Killed It! Label Manager Vishal Bhanderi Shares Insight on the Imprint’s Future

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Vishal Bhanderi swung by to discuss BARELY ALIVE’s decision to open Killed It! up to other artists and the vision for the label’s future.

Last month, brostep duo BARELY ALIVE announced that they were opening up their label, Killed It!, to other producers with the release of an 18-track label compilation featuring artists such as Cyclops, Phaceless, elden, Marcix, AUDIOWEAPON, and KING WORM. This move marks BARELY ALIVE’s growing role as brostep tastemakers as they continue building a platform that supports new and established talent shaping the genre’s next era.

One of the creative minds behind Killed It!’s expansion is the label’s manager Vishal Bhanderi. We caught up with Vishal about BARELY ALIVE’S decision to transform Killed It! from being a home solely for their music to a platform for many artists, from main stage staples to up-and-coming producers and artists from the underground. We also discussed the label’s stance on AI, how producers can get their tracks considered for potential release, and what’s in store for the future.

Give Killed It! Vol 1 a spin on Spotify, and read on for the conversation!

**Stream Killed It! Vol. 1 on Spotify:**

In recent years, the brostep side of dubstep has begun to flourish once again, with BARELY ALIVE leading the charge through their recent music and the expansion of Killed It! to other artists. As the person directly behind this expansion, what’s your vision for Killed It! and the role you want it to play in the scene?

BARELY ALIVE are the frontrunners of the sound right now, giving a spotlight to a number of very technically proficient brostep producers. I really respect this and feel honored that they want me involved with this project.

As someone who has taken pride in helping smaller artists from the beginning of my career, this perfectly aligns with our goals. I envision the advancement and longevity of brostep in an ethical manner.

Can you speak on BARELY ALIVE’s decision to open their label to other artists and why now?

For 12 years, I’ve been a BARELY ALIVE fan. For the last 10, their close friend and colleague through my project “Bandlez.” Aside from our shared whimsy in integrating tasteful memes and dubstep, their ethical and moral values have anchored our relationship. Killed it! is a thoughtful collaboration intended to provide the proper support artists need to breathe life back into this loved genre. I am thrilled to pour some sweat and tears into it while the iron is hot.

How do you see Killed It! evolving now that it’s moving beyond being just a home for BARELY ALIVE’s own music?

As I mentioned, the label’s expansion is aimed at nurturing brostep as a genre. We want to achieve this by supporting and spotlighting the artists we truly believe in. BARELY ALIVE is willing to use their platform to help make this happen.

On August 7, BARELY ALIVE launched Killed It! with an 18-track compilation bringing together artists at different stages of their careers. What kind of community are you hoping to build around the label?

We are building a like-minded artist collective to support a shared vision for the future. Our goal is to help a select group of artists develop their brand and sound by establishing a solid structure for long-term, sustainable growth.

What’s the best way for artists to get their tracks to Killed It! for potential release consideration?

Please keep an eye on our social media channels for future demo submissions. Before submitting, we encourage you to clearly define the vision for your art so we can best help guide you to the finish line.

How is Killed It! approaching brostep in a way that honors the genre’s roots while still keeping the sound fresh, modern, and forward-thinking?

Underground artists usually drive the culture forward and push the sound by taking risks. Veterans and established names hold a shared responsibility to spotlight underground talent. This is the prime example of that.

What are your current thoughts on the state of the bass music scene in the US?

The scene is thriving, and I am proud and inspired by the industry professionals helping expand it into the mainstream. However, this growth has also led to an influx of low-effort slop. At Killed It!, we aim to use our attention to detail and passion to cut through the noise.

Last month, BARELY ALIVE released their 100% No AI EP on Killed It!, taking a clear anti-AI stance. As curators, where does Killed It! stand on AI, and how is that perspective shaping the way you approach the label, the artists you work with, and championing human creativity and innovation?

Due to the increasing prevalence of AI in creative and marketing spaces, we have implemented a strict “No AI” clause in most of our contracts. This policy applies to all artists we sign and designers we work with. We are committed to working with human creators and drawing a firm line against the use of AI in creative industries.

What’s next for the label? Anything exciting you can share or that fans should look out for?

We are preparing for our first-ever label takeover at Lost Lands. This is an exciting milestone for us, as we will be championing the bulk of the artists from Killed It! Vol. 1 with us. Most of them have never played at an event of this scale, and we are proud to be a stepping stone for them.

We have releases coming up every month this year and are excited to share what we have been working on. Additionally, we aim to scale our operations to begin hosting events that showcase this talent. Ultimately, our objective is to achieve profitability in a non-traditional, ethical way. We hope the new generation of fans is as excited about the future of brostep as we are.