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SAVAS Releases ‘Cowbell Crusader’ EP With Video Game
SAVAS releases ‘Cowbell Crusader’ EP featuring dubstep, phonk, riddim, tearout and a companion video game
Pushing the boundaries of modern electronic music, producer and DJ SAVAS has officially released his highly anticipated Cowbell Crusader EP. Rejecting the traditional confines of the bass music scene, SAVAS has created a distinctly dark and heavy sound that combines the power of dubstep with the gritty sound of phonk. The EP brings together 90s Memphis rap, drift phonk, riddim and tearout, with the phonk cowbell playing a central role throughout the project. Instead of keeping the cowbell in the background, SAVAS fuses it directly into heavy basslines through what he describes as “cowbell-infused bass design.” Tracks including Last Man Standing, Sigil Magicka and Druida each explore a different side of that concept. The project also extends beyond the music with a fully playable companion video game developed around Last Man Standing.
Inside SAVAS’ ‘Cowbell Crusader EP’
Cowbell Crusader brings several different sides of bass music and phonk together across its tracklist. Last Man Standing combines tearout bass design with phonk cowbells, while Sigil Magicka brings heavier riddim elements into the EP. Druida takes a different direction with a Brazilian phonk fusion approach.
Central to the project is the phonk cowbell, which SAVAS uses as a major part of the production instead of treating it as a background element. By placing it directly into the heavier basslines, the producer connects the characteristics of phonk with dubstep, riddim and tearout throughout the EP.
Speaking about the intention behind the project, SAVAS said: “The mission was simple: make cutting-edge music and give listeners an experience they genuinely haven’t heard before. I want this EP to make people feel powerful. For anyone stepping into the project for the first time: welcome to the chaos.”
‘Last Man Standing’ Gets Its Own Video Game
The identity of Cowbell Crusader extends beyond the music itself. Moving away from standard dubstep aesthetics, SAVAS created a cinematic, heroic and DOOM-inspired visual world around the project.
After years of being told that his music sounded like a video game soundtrack, he decided to take that idea further by developing and coding a fully playable video game centered around Last Man Standing. The game expands the creative world behind the EP while connecting directly with one of its key tracks.
From Heavy Metal To Electronic Music
Before moving fully into electronic music production, SAVAS was a heavy metal musician who played guitar, bass and drums as well as performing vocals. His direction changed after discovering Skrillex’s First Of The Year (Equinox) while in high school, which led him to pivot entirely toward electronic music production.
That journey came full circle during the 2023 festival season when SAVAS met Skrillex, alongside inspirations including Subtronics and REZZ, at Elements Music & Arts Festival. Later that summer, he opened for GRiZ at an official Electric Zoo afterparty. Following the cancellation of the festival’s first day, the afterparty drew around 3,000 festivalgoers looking for somewhere to continue the weekend.
Based in New York, SAVAS has now accumulated more than 40 million streams and received support from names including Excision, Shaquille O’Neal (DJ Diesel), Borgore, Flux Pavilion and ARMNHMR. He has also shared stages with Subtronics, Knife Party, Getter, GRiZ, ZABO, X&G and 1788-L.
His performances have included Electric Zoo and Elements Music & Arts Festival, alongside international sets in Bhutan and South Korea. His releases have appeared through Broke, Tribal Trap, Elysian Records and Magic Music, while he has also hosted a guest mix on Insomniac Radio’s Impact Radio channel.
What’s Next For SAVAS
The Cowbell Crusader era is set to continue with a Cowbell Crusader Remixes EP, a new Favela Bass release and upcoming international performances. SAVAS is also developing a proprietary production tool that has already become part of his own workflow, with plans to eventually make the technology available more widely to music producers.
Cowbell Crusader EP is available now on all major streaming platforms, while the companion video game for Last Man Standing is also available to play.
