Ephixa
Ephixa | |||||||
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| Birth name | James Leusink | ||||||
| Born | April 13, 1990 Ontario, Canada | ||||||
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| Occupation(s) | |||||||
| Instruments | [1] | ||||||
| Years active | 2007–present | ||||||
| Labels |
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| Website | ephixa | ||||||
| YouTube information | |||||||
| Channel | |||||||
| Years active | 2008–present | ||||||
| Genre | Music | ||||||
| Subscribers | 450 thousand | ||||||
| Total views | 120 million | ||||||
| Network | None | ||||||
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| Updated 22 November 2017 | |||||||
James Leusink, (born 13 April 1990) better known by his alias Ephixa (sometimes stylised as ephixa), is a Canadian electronic music producer. He is best known for his viral "Charlie Sheen Bi-Winning" dubstep remix, remixes of music from the Legend of Zelda franchise as well as his various other remixes and original electronic music. Leusink peaked at #11 on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart in November 2011.
History[edit]
Early years[edit]
Leusink was born on 13 April 1990. His interest in music started when he was 8 years old, playing the keyboard without prior lessons. He got his first guitar several years later, began taking lessons, and joined various bands.[1]
Leusink's work in electronic music began when he developed games in his spare time, with a desire to feature a soundtrack in his games. Originally influenced by hardstyle artists such as Alphaverb, Showtek, and Evil Activities, Leusink used FL Studio for music creation.[1]
2010 to 2011[edit]
On 10 April 2010, Leusink released his third album, Zelda Step. The album featured remixes of "Lost Woods", "Song of Storms" and "Gerudo Valley" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as well as a remix of "Dragon Roost Island" from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The album received mixed to positive reviews at the time, with Jade Royal of Sputnikmusic reviewing the album, rating a 3.5 out of 5, stating "It's a thin line that Ephixa treads with 'Zelda Step', but one that ultimately pleases more than disdains".[2] Elton Jones of Complex later placed Leusink's remix of "Lost Woods" as the best remix of a video game theme song, finalising his review of the song with "The Legend of Zelda Lost Woods theme mixed with dubstep sounds incredible."[3]
On 2 March 2011, Leusink released "Charlie Sheen Bi-Winning Dubstep", a remix featuring footage of Charlie Sheen from an interview originally broadcasted on the TV series, 20/20.[4][5] Within two days of its release, the remix had been viewed over 700,000 times and had gained over 7,500 likes on YouTube, becoming one of the sites most popular and viral videos at the time.[6]
On 19 September 2011, Leusink released his dubstep remix of the song "Sanctuary" by English trance producer Gareth Emery. The remix was included in a remix extended play titled Sanctuary (The Remixes). When reviewing the remix extended play, DJ Mag commented on Leusink's remix, stating "Ephixa goes for a twitchy, spasmodic bit of dubstep-ery, which is ok, of the type".[7] In early November 2011, Leusink entered and peaked at number 11 on Billboard's Next Big Sound chart.[8]
2012 to 2015[edit]
On 3 August 2012, Leusink released "Awesome To The Max", which the Your EDM staff described as "heavy but laid back, and a gift for fans of dubstep and Monstercat alike". On 25 August Leusink collaborated with American producer Varien and Canadian duo Project 46 to release "The Anthem". "The Anthem" was released alongside an animated music video to celebrate Monstercat's one year anniversary. Both "Awesome To The Max" and "The Anthem" appeared on Monstercat's ninth compilation album, Monstercat 009 – Reunion.[9]
In November 2012, Leusink left Monstercat, continuing to release music independently. On 16 November, he released "Fuck The System", a mashup of himself, deadmau5, TVDS and Showtek. The song was released to promote "Fuck the 9to5 jobs".[10] On 17 January 2013, Leusink released "Unraveled Reality". Steve Jacobs of EDM Sauce stated "this 110 BPM track offers a bit of a soothing feel along with some big drum sounds".[11] In 2013, Leusink went on hiatus, which the Monstercat staff were questioned what happened to Leusink in a Reddit AMA, which they answered:
| “ | Ephixa, as an artist, took some time off to focus on other projects and his personal life. However, word on the street is that he is back at producing and we are looking forward to hearing his new work. | ” |
