Since debuting his game-changing Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites EP in 2010, Skrillex has become one of the most prominent faces of EDM and festival culture, shaping the sound of popular music and working with everyone from Korn to Justin Bieber, Lil Pump to Mariah Carey, Burna Boy to Boys Noize. With the arrival of his long-awaited second LP Quest for Fire, his first full-length solo release since 2014’s Recess, the album is deliriously hyped, and features a star-studded list of megastar collaborators past and present.

Quest for Fire follows a slew of single releases this year that include “Way Back” (with PinkPantheress and Trippie Redd), “Rumble” (with Fred Again.. and Flowdan), “Leave Me Like This” (with Bobby Raps), “Real Spring” (with Bladee), and “Xena” (with Nai Barghouti). Created between LA and Japan over three years, the 15-track record clocks in at around 45 minutes, and features a staggering selection of genre-blending tracks that flex the producer’s immense versatility. There are high-energy club bangers (“RATATA”) and angsty dubstep offerings (“TOO BIZARRE”), a 48-second interview clip with Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz (“Warped Tour ‘05”) and an introspective slow-burner featuring 100 gecs’ Dylan Brady (“Supersonic (my existence)”). With no clear narrative or overarching theme, it’s admittedly a chaotic listen, darting between genres and styles at breakneck speed. Nevertheless, it reaffirms Skrillex’s reputation as one of pop culture’s most influential heads.

Elsewhere, Bktherula shares an otherworldly release, Caroline Polachek reveals her highly anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Pang, and Wesley Joseph drops his new album Glow. 

BKTHERULA, LVL5 P1

CAROLINE POLACHEK, DESIRE, I WANT TO TURN INTO YOU

FISH NARC, HUNTER

SKRILLEX, QUEST FOR FIRE

WESLEY JOSEPH, GLOW