APASHE INNOVATIVE NEW ALBUM ANTAGONIST FEATURING BUSTA RHYMES, EARTHGANG, JOEY VALANCE & BRAE WITH FLUX PAVILION, AND SOFIANE PAMART ALONG WITH PRAGUE PHILHARMONIC AND BULGARIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS
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The boundary-pushing artist’s blend of classical music and futuristic production delivers a unique and essential listen.
Following an earth-shattering run of singles, boundary-pushing producer Apashe has unveiled his stunning sophomore album Antagonist. Bursting with innovation, Antagonist features crossover influences of classical music with recordings of the Prague Philharmonic and Bulgarian Symphony Orchestras, as well as collaborations with a number of high-profile artists including rap legend Busta Rhymes. Since its release on November 24, Antagonist has stacked up over 13.54 million streams worldwide on Spotify alone, with 1.25 million streams in the U.S. landing it at #6 on the platform’s Top Album Debut USA chart. In Canada, the album hit #2 on iTunes Top Albums chart.
Listen to Antagonist here:
https://apashe.fanlink.to/ antagonist
Antagonist opens strong with a huge orchestral intro to “King,” before Busta Rhymes injects his inimitable flow over a heavy-hitting chopped-up groove. String flourishes and choir vocals follow on second track “Catch Me,” which erupts into a fierce industrial groove incorporating synths and relentless rhythms. From there, the tracklist continues in the same exhilarating, genre-hopping vein. There’s the glorious melodrama of “Human” ft. Wasiu, the high-octane synthscape of Magugu collaboration “Revenge of the Orchestra” and the stunning piano composition of “Devil May Cry” ft. Sofiane Pamart.
A masterclass in production from start to finish, Antagonist is full of sweeping orchestral arrangements that collide with futuristic beats. Other highlights include “Fracture,” the acclaimed collaboration with Joey Valence & Brae and Flux Pavilion, and “Gasoline” featuring Delhi hiphop star RAGA, while recent single “Lost In Mumbai” is a late album stormer, featuring the magnetic vocals of Montreal-based singer-songwriter Geoffroy, who previously worked on the hugely successful Apashe cut “Distance.”
Accompanied by his eight-piece Brass Orchestra, the producer is now bringing his vision to life on the stage. Currently at the tail end of his North American headline tour which included sold out dates in New York, Detroit, Portland, Seattle and his current hometown Montreal, a European tour is set to follow in February, taking in the U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia and Czech Republic.
In the press:
“It’s the inimitable aspects of Apashe’s production, however, that make his long-form works stand out. Much like its predecessor Renaissance, Antagonist incorporates textured orchestral elements in each song to create cinematic set-piece moments throughout, like in the haunting interlude, ‘Kryptonite’ (with Timour Leng and LIA).
Apashe flexes his growth this time around, embracing the grit of hip-hop (‘Menace’) and the swing of house music (‘RIP’), among other genres. – EDM.com
“His artistic approach is very much outside the box, bringing to life the true definition of an ‘antagonist’ in his own right.” – The Source
“All you need to do is press play to understand this project is so much more than your standard electronic music collection. The Symphonic Orchestras in Prague and Bulgaria were central to the formation of this project. Hip-Hop, Techno, Electro, House, and R&B are reimagined through the lens of classical composition to deliver an array of truly epic songs. Whether it’s ‘King’ featuring the legendary Busta Rhymes, ‘RIP’ with Vladimir Cauchemar, or any one of these fourteen tracks, you just might feel ready to run through a brick wall.
As music continues to evolve and genre lines continue to blur, there are few things we appreciate more than an artist who breaks the mold and produces outside of the box.”
– This Song Is Sick
“…now there’s even more music for everyone to feast their ears on. Hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes arrives front and center as the feature on the lead track ‘King,’ kicking Antagonist straight into gear with a sick lyrical flow and booming beat
that will have you swaying along with it.
Apashe’s solo track ‘Catch Me’ is another immediate stunner with choral vocals, strings, and drums paired with an infectious bass groove that will leave you confused yet hypnotized by its cinematic nature. ‘Kryptonite’ with LIA is another gem with perfectly placed vocals and an energetic beat. And if you need another dose, put on ‘Contraband’ with YMIR for vocals that guide you straight into a breakbeat-fueled ride that you’ll come back to again and again.”
– EDM Identity
“Canadian producer, composer, and artist Apashe has unleashed his masterful new album, Antagonist. With an inimitable fusion of electronic, orchestral, hip-hop, and alternative, the producer presents 14 tracks steeped in dynamics and drama.
It’s an insane composition of music, fusing symphonic orchestral work by Prague Philharmonic and Brussels Symphony with a rotating cast of vocalists and collaborators, including Busta Rhymes, EARTHGANG, Geoffrey, and Flux Pavilion.”
– MP3 Mag
“The Antagonist era of Apashe’s career welcomes a unique visual story and complex artistic approach.”
– DJ Life
Full Antagonist tracklist with links to their corresponding videos:
1. “King (ft. Busta Rhymes)”
2. “Catch Me”
3. “Devil May Cry” with Sofiane Pamart
4. “Human (ft. Wasiu)”
5. “Revenge Of The Orchestra (ft. Magugu)”
6. “Fracture (ft. Joey Valence & Brae)” with Flux Pavilion
7. “Kryptonite (ft. LIA) (Interlude)” with Timour Leng
8. “Kryptonite (ft. LIA)”
9. “Rise At Nightfall (ft. Rhita Nattah)”
10. “Gasoline (ft. Raga)”
11. “Lost In Mumbai (ft. Geoffroy)”
12. “Menace (ft. EARTHGANG)” with High Klassified
13. “Contraband” with Ymir
14. “RIP” – Apashe & Vladimir Cauchemar
US tour dates:
12/16/2023 Showbox Sodo – Seattle – SOLD OUT
12/28/2023 Believe Music Hall – Atlanta
12/29/2023 Concourse Project – Austin
EU tour dates:
2/2/2024 Koko – London London, England – Koko
2/3/2024 Melkweg – Amsterdam
2/8/2024 AB Brussels – Brussels
2/9/2024 L’Olympia – Paris
2/10/2024 Transbordeur – Lyon
2/11/2024 La Laiterie – Strasbourg
2/12/2024 Kaufleuten – Zurich
2/14/2024 La Paqui (Antigua sala BUT) – Madrid
2/15/2024 Razzmatazz – Barcelona
2/16/2024 Le Bikini – Toulouse
2/17/2024 Warehouse – Nantes
2/20/2024 Les Docks – Lausanne
2/21/2024 Magazzini Generali – Milan
2/22/2024 Szene – Vienna
2/23/2024 Sasazu – Prague
2/24/2024 Barba Negra – Budapest
2/25/2024 MMC – Bratislava
2/27/2024 Live Music Hall – Cologne
2/28/2024 Mojo – Hamburg
2/29/2024 Astra – Berlin
3/1/2024 Progresja – Warsaw
3/2/2024 Hype Park – Krakow
3/3/2024 Tama – Poznan