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GTA VI to feature dedicated dance and electronic radio stations as Rockstar reveals its biggest in-game radio selection yet
For more than two decades, Rockstar Games has used radio to give Grand Theft Auto its own musical identity, from Flash FM in Vice City to Soulwax FM, FlyLo FM and Radio Mirror Park in GTA V. Grand Theft Auto VI will expand that tradition with the biggest and widest-ranging in-game radio selection in the series so far. Dance and electronic music will each have dedicated stations, alongside classic rock, modern hip-hop, pop, metal, Latin, ’80s, blues and ballads. Talk radio and podcasts will form part of the wider selection too.
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Dance And Electronic Music Get Dedicated Stations
Electronic music already has a strong presence across the series. Soulwax FM, FlyLo FM, Worldwide FM and The Music Locker Radio have covered house, techno, experimental electronic music and underground club sounds. GTA VI will now give dance and electronic music their own stations, opening the door for a broader range of styles across the game.
Rockstar Games has not yet announced the station names, hosts or tracklists, leaving plenty unknown about how the two will differ musically. One could focus more heavily on house, club and dancefloor records. The other could cover a wider range of electronic sounds, although Rockstar Games has not confirmed those details.
Electronic Music Has Long Been Part Of GTA
Electronic music has also played a larger role across GTA beyond its radio stations, particularly through GTA Online. Keinemusik, Palms Trax and Moodymann have all performed at The Music Locker, while Joy Orbison hosted Still Slipping Los Santos. Updates to FlyLo FM and Worldwide FM also expanded the electronic music available inside the game.
In 2021, Rockstar Games expanded that connection by partnering with CircoLoco to launch CircoLoco Records. The label has since released music from Rampa, Moodymann, Carl Craig, Seth Troxler, Jamie Jones and Tale Of Us. Its catalogue also includes Sama’ Abdulhadi, DJ Tennis and Kerri Chandler. More recently, 2026 releases have involved Michael Bibi, KETTAMA, ANOTR, Prospa, Cloonee and Jimi Jules.
GTA VI Is Expanding Its Music Offering
Alongside the in-game radio, Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album will add another major music component to the game. The official 34-track soundtrack includes artists across several genres and extends the musical scope of GTA VI beyond the stations heard while exploring Vice City and Leonida.
Electronic music is represented there too, with Fred again.. and Etienne de Crécy among the artists involved. Other names include PinkPantheress, CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, Yung Lean, Future, Metro Boomin and Travis Scott. Morgan Wallen, Rauw Alejandro and Keith Richards also feature.
More GTA VI Radio Stations Are Still To Be Revealed
Rockstar Games has already previewed Cocoteo FM, Back Country Radio, AfroBank FM, The Chamber 106.6, Flash FM and Dirty South Classics. However, the company has yet to announce the names of the dedicated dance and electronic stations. Their hosts and full tracklists also remain under wraps.
With Grand Theft Auto VI set to be released on November 19, 2026, more details about its electronic music selection are still expected. DJs, club culture, specialist stations and CircoLoco Records have already become part of Rockstar Games’ wider music world. Now, GTA VI’s dedicated dance and electronic stations could add another chapter to that history.
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Lollapalooza South America 2027 lineups are here, with Travis Scott, Charli xcx, The Killers and David Guetta leading Chile, Argentina and Brasil.
Lollapalooza has revealed the lineups for its three South American editions in 2027, with Travis Scott, Charli xcx, The Killers, David Guetta, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Neighbourhood leading the bills across Chile, Argentina, and Brasil. It is one of the stronger headline combinations the festival has put together for the region in recent years, mixing some of the biggest names in pop, rock, and electronic music into a single run of dates.
The wider lineup fills out with a lot to get excited about beyond the headliners. Four Tet, The Prodigy, Fontaines D.C., Cage The Elephant, Raye, Dominic Fike, Leon Bridges, Lola Young, Rawayana, Slayyyter, Geese, Malcolm Todd, Sombr, Angine de Poitrine, Adéla, and many more are all confirmed across the three editions. The variety across genres is notable, with the lineup spanning indie rock, electronic, R&B, pop, and alternative sounds in a way that gives each day of the festival a different feel.
