Get to Know Rising Duo Crumb Pit’s Hybrid Bass Sound

2 weeks ago 14

Crumb Pit swung by to talk about making music together, the fun energy behind their unique sound, and what they’re looking forward to this year.

The creative synergy between best friends Matt Barri and Joe Orlov is on full display in the music they make as Crumb Pit. The electronic duo lean into their respective strengths, with Orlov bringing sharp, rhythmic vocals to Barri’s polished production. In 2025, they released their debut EP, Crumbcore, a dynamic, hybrid bass body of work unconcerned with genre boundaries.

After releasing their pop-punk-infused drum and bass single “Just The Way It Goes” last month, Crumb Pit has further proven that their sound cannot be defined. They follow their creative instincts wherever inspiration leads them, usually venturing onto new sonic pathways that yield fresh, forward-thinking releases.

Crumb Pit has a big year ahead, marked by more music, exciting collabs, and performances in new cities. But before the action begins, we caught up with the pair to discuss their collaborative spirit, the undefinable nature of their sound, and the influences behind their latest single. Give the mix they prepared a spin, and read on for the conversation!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 492 || Crumb Pit on SoundCloud:

Hi Crumb Pit, thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us!

Matt Barri: Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Going back to the very beginning, you both met at ICON Collective. How did that initial connection turn into a friendship, and at what point did it evolve into Crumb Pit becoming a full-fledged electronic duo?

Joe Orlov: I honestly just remember being over at Matt’s apartment a bunch during the ICON days. I met him through a mutual friend, and then we sort of just all started hanging out together. I have some super fond memories of those days.

M: Crumb Pit started when I started remixing Joe’s music into DnB, a genre that we initially bonded over.

When it comes to actually making music together, what does your creative process look like? How do ideas usually start, and how do you utilize your different strengths to collaborate on a track and bring it from an early concept to a finished release?

M: It usually starts with a vocal idea. Joe has a supernatural ability to manifest an entire song — verse, chorus, and all — while freestyling. Sometimes they’re recorded over rap beats or entirely different tempos, but that’s where the magic happens. I find that taking the performance and highlighting it in a different context is how we’re able to stretch across boundaries and make something really new.

J: The fun thing about being in a duo is there’s twice the opportunity for a spark of creativity to happen. Maybe Matt starts just playing a drum loop, and I start spitting right there on the spot, or vice versa. I feel like finding the moments where we can inspire one another is the main pursuit for me, because when we’re both excited, that’s when things just flow.

Your first release of 2026, “Just The Way It Goes,” feels like it opens a new chapter for Crumb Pit. How does this single set the tone for the kind of music you want to put out moving forward?

M: “Just the Way It Goes” definitely shows that we are incapable of being put in a box. We’ve seen plenty of comments of people arguing about whether the song is “drum and bass” or “pop punk.” Literally who cares! It’s Crumb Pit.

J: I think altogether, Crumb Pit encapsulates a feeling more so than a mood. We make whatever is the most fun for us. We don’t want to ever be told what to do. The cool thing to me is we’re working on so much new music that spans so many avenues, and yet to me, it all sounds so cohesive. I just can’t wait to continue painting the canvas.

“Just The Way It Goes” is a departure from your usual hybrid bass sound, and it channels pop-punk influences. What sparked that shift, and were there any specific artists, styles, or eras that helped influence and shape the direction of the track?

M: The song was definitely inspired by a lot of late 2000s and early 2010s British media. I feel like the two biggest inspirations for this song were the comedy group The Midnight Beast and the TV show The Inbetweeners. I grew up on radio stations like KROQ and Jack FM, so when Joe showed me the initial demo for the song, I immediately clicked with it.

Last year, you released your Crumbcore EP on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records, and that played a big role in your momentum. Looking back, what did that project represent for you creatively at that point in your journey?

M: It’s been awesome, really proud of the music that we released on the EP. The project as a whole really reflects the foundation of what we do. One song, you’re skanking to some face-melting bass while Joe is spitting the meanest verse, and the next, you’re crying to Emilia Ali’s gut-wrenching vocals over a lush guitar. I feel like it’s a great way to get introduced to our sound and know what to expect from us. We’re gonna keep pushing boundaries and introducing new influences into our music.

You’re heading into a big year with touring, festivals, and new music on the way. What are you most looking forward to in 2026 that you can share with us right now?

M: Super looking forward to playing Forbidden Kingdom in Orlando! Also excited to play some new cities we’ve never been to yet, like Austin and Tucson with Jkyl & Hyde!

What is something you’d like people discovering you guys for the first time right now to know about who you are as artists?

J: We’re just kids who love music so, so, so much, and who both grew up with the same dream. We’re so honored to even be where we’re at right now, and we’re just super focused on creating the best art possible to share with the world. I just hope people can connect with what we’re putting out in their own unique way.

Finally, can you tell us about the mix you made for us today?

M: The mix is 100% original Crumb Pit music and remixes. It’s a charcuterie board of music we’ve dropped the past year to really get a sense of what we’re about.