An Introduction to the MTA Records Roster

For some acts, you can judge their worth by the stable they surround themselves with. As Chase & Status grew in popularity and status (no pun intended

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Complex Original

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For some acts, you can judge their worth by the stable they surround themselves with. As Chase & Status grew in popularity and status (no pun intended), they formed MTA Records, which is named after their debut album, More Than Alot. And with their sound's evolution came the growth and expansion of MTA. The last four years have seen MTA create a huge stable of acts including Nero, KillSonik, Ben Pearce, Dream Mclean, and many others. Let's take a look at the current MTA roster, which does a great job at highlighting the different facets of Chase & Status' evolving sound.

Nero

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Nero might be one of the few groups on MTA that fits the mold that Chase & Status has shaped during their career. Starting off as a drum & bass-producing duo, Nero has broken out of the dnb shell, crafting sounds that not only have dubstep crowds rocking, but have made their way into Hollywood, with music being produced for the recent film The Great Gatsby. They also added a powerful vocalist, Alana Watson, as an official part of their group, taking their sound to new heights. ANd while they're MTA-affiliated, they've also received love from the music industry, with Mercury helping distribute their debut LP, Welcome to Reality. Another example of drum & bass groups that are building bigger careers than they can within the genre.

Dream Mclean

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Dream Mclean represents a part of the hip-hop side of MTA; although Knytro has more of an American flavor in his work, Dream's pure UK. Not making one better than the other, but you can hear it in his accent and choice of production. Dream also carries an IDGAF attitude in his bars, leaving no stone unturned if he's trying to make his point. His flow also lends well to non-hip-hop productions, making it easy for his tunes to be flipped into drum & bass bangers if need be.

Kove

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Kove has already caught the ear of the Ram Records crew, with two singles to his credit being released on their ProgRAM sublabel, and Viper also released a pair of his tracks. Mind you, all of this went down within the last year and a half. 2013 found Kove coming under the Chase & Status wing, and his forthcoming EP, Measures, shows that he's not just a one-trick pony; the title track is a beautiful piece of house bliss. If Nero is an act that has already made that transition, give Kove another year; he'll be mentioned in the same conversation.

Louis Mttrs

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Many of us first got introduced to Louis via Chase & Status' return single, "Lost & Not Found." His powerful vocals made the track, but they really made the track, and it looks like he's no one-hit wonder. With a forthcoming EP on MTA, Beachy Head, Louis seems to encompass the proper singer-songwriter void that might have been missing from MTA's framework. One of those artists that could truly propel the imprint as being more than a dance music haven.

Josh Butler

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One of the more progressive sounds today is that bass-driven house scene coming from the UK, and Josh Butler represents that vibe to a "T." He's already dropped releases on Cajual, Pura, and Off, but his recently-released "Closer" single started moving up the Beatport house charts quickly. Considering that Beatport can, at times, represent more of the "commercial" aspect of the EDM scene, Butler's presence is a breath of fresh air, and makes him an important component to the MTA ethos.

KillSonik

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The duo known as KillSonik was first introduced to the dubstep scene as Chasing Shadows, with a number of records being released on H.E.N.C.H. Looking to flip things into a more upfront lane, they re-emerged as KillSonik, massacred Nero's "Crush On You," and took the bass world by storm. Their output has been having a huge impact, with their MTA releases getting them looks from Hollywood, with music being featured in Battleship and Total Recall. Word is they are working on an album, which will definitely be one to watch when it hits the scene.

Elli Ingram

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Elli might be one of the godsends of the MTA imprint. Her Sober EP must have quietly simmered in the collective consciousness, but she oozes an Adele-esque vibe about her output. We'd bee up on her since the awesome clip for "Mad Love," and she was also featured on Brand New Machine's "Heaven Knows." One to look out for.

Ben Pearce

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If you've been following house music for the last year or two, "What I Might Do" has surely been in your rotation, or in your ears as you've been grooving in the club. Ben Pearce's "What I Might Do" was explosive, being released by MTA and Under The Shade, and hitting #7 on the UK charts (as well as charting in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Italy, where it hit #3). His deep house vibes connect with those out there looking for some soul with their grooves, and we hope to hear more from him (and his Purp & Soul imprint) in the coming years.

Knytro

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Knytro is another artist that we had no clue about until we heard Brand New Machine's "Gangsta Boogie," so while we're noticing a pattern, it's a pattern that's smart as hell. Knytro represents the "real hip-hop" side of MTA, and with his recently-dropped Project Haarpoon, he shows that he's no cheeseball. Real lyrics over proper instrumentals. Great asset to the crew.

Torqux

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Torqux got their start as Torqux & Twist, crafting dubstep and drum & bass that got some play over the last few years, with their biggest sparks occuring with a pair of Rottun singles. Somewhere along the line they turned their subwoofer-wrecking sound into more of a UK bass mindstate, and MTA noticed this, picking them up and having the duo unleash a number of strong releases. With the dance music scene in the UK in such a vibrant place right now, it's awesome to see a production outfit truly embrace the style and let loose, hitting ravers from many angles.

Moko

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Moko is another act who got proper exposure via a Chase & Status single, "Count On Me." She has a truly soulful voice, and the way she rides these sounds makes us remember the legendary UK outfits like Soul II Soul and others.

SION

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SION has already received acclaim via his tune "Make You Do" opening up Chase & Status' Mixmag cover CD in early 2013, with the tune ending up being released on MTA in September. The 20-year-old Welsh house producer is a great asset to MTA, helping push the emerging deep house sound that's been dropped in sets from everyone, including Skream and Seth Troxler.

Abigail Wyles

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THAT VOICE! Abigail Wyles' first single, "Mantra," was released on MTA in August of 2013, and shows just how diverse MTA is willing to be with their releases. Word is she creates these beautiful songs with a production partner, Holly Simpson, and are embarking on a path to craft soul-searching material that'll stand the test of time.

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