American producer VARI and New Zealand-born, Vancouver-based artist CORTR collide on “MIND,” a blistering trap single landing September 12 via NGHTMRE and SLANDER’s Gud Vibrations imprint. The release sees both artists fuse their distinctive styles into a track engineered for peak-time intensity, balancing raw aggression with forward-thinking sound design.
The single took shape over the course of more than a year, starting from CORTR’s original idea and evolving alongside VARI into a polished yet unpredictable sonic weapon. Opening with cinematic atmospheres and climbing arpeggios, “MIND” quickly escalates as chopped vocals shift from airy whispers to guttural, pitched-down growls. The track erupts into a skull-rattling drop filled with jagged synths, squelchy fills, and snarling basslines, before surging toward a bouncy four-on-the-floor climax that bridges trap, wave, and rave-fueled chaos.
Reflecting on the process, VARI shares: “‘MIND’ is a track that began as a very straightforward ‘banger,’ and over the course of +1 years morphed into a combination of multiple ideas and styles into the final track we have today. Working with CORTR was extremely smooth and our musical ideas felt right at home together. Very excited to finally get it out, and I can’t think of a better home for it than Gud Vibrations.”
For CORTR, the release marks a milestone moment: “From first hearing SLANDER and NGHTMRE’s music 11 years ago, and now releasing this absolute anthem on their label, it’s a full circle moment.”
Since 2020, VARI has carved a unique lane within Gud Vibrations, with standout releases like “MOVELIKE” and “SPLINTER” earning media support and leading him to major festival stages including EDC Las Vegas, Starbase Festival, and Avalon Hollywood. Beyond the imprint, his catalog spans respected labels such as Sable Valley and Insomniac’s BREAK ROOM, with heavy support from tastemakers including RL Grime, Illenium, Alison Wonderland, and Joyryde.
CORTR brings a distinct edge rooted in his background blending alternative rock influences with bass music’s intensity. His tracks have been championed by BBC Radio 1, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and George FM, while artists like Illenium, RL Grime, Alison Wonderland, and Steve Aoki have supported his work. Highlights include performances at Rhythm & Vines and Vancouver shows, his single “Bleeding” reaching No. 3 on NZ iTunes, and his remix of Bring Me The Horizon’s “Can You Feel My Heart” surpassing 4.2 million streams on Trap Nation’s YouTube channel.
With “MIND,” VARI and CORTR deliver a fierce yet cohesive statement that embodies the spirit of Gud Vibrations—merging personal influences with bass music’s evolving future. The track is built to resonate across underground dancefloors and festival main stages, a testament to two artists pushing the boundaries of trap and wave with unapologetic intensity.