XRS delivers a masterclass in 'Sambass,' a vibrant collision between the technical precision of UK drum and bass and the organic warmth of Brazilian musical heritage. The sound is defined by breakbeats that don't just hit hard, they swing with a specific Latin syncopation that feels more human than mechanical. It is music that carries the heat of a São Paulo summer, even when the production is sleek and digital.
What truly sets XRS apart is his ability to weave lush, soulful samples - think filtered acoustic guitars, breezy vocal snippets, and Rhodes chords - into the aggressive framework of 170 BPM dance music. While many liquid funk producers aim for a generic 'chill' vibe, XRS maintains a fierce, percussive edge that reflects his background in the massive PA soundsystems of Brazil. It is simultaneously sophisticated and raw.
Start with his collaborations with DJ Marky or the 'Dia De Sol' era to hear the quintessential blend of melody and momentum. It’s the perfect entry point for anyone who loves the speed of electronic music but craves the harmonic richness of jazz and bossa nova.
Xerxes de Oliveira is a drum and bass producer from São Paulo, Brazil. He uses several pseudonyms including XRS, XRS Land, Friendtornik, and Kapitel 06. He is well known in the Brazilian drum and bass scene due to the large number of live PAs he has performed throughout Brazil. Most of his work has been released on Sambaloco, although he has also released material on the UK's V Recordings imprint (often in collaboration with DJ Marky).
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); euphoric, joyful, energetic (moods)
Shares sample based, hi fi, layered dense (production style); drum and bass (subgenres)
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); sample based, hi fi, layered dense (production style)
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); sample based, layered dense, analog warmth (production style)
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); euphoric, energetic, soulful (moods)
Shares drum and bass (subgenres); summer, urban night, festival (atmosphere)
Shares liquid funk, drum and bass, soulful, joyful (signature)
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