The LA-based artist returns to Insomniac’s burgeoning BREAK ROOM imprint with his sophomore EP with the label, a forward-minded 5-track offering featuring collaborations with Acyan, REMNANT.exe, ryscu, and Jade Sierra.
Los Angeles-based producer Hex Cougar returns to Insomniac’s BREAK ROOM imprint with ‘Visions,’ a five-track EP exploring the shadowy edges of trap, hardwave, and left-field bass. Out September 12, the project deepens his reputation for emotional precision and bold sound design, marking his second EP on the label—and his third body of work overall.
‘Visions’ is a study in contrast: expansive and intimate, melodic yet menacing. Across five tracks, Hex Cougar navigates cinematic soundscapes and percussive volatility, anchoring each with his signature atmosphere and immersive detail.
Detailing his determination to push his artistic vision into exciting, new directions, Hex Cougar breaks down the creative spark behind his EP: “I began creating ‘Visions’ in the year following the release of my EP ‘Embody.’ Much like ‘Embody,’ I wanted to keep exploring new corners of bass music I’d never touched before, pushing the boundaries of what Hex Cougar could sound like. While the EP carries familiar sonic motifs that run through all of my music, it also introduces sounds and ideas I’ve never shared with listeners until now. Where ‘Embody’ was about falling back in love with electronic music after years of feeling jaded and disillusioned, ‘Visions’ is about keeping that love alive and continuing to nurture it. True to its name, it’s also about finally seeing my place again in the electronic music world—and having visions of what could be and what the future holds. The EP features collaborations with some of my friends and favorite artists, including Acyan, REMNANT.exe, ryscu, and Jade Sierra. Each brought their own unique energy and perspective, pushing me to experiment in ways I wouldn’t have on my own. The result is a body of work that feels both personal and collective, an exchange of ideas that shaped ‘Visions’ into something greater than I could have imagined alone.”
The EP closer, “HEARTBREAKER,” co-produced with Denver’s Acyan, evolves from eerie vocal snippets and hazy pads into a fusillade of blaring synths and skillfully executed leads. Gritty textures and sub-rattling low-end give way to a chopped-and-screwed outro that leaves the track suspended in tension.
Lead single “FANTASY” introduced the EP with strong momentum, drawing support from Alison Wonderland and coverage across UKF, Trap City, All Time EDM, Distopic, Music For All, Find Your Sounds, and more. The project also features collaborative efforts with REMNANT.exe, ryscu, and Jade Sierra, expanding the EP’s sonic identity while challenging Hex Cougar to reframe his own.
On “HONEST,” he links with Jade Sierra for a color-bass-leaning anthem that blends shimmering toplines with elastic, wobbly low-end. “INFRARED” with REMNANT.exe is a tension-drenched trap excursion built on slow-building percussion, warped snares, and woozy basslines that stretch and snap across the mix. On “AYRE,” ryscu introduces breakbeat urgency via amen breaks and soaring vocal phrasing, threading melodic depth into the chaos.
The EP is accompanied by a striking visual world conceived and shot by Hex Cougar himself. Set in desolate California landscapes, the surreal narrative follows a spectral knight through dreamlike terrain. It’s been teased throughout the rollout and set for full reveal during his upcoming live shows, including Escape Halloween, Symmetry Festival, Resonance Park, and Ember Shores, plus direct support for Dabin at WAMU Theater and The Eastern, as part of his ‘Aura Park’ Tour.
Exerting an equal amount of creative energy to bring the visual components of his EP to life, Hex Cougar describes the arduous process of conceptualizing and capturing images at scenic sites across California:
“‘Embody’ was the first time I’d taken on the challenge of creating the visual world for one of my releases entirely on my own. For ‘Visions,’ I wanted to build on that approach—traveling with my girlfriend to remote wilderness locations, capturing everything with a Fuji camera and DJI drone. The concept was an epic journey in which a knight—played by me—travels through a surreal, fantasy version of the California wilderness. His path leads from vast grassy plains stretching endlessly to the horizon, to a dark, ominous crater in the Mojave Desert, to jagged rock formations that pierce the sky, and finally to a forest once scorched by fire, now showing its first signs of new growth. In the final location, as night falls over the forest, the knight begins to hallucinate and experience visions—the sky darkens, and ghostly hands emerge from the ground and from half-burnt trees. This location also became the setting for the ‘Visions’ EP cover and the single art for ‘FANTASY,’ shot with the help of one of my closest friends, Cody Burkhardt. I’ve been teasing the visuals in the EP’s social rollout, but you’ll have to catch one of my shows—like Lollapalooza—to experience them in full.”
With over 100 million streams, past collaborations with RL Grime, and official remixes for Sia, Illenium, and Baauer, Hex Cougar continues to shape experimental bass from the underground-out. His imprint Alter/Ego further expands that ethos, championing boundary-pushing producers across genres.
‘Visions’ captures an artist in flux, expanding his voice while redefining the contours of modern bass music. As his second EP for BREAK ROOM, the project cements Hex Cougar’s place on the imprint while pushing experimental bass into bold new territory.
Hex Cougar is an L.A.-based producer and visual artist, dedicated to bringing underground sound and culture into the spotlight. His work defies genre boundaries, drawing inspiration from hip-hop, rock, shoegaze, ambient, and IDM, while pushing the limits of electronic music. For the past two years, Hex Cougar has been deeply involved in crafting the visual and conceptual world of his project, creating immersive visuals himself and with trusted collaborators.
His art is rooted in nature, surrealism, the occult, and magical realism—an exploration of the unknown and a celebration of venturing beyond conventional creative limits. Emerging as a pivotal figure in the 2014–2017 SoundCloud era, Hex Cougar helped define the early sound of future bass and melodic trap in the U.S., influencing a generation of producers and listeners. He has amassed over 100 million streams across platforms and collaborated with heavyweights like RL Grime, while earning official remix commissions from Sia, Illenium, Dabin, Alison Wonderland, Baauer, and KRANE.
As a tastemaker, Hex Cougar leads the label Alter/Ego, championing eclectic, underground electronic music and bringing fresh, boundary-pushing artists to the fore. In addition to his releases, Hex Cougar has contributed his electronic sound design expertise to major films including Black Adam, Argyle, and Beverly Hills Cop, further expanding the reach of his immersive, genre-defying sonic vision. Hex Cougar has performed on the stages of Lollapalooza, Coachella, and HARD Summer, solidifying his reputation as a live artist capable of transforming sound into an otherworldly experience.
Hex Cougar’s new EP ‘Visions’ is available on all platforms via BREAK ROOM Records.
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