Collect Your Thoughts with Koven and ShockOne's Curated Playlist

Koven and ShockOne just teamed up to release “Collecting Thoughts” and shared a playlist of tunes that have influenced them lately.

Drum and bass masters Koven and ShockOne are at it again. Now, they’ve created an epic playlist of DnB delights in support of their newest single, “Collecting Thoughts.” Released on Monstercat, the dastardly duo that is Koven, comprised of Max Rowat and Katie Bowel, and certified don ShockOne, aka Karl Thomas, teamed up on an absolute tune poised to become a rave classic.

While “Collecting Thoughts” features Katie Bowel on vocals, Koven is an act that breaks beyond the traditional DJ-singer duo formula. This close partnership style carries across their productions, and the dynamic is a glue between the vocal and production elements. ShockOne brings his flare as well, being no stranger to heavy mind-bending music. Following his 2019 major label debut, he usually releases under his own record label Dark Machine Records. However, he still finds time to work with some of the other biggest names in the scene – just as he’s done here.

“Collecting Thoughts” starts out with a classic synth-driven arpeggio which will immediately raise goose bumps, signaling to your mind, body, and soul that we’re about to enter the arena of a massive DnB tune. The lyrics come in quickly to set the narrative backdrop, asking: “How does this end?” Before answering, “Collecting all my thoughts. Ready to pretend.” The tone strikes back to the early days of the initial lockdown, where we all likely asked ourselves, “How will my head get back to thinking again?”

Have no fear because Koven and ShockOne are primed with the musical answer. In truly proper big room DnB fashion, the question is put to us on a loop that begs for resolution, and it’s ultimately delivered with a fast-paced build-up that crashes in a crescendo of breaks and 170+ BPM drum patterns. The chorus is nothing short of victorious, setting “Collecting Thoughts” up to be the perfect anthem to bring you from contemplation to celebration. In other words – this is the perfect song to rinse while you get those bags packed for that Thanksgiving break back home, reflecting on the past while also looking to the future.

Not only have these huge artists come together on their new single, available now on your favorite music platform, but they’ve also curated an exclusive playlist to showcase some of the tunes that have influenced them the most. Listen to “Collecting Thoughts” and read on for a deeper dive into the rest of the tunes!

Stream Koven & ShockOne’s “Collecting Thoughts” Playlist on Spotify:

Tracklist:

Wilkinson & Becky Hill – Here For You
- “This is such a beautiful yet quite simple tune. The idea of the vocal having the structure of a pop song, verse chorus, etc, rather than just a hook like a lot of dnb, is something we’ve often tried to incorporate. That’s why we think the vocal of “Collecting Thoughts” works well and is also different for a dancefloor DnB track.” – Koven
Aktive – Tell Me
- “There is something incredibly euphoric about this track, it sounds slightly influenced by old-school trance, and it’s very uplifting. We really wanted to create an uplifting vibe with “Collecting Thoughts,” and I think it was captured especially on the breakdown and lead into the second drop.” – Koven
Grafix ft. Reiki Ruawai – Somewhere
- “Both the production and vocals on this track are sublime and complement each other incredibly. You can’t help but feel happy when you listen to it.” – Koven
Odesza – Wide Awake
- “We take inspiration from a lot of what Odesza does. Their productions are always incredible, and the vocalists they work with always sound incredible. The way in which lyrics and melodies are written always seems very unique.” – Koven
ShockOne ft. The Bloody Beatroots – Run
- “When we heard this track, that was the moment we realised we wanted to work with ShockOne. Although what we created together wasn’t like this, as it wouldn’t have suited our styles, it was a big influence in the whole collab coming together. This tune is so massive!” – Koven
Koven – Industrial Strain
- “One of the main things that were always in the back of my mind when writing/working on this song was, ‘What would the Koven/ShockOne fan imagine a collaboration between the two of us to sound like?’ So I spent quite a bit of time dissecting the stellar back catalogue of Koven to get my head in the right space. It had to be epic, melodic, soaring, uplifting, and aggressive all at the same time, much like Industrial Strain!” – ShockOne
Virtual Self – Ghost Voices
- “I don’t think there’s a song I’ve written after this song was released that hasn’t been influenced by it in some way, from the impeccable songwriting to the perfectly nostalgic yet futuristic sound design. I don’t like using the word perfection, but this song comes pretty close for me.” – ShockOne
Metrik & ShockOne – Dying Light
- “I always find myself coming back to this song, particularly as a mix reference. Metrik is a close friend and peer of mine and, in my opinion, one of the most talented drum and bass producers on the planet. We’ve been influenced by each other’s sound design and sonics for years.” – ShockOne
Culture Shock & Dimension – Love To Give
- “This is just the most uplifting drum and bass song of recent times for me. Simple as that. Never get tired of playing this song. Always a strong reference point for me.” – ShockOne
Netsky & Montell2099 – Mixed Emotions
- “Again, just big vibes on this tune. Something about that vocal and intro just hits me every time. Definitely always a ‘vibe’ reference tune for me.” – ShockOne