| — Monstercat staff responding to a user about what happened to Leusink[12] | ||
On 30 June 2014, a year after he released "Unraveled Reality" and almost two years after he released "The Anthem", Leusink independently released "Catfish". James Brannigan of EDMTunes noted the song for its minimalist trance progression, later stating "as soon as it the drop hits, Ephixa brings back the sound he used to win all of our hearts with as he did in his dubstep remix of 'Song of Storms'".[12]
On 5 February 2015, Leusink released his remix of American electronic producer Dex Arson's song "Machina" as part of the latter's extended play "Welcome to War". James Brannigan of EDMTunes noted the remix for its diversity and described it as "bearing a resemblance to Excision’s style".[13] Matthew Meadow of Your EDM stated "The intense original is transformed into a genre-hopping, deep and rumbling tune bound to blow your speakers", later stating "The synths are wonderfully bubbly and sinister at the same time, allowing for an extremely diverse and layered track, just the kind of thing I live for".[14]
2016 to 2018[edit]
On 4 July 2016, Leusink collaborated with Stephen Walking to release "Matches" (featuring Aaron Richards as vocals) as part of Monstercat's 5 Year Anniversary. Matches was previously featured in Leusink's 2014 mini-mix Wip Rip Reel under the working title "Old Dennis". Leusink had previously stated that "Old Dennis" would have "most likely never" been finished.[15]
On 2 February 2017, Leusink collaborated with Laura Brehm to release "Losing You" on Monstercat.[16][17] Billie-Darian Hollyhead of Playing With Sound noted Brehm's vocals, stating "'Losing You' is a beautiful progressive house track and Brehms’ vocals are truly stunning as they lay on top of the oscillating beats".[18] The song was later voted by fans to appear on the Monstercat's Best of 2017 compilation album. The song was later voted by fans to appear on the best-of compilation album Monstercat: Best of 2017.[19] On 19 August 2017, Leusink appeared on Laura Brehm's remix album titled Breathe EP Remixes.[20]
On 26 October 2017, Leusink collaborated with Laura Brehm to release "Deja Vu" on Brehm's own record label Electric Bird Records. Landon Fleury of Your EDM compared "Deja Vu" to Leusink's previous song "Skyforth", stating "The track sees Ephixa continuing down the house path in a similar way to his song 'Skyforth', but with a distinctly stronger groove and fresh vocal chops to top everything off". Fleury noted Brehm's vocals, stating "As always, Brehm’s vocals really soar, elevating the production to its maximum potential".[21]
On 13 December 2017, Leusink collaborated with electronic producer Bossfight to release "Subside" on Monstercat. Landon Fleury of Your EDM noted the song for it's influences from various electronic dance music genres including chiptune, synthwave, bass house and trap, stating "'Subside' sees Ephixa turning back to the heavier-leaning sound his musical career was founded on, diving into electro at full power", later stating "Simply said, it’s a variety of different sounds and styles that somehow fit together perfectly in the end".[22] The song was later featured on Monstercat Uncaged Vol. 4, the first compilation album released by Monstercat since their Uncaged and Instinct re-branding in January earlier in the year.[23]
On 10 August 2018, Leusink released "Dreamstate" on Monstercat as part of Monstercat Instinct Vol. 2.[24] A writer of T.H.E - Music Essentials described the song as a refresh of Leusink's style, writing that the song production has been made "very thoughtfully and yet, allows one to freely flow through its rhythms."[25]
Discography[edit]
Albums and EPs[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Beginning |
|
| Old School |
|
| Zelda Step[2] |
|
| Some Wobbles |
|
| Matches (The Remixes) |
|
As a featured artist[edit]
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Sanctuary - The Remixes[7]
by Gareth Emery |
|
| Hello EP
by Going Quantum |
|
| Welcome to War EP
by Dex Arson |
|
| Smooth McGroove Remixed 2 |
|
| Nope Remixes
by OMFG |
|
| Bipolar Rampage Squad
by Dex Arson |
|
| Breathe EP Remixes[20]
by Laura Brehm |
|
| Synthrunners
by Powercyan |
|
Singles[edit]
