Dive Inside the Ingenious Mind of ONHELL

2 weeks ago 17

Get a glimpse into the world of ONHELL as he talks about musical influences, throwing parties, and finding his place as one of bass music’s genre-blurring beatmakers.

Some might know ONHELL from his cutting-edge tracks that transcend genres. Others may know him from his boisterous “bisexual parties” that unite the community for a one-of-a-kind experience. No matter how you know the Los Angeles-based DJ, it’s safe to say ONHELL has made his mark on the underground bass music community.

Born Angel Rubio-Hale, ONHELL’s moniker is a phonetic respelling of his forename in Spanish. Throughout his career, he’s found ways to incorporate his heritage into his projects, whether by weaving Mexican influences into his productions or by throwing events such as the Gay Mexican Cowboy Rave he curated in May.

ONHELL says that his biggest influence is “the music scene at large — going to raves, parties, and friends’ houses, and hearing what everyone around me is making.” Beyond what he hears in the wild, he’s influenced by artists such as Rustie, Mount Kimbie, EPROM, Arca, and Shlohmo, which makes sense given how eclectic ONHELL’s productions are. And his live performances are even more so.

“I’ve been playing multi-genre sets for ages, and I used to feel a little like an outsider because of it,” he said. “Now I feel like, with the progression of the Internet and the melding of cultures and music, people are much more open to multi-genre sets.” Leaning into this, ONHELL’s inclusive party series has provided a space for artists to deviate from their standard live sets while performing to an open-minded audience.

I made these parties because I wanted a safe space to play your music and turn up while we’re doing it. It makes me so happy to see people playing weird-ass, fun, eclectic music and people still being down for it. Dubstep boys can play club music, and the uptempo, fun raver DJs can play a bit of bass music, and everyone is still down. That’s how I like it.

ONHELL

ONHELL’s parties not only provided a safe space for artists but also for the queer community. Throughout his time throwing events, ONHELL has supported dozens of charities, including Queer The Land in Seattle, Queertopia in Austin, and Trans Queer Youth in New Orleans.

Taking a break from being a master vibe curator, ONHELL is putting party planning on the back burner and stepping into the next chapter of his project. “I Love The Way You Feel” ushered in a new beginning as his first release since 2024, a melodic track as impassioned as it is bass-forward.

It’s a collaboration with Bay Area artist Horsey, and her vocals float over the track’s gritty bassline. When asked how this new addition to his discography represents where he’s at with his project, ONHELL stated, “To me, the perfect music feels heavy and impactful, but also emotional and melodic. This song is both, and it makes me so happy.”

Since the release of his comeback single, ONHELL has dropped a dubstep banger with Truth on Deep, Dark & Dangerous. “What?” is the result of a trip to New Zealand to visit Tristan Roake, one-half of the duo. Between their adventures exploring Lord of the Rings locations and playing board games, they managed to hop into the studio to create a track that delivers best on subs, as the resonant bass blasts you off to another dimension.

“I just hope people walk away feeling happy and being opened up to new music and experiences,” says ONHELL about what he hopes listeners walk away with after hearing his tracks.

As for ONHELL’s sound, he keeps things very fluid. “I’m pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADHD, so I like to mix fast and play as many genres as I can in a mix. So the sound is… everything. I love so much music; it’s hard to pin it down,” he said. His exclusive mix for EDM Identity’s Bass Fidelity series is a prime example of his desire to mesh sounds for a whirlwind listening experience.

This mix encapsulates everything I just talked about. Eclectic, every genre, fast mixing, fun, and experimental. I want to trick people into dancing by seamlessly blending it all together. It’s fun for me.

ONHELL

The latest installment of Bass Fidelity is here! Give ONHELL’s exclusive mix for EDM Identity a spin on SoundCloud. For updates on future releases from the pioneering producer, give him a follow on Instagram.