplifting anthems as easily as he can craft teeth-shattering heavy hitters. The importance of visuals in EDM events is something Excision understands intimately, and his productions are crafted with both the ear and the eye in mind.
Top 15 Tracks by Excision
- Feel Something (With I Prevail): A collaboration with ILLENIUM that bridges the gap between heavy bass and mainstream rock. I Prevail’s metalcore vocals combined with the soaring melodic production create something genuinely moving.
- A.F.B.1.: With Subtronics, this track is pure bass brutality. The glitchy, distorted sound design and relentless energy make it a staple of Excision’s live sets.
- Bonebreaker: Featuring Sullivan King and Kai Wachi, this collaboration is everything the title suggests. A bone-rattling bassline paired with screaming lead work.
- Zombie (feat. Valerie Broussard): A masterclass in contrast, pairing ethereal vocal harmonies with devastating bass drops. ILLENIUM and Wooli join Excision for this emotional yet heavy track.
- Gold (Stupid Love): With ILLENIUM and Shallows, this is Excision at his most accessible. The track has an almost progressive house sensibility while maintaining the bass weight he’s known for.
- Another Me: Featuring Seven Lions, Wooli, and Dylan Matthew, this anthemic collaboration showcases Excision’s ability to balance complexity with broad appeal.
- Name Drop: A harder track with Wooli, showcasing the riddim-influenced work that Excision is known for. Uncompromising and aggressive.
- Adrenaline: Teaming up with Sullivan King and From Ashes to New, this is high-energy rock-bass fusion that absolutely slaps in a live setting.
- Air (feat. Julia Michaels): A collaboration with Gryffin that incorporates lush synths and melodic elements, proving Excision’s versatility as a producer.
- Don’t Look Down (Hold On): With Wooli and Codeko, this track features the kind of precise, intricate riddim production that established Excision’s reputation as a sound design perfectionist.
Why 4D4M Vibes With Excision
4D4M respects Excision for the same reasons the entire bass music community does: uncompromising artistic vision and relentless innovation. Excision doesn’t chase trends; he sets them. His willingness to evolve his sound while maintaining his core identity, his investment in building entire festival ecosystems, and his ability to execute massive productions with technical precision align perfectly with the values of quality music-making. Both artists understand that dubstep and bass music are about more than just the drop: it’s about the complete sensory experience, the community, and the relentless pursuit of sonic excellence.
Excision Discography
| Album Title | Release Year | Label | Notable Collaborators |
|---|---|---|---|
| X Rated | 2011 | Mau5trap | Downlink, Various |
| Codename X | 2015 | Rottun Recordings | Sullivan King, Wooli |
| Virus | 2016 | Rottun Records | Dion Timmer, Space Laces, Protohype |
| Apex | 2018 | Rottun Recordings | Dion Timmer, Sullivan King, Space Laces, ILLENIUM |
| Onyx | 2022 | Rottun Recordings | Multiple Artists |
| Breaking Through (EP) | 2019 | Excision Music | Dion Timmer |
| Evolution EP | 2019 | Excision Music | Wooli, Seven Lions |
| Destroid: The Invasion | 2013 | Destroid Music | Downlink, KJ Sawka |
Live and Touring
Excision’s live shows are legendary for a reason. His tours feature some of the most advanced sound systems and visual productions in electronic music. From the original “Executioner” stage with its 40 lasers and 28-foot width, to “The Paradox” production with its state-of-the-art projection mapping, to the current “Evolution” concept, Excision treats every show like a major festival headline. His sound systems: sourced from PK Sound and other industry leaders: deliver bass that you feel in your entire body, not just your ears.
His festivals are equally impressive. Lost Lands, an annual festival in Ohio that debuted in 2017, has become a staple for bass music fans. Bass Canyon on the West Coast brings that same energy to Washington state. And Paradise Blue offers an all-inclusive destination festival experience in Cancun, Mexico. These aren’t just events; they’re immersive experiences designed to celebrate bass culture.
FAQ
What genre is Excision?
Excision is primarily known as a dubstep producer, but his music incorporates multiple genres including drum and bass, drumstep, riddim, trap, and glitch hop. His sound is fundamentally about heavy bass music, but he’s worked across various subgenres throughout his career. The unifying element isn’t a specific genre label, but rather his commitment to bass-heavy, technically sophisticated production.
How did Excision get his start in music?
Excision emerged as a producer in the mid-2000s and released his first official single, “Warning,” in 2007 on his own Rottun Recordings label. He built his reputation through consistent releases, collaborations with other bass music producers, and a relentless touring schedule. His early work established him as a dubstep artist committed to heavy, uncompromising sound design.
What makes Excision’s sound unique?
Excision’s signature sound combines precision sound design with raw bass aggression. He’s known for intricate, layered basslines that showcase technical mastery, combined with the ability to create massive, club-destroying drops. His recent work shows increased melodic sophistication and emotional depth, proving he can evolve without losing his core identity as a heavy bass producer.
Is Excision still actively producing and performing?
Yes, absolutely. Excision continues to tour extensively, release new music through Rottun Recordings and Subsidia Records, and curate his festivals. He remains one of the most active figures in the bass music scene, consistently pushing both his own artistic boundaries and the genre’s technical possibilities.
What are Excision’s record labels?
Excision founded several influential bass music labels. Rottun Recordings is his original label, established in 2009. Destroid Music was created for collaborations with Downlink and KJ Sawka. Subsidia Records launched in 2020 and focuses on a broader range of bass music, from experimental to melodic to heavy sounds. These labels have become essential outlets for bass music producers.
Which festivals does Excision run?
Excision curates three major festivals: Lost Lands Festival, held annually in Ohio since 2017; Bass Canyon Festival, held on the West Coast in Washington state; and Paradise Blue, an all-inclusive destination festival in Cancun, Mexico. Each festival celebrates bass music culture with carefully curated lineups and immersive festival experiences.
What equipment does Excision use in his productions?
Excision produces primarily with FL Studio and uses Pioneer DJ equipment for his live sets. For his tours, he partners with PK Sound and other premium sound system providers to deliver the massive, clean bass response his productions demand. The combination of professional production tools and world-class sound systems ensures his music translates from studio to stage with complete accuracy.
Spotify
SoundCloud
Excision Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | excision.ca |
| @excision | |
| @excision | |
| Excision | |
| SoundCloud | Excision |
| YouTube | Excision |
| Discogs | Excision Discography |