The 2027 editions also bring a strong wave of first-time South American performances, with Sombr, Fontaines D.C., Dominic Fike, Geese, Malcolm Todd, Angine de Poitrine, Adéla, Julia Wolf, Ninajirachi, The Avalanches, Die Spitz, and Violet Grohl all making their debuts on the continent. For a lot of fans in the region, this will be the first and possibly only chance to see some of these artists perform live.
The Dates
Lollapalooza Chile takes place March 12-14 at Parque O’Higgins in Santiago. Tickets and the full lineup are available at lollapaloozacl.com.
Lollapalooza Argentina runs March 12-14 at Hipódromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires. Tickets and the full lineup are available at lollapaloozaar.com.
Lollapalooza Brasil closes out the run from March 19-21 at Autódromo de Interlagos in São Paulo, marking the festival’s 15th anniversary in the country. Tickets and the full lineup are available at lollapaloozabr.com.
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deadmau5 takes over Red Rocks for Halloween on October 30 and 31 with two special shows and the return of mau5hop
For more than 15 years, deadmau5 has returned to Red Rocks Amphitheatre each fall, with the Colorado venue becoming a regular part of his seasonal live shows. This year, that tradition reaches a new point as he performs at Red Rocks on Halloween itself for the first time, with DEADMAU5 HALLOWEEN taking place on October 30 and 31. The two-night event will feature VOWWS, joined by Josh Freese and Danny Lohner, alongside special visuals, selections from deadmau5’s catalogue and new music. The weekend will also include the return of the mau5hop pop-up in Denver, with exclusive merchandise, collectibles and meet-and-greet sessions across both days.
VOWWS Joins deadmau5 For The Halloween Shows
VOWWS will join deadmau5 across the two nights, with Josh Freese and Danny Lohner also part of the performance. The Australian-born, Los Angeles-based duo of Matt James and Rizz have long worked across darker alternative and electronic sounds, with previous collaborations involving Gary Numan, Chino Moreno and Chelsea Wolfe.
Josh Freese, whose credits include A Perfect Circle, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails and The Vandals, also appears on VOWWS’ latest album I’ll Fill Your House With An Army. Danny Lohner, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails and The Black Queen, will join the duo at Red Rocks as part of the expanded live lineup.
What deadmau5 Has Planned For Halloween
The October 30 and 31 shows will feature special Halloween visuals alongside selections from deadmau5’s catalogue and new music. Attendees are also being encouraged to come in costume across both nights.
The shows add a new chapter to deadmau5’s long history at Red Rocks, where his fall appearances have become a regular fixture over more than 15 years. He was back at the venue in 2025 for Day of the Dead, where he debuted new music and parts of a new touring production.
That period has continued into 2026 with ‘Science’ featuring Stevie Appleton, his first vocal single since ‘My Heart Has Teeth’. The track later reached No. 1 on US Dance Radio and also entered Billboard Dance/Mixshow Airplay and Canada CHR/Top 40.
mau5hop Returns For Halloween Weekend
The Halloween weekend will also include the return of mau5hop in Denver, opening on October 30 and 31 at 95 S Cherokee Street. The pop-up will run from 11:00 AM–6:00 PM each day with specialty merchandise, limited-edition apparel, pins and collectibles not available online or at the shows.
deadmau5 and friends are also due to appear for meet-and-greets and signings from 12:00 PM–3:00 PM on both days.
With the Red Rocks shows and mau5hop both returning across Halloween weekend, this year’s edition adds more around a tradition that has already become closely tied to deadmau5 and the venue. The biggest difference in 2026 is simple: for the first time, one of those shows will actually fall on Halloween night.
With VOWWS, Josh Freese and Danny Lohner joining the shows, new music expected and mau5hop returning to Denver, DEADMAU5 HALLOWEEN has plenty planned across the weekend. Limited tickets remain for both nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, with more from deadmau5 also expected in the months ahead.
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