| Title | Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Apple | 2010 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Chipskream | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Above the Lawl (Featuring DJ Cafe) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| PianoDubs | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Always Bored | 2011 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Give You Back Life (with Swifty & Starwarspunk) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Give You Back Life (with Swifty & Starwarspunk) [Instrumental] | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Fall Silently (Featuring Veela) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Turret Error | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Dubstep Killed Rock 'n' Roll | Monstercat 001 – Launch Week | Monstercat | |
| Some Wobbles | Monstercat 002 – Early Stage, Some Wobbles EP | Monstercat | |
| Division | Monstercat 003 – Momentum | Monstercat | |
| Audiocidity | Monstercat 004 – Identity | Monstercat | |
| Substance (with Stephen Walking) | 2012 | Monstercat 005 – Evolution | Monstercat |
| Trance Chords | Monstercat 006 – Embrace | Monstercat | |
| Ideekay | Monstercat 007 – Solace | Monstercat | |
| Substance VIP (with Stephen Walking) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Awesome to the Max[9] | Monstercat 009 – Reunion | Monstercat | |
| The Anthem (with Project 46 & Varien)[9] | Monstercat 009 – Reunion | Monstercat | |
| Unraveled Reality[11] | 2013 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Catfish[12] | 2014 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Chipstuff | 2015 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Awesome to the Max VIP | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Depth (with Cidi) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Retrospect | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Space Panda (with Cidi) | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Dewpit | 2016 | non-album single | Self-released |
| Club Penguin | non-album single | Self-released | |
| Matches (with Stephen Walking)[15] | Monstercat 5 Year Anniversary | Monstercat | |
| Cobra (with Holder) | Cheat Code 2.0 | Ninety9Lives | |
| Everlasting (With Jim Yosef) | non-album single | NoCopyrightSounds | |
| 2080 (with Heartful) | 2017 | Ninety9lives 90: Care Package | Ninety9Lives |
| Losing You (with Laura Brehm)[16] | Monstercat 030 – Finale | Monstercat | |
| Losing You (with Laura Brehm) [Instrumental] | non-album single | Monstercat | |
| Skyforth | Rocket League x Monstercat Vol. 1 | Monstercat | |
| Deja Vu (with Laura Brehm)[21] | non-album single | Electric Bird Records | |
| Subside (with Bossfight)[22] | Monstercat Uncaged Vol. 4 | Monstercat | |
| Dreamstate[24] | 2018 | Monstercat Instinct Vol. 2 | |
| Easy (with Road Lizard) | non-album single | Self-released |
Remixes[edit]
| Title | Year | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2009 | Britney Spears | Self-released |
| Blue (Da Ba Dee) | Eifel 65 | Self-released | |
| Song of Storms (Hardstyle Mix) | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Song of Storms (Dubstep Mix) | 2010 | Koji Kondo | Self-released |
| Song of Storms (Zelda Step Mix) | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Lost Woods | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Aquatic Ambience | David Wise | Self-released | |
| Sierra Leone | 2011 | Mt Eden Dubstep | Self-released |
| Charlie Sheen Bi-Winning[5] | 20/20 | Self-released | |
| When I look at you (with Stephen Walking) | Emalkay | Self-released | |
| Piano Tune (with Stephen Walking) | Bar9 | Self-released | |
| Nyan Cat | saraj00n | Self-released | |
| Night Vision | Veela | Self-released | |
| Gerudo Valley | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Dragon Roost Island | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Sanctuary[7] | Gareth Emery (featuring Lucy Saunders) | Garuda | |
| Hello | 2012 | Going Quantum | Monstercat |
| Run Away From Me | DotEXE | Self-released | |
| Tristram Village | Russell Brower | Self-released | |
| Gourmet Race | Jun Ishikawa | Self-released | |
| Machina[13] | 2015 | Dex Arson | Dex Arson |
| The Girl | Hellberg (featuring Cozi Zuehlsdorff) | Self-released | |
| Waifu Dream | Sushi Killer | Self-released | |
| Stone Tower Temple (with Will & Tim) | Koji Kondo | Self-released | |
| Howling Fjord | Russell Brower | Self-released | |
| Overwatch Main Theme | 2016 | Derek Duke | Self-released |
| Victory Fanfare (with Holder) | Nobuo Uematsu | GameChops | |
| Midna's Lament | Toru Minegishi | Self-released | |
| Ride | Astha (featuring Manny Rite) | Self-released | |
| Home | Toby Fox | GameChops | |
| Zelda's Lullaby (with Will & Tim) | 2017 | Koji Kondo | GameChops |
| Dr. Wily Stage | Smooth McGroove | GameChops | |
| Let Go | Deadmau5 (featuring Grabbitz) | Self-released | |
