Au5
Crystalline sound design meets euphoric trance melodies. High-definition melodic dubstep that feels like a journey through a digital nebula.
Crystalline sound design meets euphoric trance melodies. High-definition melodic dubstep that feels like a journey through a digital nebula.
Au5 creates a sound that is both physically punishing and spiritually uplifting. It is a world of high-definition textures where jagged, metallic bass growls are smoothed over by lush, soaring trance pads. The music feels massive, occupying every corner of the frequency spectrum with a clarity that reveals his background in classical piano and meticulous sound engineering.
What truly sets him apart is his 'trancestep' philosophy. While many dubstep producers focus purely on the aggression of the drop, Au5 treats the drop as a melodic climax. He uses complex polyphony and shimmering supersaws that you would normally find in progressive house or trance, but anchors them with the rhythmic weight of heavy bass music. It is a paradox of sound: liquid yet sharp, chaotic yet perfectly ordered.
Start with 'Snowblind' or 'Halcyon' to hear the definitive Monstercat-era sound that made him a staple of the melodic bass scene. For a deeper dive into his more experimental and cinematic side, 'Divinorum' showcases his ability to weave intricate glitch and ambient textures into his signature high-energy framework.
Austin Collins (born September 18, 1992), better known as Au5 ( ay-yoo-FYVE), is an American electronic musician from New Jersey. Au5's music encompasses a range of electronic genres such as dubstep, house, trance, drum and bass, drumstep and ambient, and he is known for fusing the characteristics of trance and dubstep in his music. Au5 is best known for his releases on Canadian label Monstercat, some of which have received millions of views on YouTube. Au5's label releases began in 2012, and after winning a Seven Lions remix contest in January 2013, he joined Monstercat. Au5 had several successful releases on the label, such as "Halcyon", with American producer Fractal, "Snowblind", featuring Tasha Baxter, and "Crossroad", featuring Danyka Nadeau. "Halcyon" and "Snowblind" reached number one on Beatport's dubstep charts. Au5 also performed at South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in 2015. Au5 departed Monstercat in late 2015. He later toured with Swedish producer Liquid Stranger and Israeli duo Infected Mushroom and performed at Motion Notion festival in British Columbia, Canada, in 2016. He also made three releases on British label NoCopyrightSounds, "Lush", with American duo Last Heroes featuring Holly Drummond, "Closer", featuring Danyka Nadeau, and "Interstellar", also featuring Nadeau. Au5 returned to Monstercat in 2018 with the single "The Journey", featuring Australian musician Trove. Au5 has produced a total of five long plays (LPs), most notably "Divinorum" in 2019 and "Bridges Between" in 2023, the latter of which was released under American record label Ophelia. Au5 has collaborated with various artists including BT, Crystal Skies, Fractal, Mr. Bill, Last Heroes and Seven Lions, among others. He is known for his unique, innovative style of dubstep and skill in sound design. Dancing Astronaut described him as a "meticulous producer" with a "unique, complex brand of melodic dubstep and surrounding genres".
Shares euphoric, intense, triumphant (moods); ethereal, processed, breathy (vocal style)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); ethereal, breathy, processed (vocal style)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); trance, progressive trance (subgenres)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); euphoric, intense, triumphant (moods)
Shares ethereal, breathy, processed (vocal style); progressive trance, trance (subgenres)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); euphoric, intense, triumphant (moods)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); euphoric, intense, triumphant (moods)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); euphoric, intense, triumphant (moods)
Shares maximalist, digital clarity, layered dense (production style); trance, progressive trance (subgenres)
Shares trance, crystalline, progressive trance, soprano (signature)
Shares trance, maximalist, soprano, euphoric (signature)
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