Smoakland [CANCELED] Despite both being Bay Area boys, Anthony Battaglia and Harrison Hays actually didn’t meet until they attended Boise State University. But the Gem State isn’t exactly the ideal spot for a couple of weed-loving dubstep heads, so they returned to the Bay and started Smoakland. The duo’s self-described “old school dubstep” (oh god, we’re ancient enough for dubstep to be categorized as old school) leans heavily into drum and bass influences, phased out electronics, and beat dropping, seemingly scientifically engineered to be enjoyed by EDM stoners. The group has thrown down banging opening sets at Red Rocks, so the tight confines of the District Bar has the potential to be popping on this cold Wednesday night if people toke up and turn out.
Smoakland Despite both being Bay Area boys, Anthony Battaglia and Harrison Hays actually didn’t meet until they attended Boise State University. But the Gem State isn’t exactly the ideal spot for a couple of weed-loving dubstep heads, so they returned to the Bay and started Smoakland. The duo’s self-described “old school dubstep” (oh god, we’re ancient enough for dubstep to be categorized as old school) leans heavily into drum and bass influences, phased out electronics, and beat dropping, seemingly scientifically engineered to be enjoyed by EDM stoners. The group has thrown down banging opening sets at Red Rocks, so the tight confines of the District Bar has the potential to be popping on this cold Wednesday night if people toke up and turn out.
“We want to show people we re more than just dubstep producers,” Anthony Battaglia of Smoakland says. “It s easy to be the happy-go-lucky weed guys. We re always smoking and having fun…but this album felt like it was something a little more serious, a little more personal.”
These last few months have been exciting ones for Royse City ISD choir students and their teachers, and things show no signs of slowing down into the next school year.