[Exclusive] Ray Volpe Discusses New “VOLPETRON ASCENDS” EP

Certainly no stranger to gracing the pages here at TSS and being one of the true driving forces in the world of dubstep, Ray Volpe proved to be in a league of his own when he first popped onto the scene over a decade ago.

It was not only because of his impeccable production prowess but his undeniable work ethic that allowed him to become the best artist he came be while continuing to evolve every step of the way. Already boasting a discography with a number of bone-rattling festival favorites, it was his unrelenting weapon “Laserbeam” that took the scene by storm catapulting him into the spotlight and making him a household name in the bass music community.

Fresh off the release of his speaker scorching VOLPETRON ASCENDS EP, we took the time to catch up with the one and only Ray Volpe!

“This EP means a lot to me. After the last year of explosive growth, I felt an immense amount of pressure to “follow it up” and keep the momentum going. It caused me to hit a brick wall for a bit, but eventually I broke through and made a collection of what feels like my best work to date. It’s an incredibly exciting and creatively fulfilling feeling,” Volpe explains.

Ray Volpe – VOLPETRON ASCENDS EP | Download |

TSS: You’ve been pumping at music for about a decade now; how would you say your sound has evolved since first popping onto the scene?

Ray Volpe: I think it’s weirdly so different yet so similar? I can’t put my finger on it. I think music I made in 2015 sounds like Ray Volpe, but my newest work sounds like Ray Volpe but way better. I think it maybe comes down to the sound design being similar but the post processing being different. Or maybe the ideas are all similar but the sounds have improved. I don’t know it’s hard to say! I think I’ve kept the modern “brostep” sound alive while continuing to push the current trends forward at the same time.

TSS: When it comes to the bass music scene as a whole, what are some changes you’ve noticed over the years?

Ray Volpe: Oh so many. There’s more subgenres than ever, which is awesome because there’s a niche for everyone and community for everyone no matter what your specific taste is in the scene. Wonky? Got it. Colorful? Got it. Dark as hell? Got it. I think it’s really important to have those differences. In the earlier years there weren’t nearly as many, while house has always had such a big spectrum of sub genres. It’s helped dubstep/bass music explode, in my opinion, having all of those new styles stand on their own.

TSS: What words of wisdom do you have for up-and-coming producers looking to make their presence felt may be overwhelmed by the current state of the music industry?

Ray Volpe: I think they need to do two things. Firstly, they need to be willing to work, and bend. Treat this like a job, not a hobby. Because, well, it is. It’s a career. Not everything will be fair, but things will work out in the end. Secondly, be online. Be present. A lot of people really try to avoid the social media aspect of the scene, but it’s important. That’s the world we live in now, whether we like it or not. You need to use it to your advantage.

TSS: You’ve been fortunate enough to have a number of your tracks supported by your peers over the years, but “Laserbeam” is in a league of its own. What has the experience been like being the mastermind behind one of the biggest dubstep anthems in years?

Ray Volpe: It’s so surreal. I’m still feeling ripple effects to this day, with new opportunities and crazy achievements. I can’t believe how much my life has changed over the last year. I’ve crossed off so many firsts from my bucket list. It’s really helped me bring a lot of cool ideas to life that I’ve always wanted to do too, or at least start planning some for the future that were originally decades away. I’m so excited about it all.

TSS: What gear and programs are you using these days when it comes to production?

Ray Volpe: I still rock what I always have! My MacBook Pro (which has been upgraded in recent years, I use the M2 Max, completely spec’d out) and KRK Rokit 5 monitors. I rarely use the monitors though honestly. I work a lot on the internal MacBook speakers. As long as you know and learn your speakers, you can make magic happen!

TSS: What’s your creative process in the studio?

Ray Volpe: I love to flip random songs from bands to get inspiration. I’ll pull an acapella and write to it, then try to write a new vocal or reach out to friends to see if they have any toplines etc. Constantly doing the ol’ remix to original method! I also do a lot of just random loop ideas that expand later, whether it’s a simple chord progression or a random bass loop.

TSS: When you have a rough week or hit a wall creatively, how do you get back on track?

Ray Volpe: I cry a lot. Kidding. Kind of. Sometimes. I try not to force things. Gaming can help, music from games can inspire you. Also going on walks or just sleeping it off can help too. It’s so important to take breaks. I also like to try making totally different genres sometimes. If I’m struggling to make dubstep, I’ll try making some tech house, for example. I’ll go as far as just working on pop punk/metalcore ideas too.

TSS: As an artist, how important is it to make sure your mental health is a top priority?

Ray Volpe: Extremely. I go to therapy every Tuesday. It saved me. We all have our issues. Big or small. Making sure you’re okay is what matters most. DJs travel a lot, the schedule is hectic and you don’t sleep a lot. Bundle that with stress, prior trauma/issues, and drugs or alcohol (well not those last two for me personally as I’m straight edge, but tons of others that do partake) and it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s important to have someone to talk to that can keep you on the right track.

TSS: Tell us a little about your new EP, VOLPETRON ASCENDS and how it came together.

Ray Volpe: Most of the earliest drafts of the EP come from around fall 2022 through the week of EDC Orlando. I was really trying to make some “live bangers” to follow up “Laserbeam.” I hit a wall so quick. It’s impossible to “live up” to something. It’s impossible to “follow it up” in the way you want it to. It never works that way. You can’t predict success. You have to accept that things are bubbles that exist in their own capacity. “Laserbeam” was a big bubble, and I’ll continue making other bubbles of similar sizes throughout the course of my career. That finally hit me the week leading into EDC Orlando. I was really needing some heavy music for that too, so it was perfect timing. “HAPPY SONG” & “ASCENSION” were born then. I think “EAT SLEEP RAGE” was first conceptualized around Bass Canyon, with Excision actually playing a super old version at the festival. “DROP EM” I remember playing out Halloween weekend and having a blast with that one. “IT ISN’T ME” with RUNN was the oldest one. I think we started that at the beginning of 2022. It was one I always felt needed to end the next body of work I did.

TSS: Monstercat is a true powerhouse in the world of electronic dance music; how does it feel to release your new VOLPETRON ASCENDS EP on the label?

Ray Volpe: It’s so special to me! I’ve been a massive fan of the label since I started making music. I’ve always wanted to work with them. They are an incredible team of amazingly talented and super passionate people that I love dearly. I couldn’t be happier to be working with them so closely on this. They are crushing, too. I’ve gotten to do tons of international stage takeovers with them and they’ve given me just about everything I could ask for from a label. They’re so supportive, and they ride or die for me, which is an amazing feeling I really feel like I was lacking before.

TSS: Playing Tomorrowland is a bucket list accomplishment for most DJs, how did it feel to make your debut playing Monstercat’s Youphoria Stage this year?

Ray Volpe: It was so insane! I was so shocked to see how hard they were going too. Europe is different, energy wise. Outside of Rampage, they still love dubstep, but it’s a different kind of energy in the air. At Tomorrowland, they were bringing bass capital energy. They broke the rail so many times that they banned headbanging for the rest of the day on the stage. That’s wild.

TSS: What does Ray Volpe have in store for the remainder of 2023?

Ray Volpe: I have a really fun tour to compliment the EP, also called VOLPETRON ASCENDS that goes throughout USA, Canada, and Europe! It’s got a healthy mix of festival dates and headlines. I’m really excited because we’re hitting some bigger rooms. I’m also putting a bigger focus on lighting and visuals. It’s going to be scary, but a lot of fun. I also have a fun surprise to end the year that I think fans will be really really excited about. So, a lot of touring and a lot of planning for what’s to come NEXT year. It’s going to be crazy.

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