Living in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, I generally have to travel to the city for high quality concerts and entertainment. Thankfully, a number of entities have been changing that. One such individual, Josh Denson, started Suburban Sound Syndicate, organizing artists, venues, vendors, personnel, sound, and visual technology in throwing one-of-a-kind events around the suburbs. Hence, the name, Suburban Sound Syndicate. They’ve contributed their passion for music and art towards the upcoming Syndicate Sound Session 005, July 27th, hosted at Rookies Rochaus in West Dundee. It’s certain to be a distinctive happening stacked to the brim with talent headlined by none other than BoggDogg (Boggtrotter and DRRTYWULVZ). To say I’m excited is an understatement, so let’s talk about what makes this show remarkable apart from others.
Community is the integral influence for how shows of this kind are formed. I asked Josh for some insight into his motivations, and he shared these thoughts, reflecting on his beginnings at the legendary Cairo Ale House in West Chicago. “Everyone involved is linked in a trippy way to the family tree. Krush Turtle and Mike Hanning were the guys who started dubstep at Cairo, ‘Hot Sauce Sessions’. Mike is my sound guy, [Krush] Turtle is on the lineup. Alejo was the first big name Krush ever booked. So, I got Alejo, Easyjack, and Soundsystem Cultures LLC has been an inspiration to everyone above and helped get Sub Valley started. [They’re] doing our sound and combining rigs for this show. DRRTYWULVZ and Bogtrotter both made their Illinois debuts at Cairo way back when, I’m pretty sure. It’s only fitting for the lineup to include the Illinois debut of BoggDogg.”
Also featured on the lineup are Kaipora and Floating Sea. Floating Sea, aka Sean Roberts, is a humble, pleasant, hardworking kitkat, not unlike the candy bar. He’ll break you off more than several sequences of unique sound. Floating Sea, a native of Lake Zurich, IL now residing in Rockford, was generous in setting aside some of his time to answer several of my questions concerning his creative process, origin of his moniker, influences, and how he stays grounded. In 2022, he released a self-titled album composed of nine tracks. I listened to it recently, found it inspiring, and naturally, I was curious for insight into how he plans and constructs songs.
“The album creation process wasn’t set in stone. It was very experimental, capturing moments as they happened. Releasing music has always been challenging; the entire process can be overwhelming. Lately, I’m simplifying my approach in hopes of releasing more music.”
Aliases, monikers, and titles fascinate, so I inquired where Floating Sea emerged from. “Floating Sea came to me one day as a preset on a synth I used to own. Its vibe was too fitting to ignore.”
A name connotates a feeling, while track selections set tone and tempo. I inquired if IDM is an appropriate descriptor, to which Floating Sea replied, “I would say my genre varies. I don’t let any classification hold me down, especially when performing live. I’ve never repeated a set and always aim for new music. However, most of my releases lean towards experimental bass/IDM.”
What type of influences motivate Floating Sea’s musical curation? “I draw influence from various musical genres, including electronic, post-punk, ambient, and bass music. Some favorite artists include Max Cooper, Detox Unit, Black Marble, Steve Haschildt, and many more. I’m always exploring new music.” His latest track, How Did They Get Here, is beautifully atmospheric and ethereal, reflecting some of the above-mentioned inspirations.
It’s important to keep ourselves honest and humble as we grow our brands, though we celebrate by sharing our creations with others. Floating Sea had this to say on the topic.
“My home life keeps me grounded. Music is my escape and meditation. I create for myself; any connection others find with my music is a bonus. I hope my music can help others as much as it has helped me during tough times.”
The music might be front and center for many, but there’s a lot of other sweet stuff being featured. Harmonic Waves: Gongwash Sound Healing, anyone? Furthermore, the Genesis Art Collective will be on site, and their roster of creators is impressive to say the least. I’m in the dark whether all the following artists will be on hand, but I’m gonna shout them all out anyway: Hayden O’Mahoney, Jeesh, Kyle Adkisson, Lucien Trap Art, Groovemeister, Tom Loranz, The Whimsical Libra, Sebastian Casper, Josh Cleghorn, Danielle Weston, Althealien Art, Spun Optics, Amorphous Wire Wraps, and Spun in Wonderland. The visual aspects of shows adds a different dimension, and live painters contribute what some describe as a boutique experience, absorbing eager onlooker attention and blowing minds.
Speaking of talented visionaries and visual aspects, Birdsigh has curated VJ Pairings for this concert. The Honey Bee Collective, Root Visuals, Visuals by Oogz, Maya Visions, Birdsigh, and Kliqs will each pair up with a DJ, although The Honey Bee Collective is doing double duty. Additionally, laser tech is being supplied by Deep Frequency Corp. Jerry Snackman is a friend, we cross paths at many shows when we venture out. Deep Frequency Corp shared with me the origin story behind his companies name. It was an entertaining tale to hear, so I’m going to share a portion of it with you.
“I was trying to come up with the name Deep Frequency Corp, and then I was thinking about that part in Step Brothers. They do that presentation, “[Prestige] Worldwide-wide-wide-wide!” I was getting into deep, deep, and heavy, but I couldn’t take Deep, Dark, and Dangerous, you know what I mean? I’m always trying to align on a certain frequency within my inner self so that I can keep doing what I’m doing and keep going.”
All the pieces, personnel, and equipment are aligned for an outstanding assembly. This is a labor of love from everyone involved. If you’ve never adventured Rookies Rochaus in West Dundee, and you like electronic vibes, professional production, and artistic proficiencies, this is a perfect experience for your first time. It’s a beautiful venue, and West Dundee is just off the Fox River, nestled in a gorgeous downtown arena. There’s an Underground Retrocade across the street, bars, restaurants, and ice cream shops nearby, so patrons can plan a whole day of fun, should they so desire. In parting, I’d like to share with you a final quote from the founder of Suburban Sound Syndicate.
“This is not an event you wanna miss if you’re in Illinois, and I say that without cockiness. We put in Hella work, and it’s gonna be a Hella vibe.”
For more information on this event, visit its Facebook page. Access the following link to purchase tickets for Syndicate Sound Sessions 005.
Be well, be successful. Bear Swiftly.
–Electro Scribe–
