SLANDER
Biography
SLANDER is a Grammy-nominated American electronic music duo based in Los Angeles, California, composed of Derek Andersen and Scott Land. They are recognized for their distinctive, emotional, and melodic bass music sound. Andersen and Land first met at the University of California, Irvine, through their fraternity. Their shared passion for music led them to attend Icon Collective, a music production school, where they graduated alongside future collaborator NGHTMRE. The duo's name, SLANDER, is a combination of their names: "S(cott) Land" and "Ander(sen)".
Career Beginnings
Initially, SLANDER performed at local venues and for their college friends. Their breakthrough came in 2014 with their remix of Showtek's "We Like to Party," which gained significant popularity. They are considered pioneers of the "heaven trap" subgenre, a mix of trap and trance. Early in their career, they signed a long-term residency deal with XS Las Vegas.
Musical Style
SLANDER is known for a versatile sound that encompasses future bass, dubstep, and house music. Their productions often range from cinematic and melodic to intensely energetic, yet always maintain a sophisticated and captivating quality. Their unique style has been described as "heaven trap," blending the 808s and melodic vocals of trap with darker electronic melodies. This genre-bending approach allows them to create both festival anthems and emotionally charged tracks.
Notable Releases and Collaborations
Throughout their career, SLANDER has collaborated with a wide range of artists. A significant partnership has been with NGHTMRE, leading to the "Gud Vibrations" brand, which evolved into a record label and a weekly radio show. Some of their key releases and collaborations include:
EPs and Albums
- Nuclear Bonds (2015): An early EP in collaboration with NGHTMRE. - Duality (2016): An EP released on Mad Decent, featuring original tracks and remixes. - Dilapidation Celebration (2017): A collaborative EP with Kayzo. - The Headbangers Ball (2018): An EP released via the Monstercat label. - Thrive (2022): Their debut studio album, which includes some of their most popular pre-released singles.
Singles
- "Superhuman" (2017): Marked their debut on the Monstercat label. - "Kneel Before Me" (2018): A collaboration with Crankdat featuring the metal band Asking Alexandria. - "All You Need To Know" (2019): A collaboration with Gryffin and featuring Calle Lehmann. - "Love Is Gone" (2019): A highly successful track featuring Dylan Matthew. - "First Time" (2019): A collaboration with Seven Lions and Dabin.
Record Labels
SLANDER has released music on various labels, including Mad Decent and Monstercat. They co-founded the Gud Vibrations label with NGHTMRE. In 2020, they launched their own label called Heaven Sent.
Performances
The duo has a strong presence in the live music scene, performing at major global festivals such as EDC Las Vegas, Lollapalooza, Tomorrowland, and Ultra Music Festival. They have also sold out iconic venues like Red Rocks.