Seattle’s Ailow takes a high-speed leap onto the radar with his adrenaline-charged NIGHTMODE debut “tōge,” arriving May 23. Named after the Japanese word for “mountain pass,” the track channels the raw energy of midnight canyon runs, designed to be cranked loud and fast.
From the first note, “tōge” goes full throttle. Cinematic strings crack open the track like a race countdown before launching into a blistering fusion of trap percussion, warped metallic synths, glitchy backspins, and deep sub-bass growls. A clipped vocal hook cuts through the chaos, creating a pulse-pounding experience that mirrors the tension and release of racing through the night.
Originally written as a personal soundtrack for late-night drives, Ailow road-tested the track across real canyon runs—fine-tuning every layer to capture the precise energy he craved behind the wheel. The result is a track that’s as atmospheric as it is aggressive, blending trap with wave-inspired textures in a way that feels both cinematic and street-tuned.
Known for his fluid range across phonk, dubstep, bass house, and trap, Ailow has been a quiet force in the underground, producing since he was just 16. His genre-hopping production style has caught the attention of major tastemakers like Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet, Heimanu, Wenzday, and KAAZE.
On the live front, Ailow is gaining momentum with upcoming support slots alongside Juelz at a Vancouver pop-up and heavy-hitters like Deathpact and GRAVEDGR in Seattle—an indication of his rising presence in the North American bass scene.
“I originally made this record to have something to play to myself when I was driving back roads at night,” says Ailow. “I’m so excited to finally share it with everyone! Excited to be working with NIGHTMODE on this release.”
With “tōge,” Ailow shifts into the fast lane, blending speed and sonics with pinpoint control. It’s an explosive debut on NIGHTMODE—and the start of a thrilling ride ahead.