| Nope | OMFG | HappyToast | |
| Rampage | Dex Arson | Dex Arson | |
| Parallel[20] | Laura Brehm | Electric Bird Records | |
| Plutocracy | 2018 | Powercyan | Self-released |
Awards and nominations[edit]
Accolades[edit]
| Year | Publisher | Country | Accolade | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Billboard | United States | Next Big Sound[8] | 11 |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Power Users - Ephixa (James Leusink)". Image-Line. July 6, 2016. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Indigonowhere (February 12, 2012). "Ephixa - Zelda Step (album review)". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ↑ Jones, Elton (August 9, 2011). "Down, Back, Shuffle: 17 Video Game Themes To Dance To". Complex. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ Cal (March 3, 2011). "Charlie Sheen Bi-Winning Dubstep | Salacious Sound". Salacious Sound. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 O'Conner, Brian (March 3, 2011). "Charlie Sheen goes Dubstep...But Not Really". DJ Times. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ "Charlie Sheen 'winning' dubstep mix takes YouTube by storm". Metro. March 4, 2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Sanctuary (The Remixes)". DJ Mag. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Next Big Sound 25. United States: Billboard. November 5, 2011. p. 48. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 8, 2018.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Monstercat 009 - Reunion [Monstercat Media]". Your EDM. September 13, 2012. Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ↑ Jacobs, Steve (November 16, 2012). "Ephixa vs Deadmaus vs TVDS vs Showtek - Fuck The System". EDM Sauce. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jacobs, Steve (January 21, 2013). "Ephixa - Unraveled Reality". EDM Sauce. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Brannigan, James (June 25, 2014). "Monstercat's Ephixa Returns with 'Catfish' After One-Year Hiatus - EDMTunes". EDMTunes. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Brannigan, James (February 6, 2015). "Dex Arson - Machina (Ephixa Remix)". EDMTunes. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
- ↑ Meadow, Matthew (February 5, 2015). "Dex Arson - Machina (Ephixa Remix)". Your EDM. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Grindrod, Nick (July 7, 2016). "Monstercat Is Celebrating Their Fifth Anniversary By Giving Away Free Music For Two Weeks". By The Wavs. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Goldberg, Sydney (February 6, 2017). "Ephixa and Laura Brehm Make Sweet Sweet Music With "Losing You"". Noiseporn. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ↑ Schellhammer, Joshua (February 9, 2017). "Laura Brehm Gives Her Best Teaming Up with Ephixa for "Losing You"". RaverRafting. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ Hollyhead, Billie-Darian. "Monstercat's latest release Ephixa & Laura Brehm – 'Losing You'". Playing With Sound. Archived from the original on June 28, 2017. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- ↑ Dexter, Robyn (December 8, 2017). "Monstercat unveils Best of 2017 results". Dancing Astronaut. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Jacobs, Steve (August 21, 2017). "Laura Brehm Releases Remix EP For Her Indie Folk Album 'Breathe'". EDM Sauce. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fleury, Landon (October 26, 2017). "Your EDM Premiere: Ephixa & Laura Brehm - Deja Vu". Your EDM. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Fleury, Landon (December 15, 2017). "Bossfight Debuts on Monstercat with Ephixa Collaboration "Subside"". Your EDM. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ↑ Fleury, Landon (March 2, 2018). "Monstercat Releases First Compilation Since Label Rebrand". Your EDM. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2018.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Stone, Katie (August 10, 2018). "Ephixa - Dreamstate Out Now Via Monstercat [Listen]". EDM.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Ephixa comes back with new single - Dreamstate". T.H.E - Music Essentials. August 13, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Canadian DJs Category:Musicians from Ontario Category:Canadian music Category:Electronic music Category:Hardstyle musicians Category:Dubstep musicians Category:Trance musicians Category:Canadian house musicians Category:Future house musicians Category:Monstercat artists Category:NoCopyrightSounds artists
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