Meet Jessica Audiffred: A Bass Music Artist Shaking Up Dance Music In Mexico

Hailing from Mexico City is Jessica Audiffred, a music producer who has made a name for herself as she has been shaking up the bass scene with her explosive productions. From skull-shattering drops to earth-shattering beats and demonic sounds, the producer proves to be one to watch within the dance music scene.

One of her recent releases, “Rise,” is a collaboration with dubstep heavy-weight champion Excision. She initially sent him a WIP and live guitars, but the only thing missing was vocals. She then teamed up with Leah Culver, who toplined the track with lyrics about her brother who had recently passed away. Audiffred found the vocals to be “emotional and sentimental.” The track was then sent to Excision, and she says “he loved it.” Audiffred adds that the bass music icon was a pleasure to work with as he supported new ideas throughout the process while also putting his own touch on the record.

The Mexico City-based producer says “Rise” is one of her favorite songs she has ever created because of the “super special meaning from the lyrics” and the live guitar that is featured on the single.

“It holds a special place in my heart because Excision was one of the first people to ever help me in my career,” she adds. “To have a [collaboration] with him is a milestone that I really appreciate.”

The artist is also the label boss of A Records. The imprint launched six years ago, and it gives Mexican producers a platform to promote their releases.

“It pretty much started as…a way to push some producers from Mexico so people could get to know them because in Mexico, we don’t have bass music the same way you have it in the [United] States or in Canada,” Audiffred says. “We started doing parties, too, like label showcases, and then it became a festival.”

Her Mad House-branded bass event is the first large-scale annual event of its kind hosted in Mexico by a native deejay. The last event was hailed as a “historic moment” for dance music by dozens of local and national publications, with thousands of fans in attendance. The next event is announced for June 3 of this year.

However, the artist, who is managed by Yusef Tarzi and Duane Buriani-Gennai of MAYD Artist Group, says launching the label didn’t come without challenges. She notes that bass music isn’t often heard and it’s not a mainstream genre within the dance music scene unless you attend massive festivals such as Electric Daisy Carnival Mexico. She adds that there aren’t bass and trap music shows available on the weekend compared to being in demand in other parts of the world. She is working to change the landscape.

“It’s difficult for us Mexican producers,” she says. “ When I was beginning to produce music, it was so hard for me because I didn’t have it anywhere. I didn’t have any spots for me to play my music here in Mexico City. It was hard for you to produce but then not showcase your own music. That’s why we had to create our own events and festivals, and that’s where we are right now.”

Some of the most notable festivals that Audiffred has played at include Electric Daisy Carnival, Lost Lands, Forbidden Kingdom and Beyond Wonderland. Slated next for her in 2023 are European festivals Tomorrowland and Rampage.

If the A Records founder didn’t go into making dance music, she says she would be a clinical psychologist working in a psychiatric ward, something she was on the path to do as she has a degree in it. When looking back to the start of her career, she said the advice she would give herself is to find her own sound in the beginning. Indeed, Audiffred has proven to do so with her music that is not only bass-heavy but is also fresh, energetic and nostalgic.

As for what’s next, Audiffred has high-profile collaborations lined up in the near future, with one being with Adventure Club and the other with DJ Diesel, Shaq’s deejay alias.