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.