Electronic · US

Pursuit Grooves

Intricate, bass-heavy beats that move between the dancefloor and the dream state. Soulful electronic travels for late-night city dwellers and deep-focus sessions.

Browse Catalog
Intro

Pursuit Grooves, the moniker of Vanese Smith, is a pivotal figure in the intersection of experimental hip-hop and bass music. C.

scene before relocating to Toronto, her sound is characterized by a sophisticated use of the MPC and various hardware synths to create 'Electronic Travels.' Her career arc is defined by a series of highly respected releases on influential labels like Tectonic and Deepblak, positioning her as a peer to artists like Flying Lotus and J Dilla while maintaining a distinct sonic identity rooted in soul and house. Smith's work is notable for its rhythmic complexity, often employing 'off-the-grid' sequencing that provides a signature swing. Critically, she is recognized for challenging the gender disparity in electronic production, a theme central to her artistic mission. Her influence extends through the Red Bull Music Academy network and her own What Rules imprint, where she continues to explore the boundaries of tactile, sample-based electronic music. Collectors value her early 2010s vinyl releases for their unique blend of UK bass weight and US soul sensibility.

Our Catalog3 Albums · 2010 · 2013
The Sound · Center of GravityWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
Adjacent Artists
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Moonstarr

Shares trip-hop, nu jazz, downtempo (subgenres); sample_based, lo_fi, layered_dense (production style)

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DJ Raff

Shares trip-hop, downtempo, abstract hip-hop (subgenres); sample_based, lo_fi, layered_dense (production style)

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Krazy Baldhead

Shares trip-hop, abstract hip-hop, nu jazz (subgenres); mysterious, restless, contemplative (moods)

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Cinnaman

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Blanka

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Fulgeance

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Josh One

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Elixir

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La Funk Mob

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Jon Kennedy

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Krazy Baldhead

Shares abstract hip-hop, train_ride, trip-hop, nu jazz (signature)

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