Below is a minimix Baan put together for his show and it aired last Friday, followed by an interview. They discussed the next INT’L party at Public Works and the ESL series of EPs that we will be launching regularly from now on.

As far as what’s in the mix, you can check the soundcloud timeline on your own and see it there. We’ll just say that the opener track is part of ESL#2. That EP will be launched in May and it contains the work of Guadalajara, Mexico’s rapper Lolo Samo, remixes from Letter D and M-Bassy. Look out for that. For now, enjoy the mix!

ESL, as it stands for English as a Second Language, is a series of EPs featuring the work of producers, remixers and graphic artists from around the world. Curated by Bad Shoes Records label head Baan (originally from Colombia), the first installment ESL #1: Sobrando is his own work in collaboration with up and coming artist Ear Jerker. Reminiscent of the early to mid 90s merengue house from New York, the title track is a fun and dynamic piece featuring a vocoder hook in Spanish over an insistent cumbia bassline; a total party starter. In support of the single, from Tel Aviv, Israel, the multi-talented producer SaBBo provides the 108 bpm exploration of the track and successfully makes use of several elements of the track while adding his own personal brand of sounds. Education (Boise, Idaho), a Mad Decent Soundcloud round up recurring champ and Fuzzy Fotch (Boston, Massachusetts), a moombahton and funky grooves producer both contribute to expand and explore the sound of this release among different genres. The EP cover features the work Guadalajara, Mexicos Letter D – a talented producer and graphic designer. The ESL series is set to continue delivering interesting sounds from around the globe and uniting the works of all sorts of talent into one outstanding anthology.

Video Clip directed by Left Lane:

BAAN ft. Ear Jerker – Sobrando from BAD SHOES RECORDS on Vimeo.

Buy at Beatport now – click below!

MPHD (Bradley Exum) graced us with a hard, dark set of 3 tracks called Fetish. Bradley first started to show me material for this release around the summer and I got instantly excited to put it out. After a series of talks about the “controversial” cover designed by our favorite Jessica Sciulli, the mixing and mastering came together soon after. And just as his sound continues to evolve and mature after his first BSR release The Network, the bro continues to consolidate as a solid DJ in San Francisco opening for big headlining status artists and well-known venues in the city.

Another one that had a fun year with plenty of remixes and original material was our very own Soccius. His Viva Tropical EP, which includes remixes by Ghosts on Tape and Nisus, will be re-release on Beatport later this month. His songs continue to be blogged and played by DJs around the world and 2012 might see a full length release from socal-based producer.

Ear Jerker, celebrated by Generation Bass among other blogs, had an amazing 2011 releasing music on his own and finding a great deal of followers for his unique 108-110 productions. Check out his store here.

As far as me goes, I have my first release coming up in February- the EP will be called ESL.

We are very greatful for everything we had the last year, but we are more excited about what’s coming as we bring in new artists to our crew and deliver new stuff to you. Here is top 5 favorite bad shoes single release from 2011:

Soccius track is a deep and relaxed piece that continues to expand the palette of sounds he’s able to work with. Having perfected the housy, latin vibes of his previous work, “Baby, Work It” shows a new side of the Calexico, CA-based producer.

Baan and Ear Jerker’s (M-Bassy) track is a surprising tune as well. Starting off with soft keys and heavy reverb sounds, it gets you grooving and jamming until an unexpected build up shapes the song into an electro inclined track of heavy drums and chopped vocal samples. Keep in mind M-Bassy’s previous work has been entirely moombahton jams, “Waves” creates a departure from the duo’s signature sound.

The EP is available on a name-your-own-price basis at our Bandcamp store.

After successfully coining the term GASTROBASS to define the sounds of his music, electro young man Bradley Exum, 20, aka MPHD returns harder and louder than ever with FETISH. His new 3-song EP is in-your-face, fun, glory hole electro at its finest. Chopped piano loops will contrast with distorted bass lines that are driven by steady, dancey beats. The first single, Jock, takes us through the different faces of what MPHD does best – unconventional dance music that keeps you with him from beginning to end. Here’s MPHD’s FETISH.

You can buy the release at our Bandcamp store later today.

Download baan’s Jock remix here.

Alright, Soccius has done it again! Perfect summer tune, impossible tune not to get down to, Viva Tropical is a total winner. Though the EP has only this one original track, we wouldn’t just leave you hanging like that: Ghosts on Tape and Nisus both contribute with a remix of their own that makes the EP a tasty tropical, bass house record that’s solid and groovy. Get it NOW!

Soccius – Viva Tropical EP by BADSHOESRECORDS

Paradise EP by BADSHOESRECORDS.

Yeah, we been all about moombahton around here lately. Well, maybe more like Baan and Ear Jerker. The homeboys have been remixing and pumping out originals in the last few weeks like crazy. Word is, there might be an EP coming up soon. Together, the two are called M-Bassy. Get down.

M-Bassy (Baan & Ear Jerker Moombahton) by BADSHOESRECORDS

The time felt right to take the best and most current tracks from Dane O, MPHD, Soccius, Ear Jerker, and Baan and compile them together as “B-Hood”. Older tracks, remixes and new stuff: there’s even a couple of collaborations including Baan and Ear Jerker’s Moombahton mash up of Haddaway’s What is Love? and MDSLKTR’s Silikon or Soccius/MPHD original “Autosuggestion”. Deep, Groovy vibes from space disco disc jockey Dane O with “Clean” or his remix of Baan’s Cody. There’s a lot more to go through. We’d suggest you listen up and download the free tracks, those that aren’t are available for download are on our bandcamp on a name your price basis. Bad Shoes Records keeping it in the B-Hood!

B-Hood by BADSHOESRECORDS