The Gud Vibrations cofounders reveal the first joint release for their own label with the emotionally charged single, featuring LA-based songstress ZOHARA, a vocal-led bass collab reaching cult status since their b2b set at EDC Las Vegas.
SLANDER and NGHTMRE reunite on “Free,” a long-awaited homecoming for two of bass music’s most definitive forces. Out now via their own Gud Vibrations imprint, the single marks their first joint appearance on the label since 2020—an emotionally-charged return that channels both artists’ shared ethos of intensity and release. Featuring emerging singer-songwriter ZOHARA, the track captures the duality that has always defined their sound: the interplay between soaring emotion and seismic low-end weight.
Built on twinkling tones and spacious atmospherics, “Free”” opens with ZOHARA’s luminous topline, her voice tracing the contours of liberation after breaking free from a codependent relationship. Light trap percussion and delicate synths suspend her delivery in a dreamlike haze before the track plunges into a deep, resonant groove. The drop unfurls in cinematic slow motion—massive sub-bass swells, shuddering synth leads, and reverberating percussion—striking a balance between heaviness and transcendence. Every movement feels intentional, each sound carrying the emotional clarity that both SLANDER and NGHTMRE have refined over years of pushing melodic bass into new forms.
Speaking to the excitement around revealing the new single, SLANDER says, “‘Free’ is here! This record is extremely special to us and we could not be more thrilled it is out in the world. It was so exciting to work with Zohara for the first time alongside our dear friend, NGHTMRE. From the very first session, we knew this song had such a special feeling and a true, raw emotion at its core. We hope its feeling of freedom is something everyone can feel reflected within.”
Expanding on the synergy and creative flow that brought the single to fruition, NGHTMRE adds: “SLANDER and I started our careers together and they have always been my closest friends and favorite collaborators. We often get ideas going and share them with each other remotely. But this time, we decided to just get in the studio and start something completely from scratch with ZOHAHA. The raw emotion she drew from her personal life experiences to write this is instantly evident in the song. I’m really proud of how this song turned out and it has been blowing minds in our live sets!”
Diving into the deeper meaning behind its lyrics, ZOHARA explains: “This song is about so much more than heartbreak. It’s about freedom from all the baggage and pain we carry. I love this song because it’s universal message can be felt by, and mean something special to, anyone who listens to it. We wrote this song in less than two hours. It was one of those magical moments when you knew you’re a part of something big—and the guys took this production to another level. So grateful to be part of it!”
This collaboration has been one of the most anticipated IDs across the festival circuit since first surfacing during their b2b set at EDC Las Vegas. It’s since become a fixture in their sets at Lost Lands, Exchange LA, and Mission Ballroom, earning cult status among fans for its raw power and cathartic energy. “Free” continues the pair’s storied creative partnership, following “Fall Into Me” from NGHTMRE’s 2023 record ‘DRMVRSE’ and “Monster” from SLANDER’s 2022 debut album ‘Thrive’—both milestones that trace the evolution of the Gud Vibrations sound.
Their last joint release on the label, “Feeling Gud,” remains one of Gud Vibrations’ biggest successes to date, surpassing 68 million streams and earning widespread radio support from BBC Radio 1, Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland, Gryffin, and Valentino Khan. Four years later, “Free” extends that legacy with the same precision and purpose that have always defined SLANDER and NGHTMRE’s collaborative work.
Both artists are closing out landmark tours surrounding the release, with SLANDER wrapping their ‘Voyager’ Tour and NGHTMRE concluding ‘MINDFULL’ with a shared stop at The Armory. Their upcoming festival runs span Beyond Wonderland SoCal, World DJ Festival in Seoul, Escapade, Veld, System Overload, Breakaway, Illfest, and SLANDER’s return to The Sphere, cementing their place as two of dance music’s most commanding live acts.
For ZOHARA, “Free” continues a growing catalog that bridges the emotional immediacy of pop with the atmospheric reach of electronic music. The Brooklyn-born, LA-based singer-songwriter first connected with dance audiences through her collaborations with Gryffin, including “Remember” and “WHERE ARE YOU TONIGHT,” as well as her feature on KREAM’s “Water.” Known for her crystalline tone and understated intensity, she’s become a sought-after voice within electronic music’s new wave of emotionally driven storytelling.
With “Free,” SLANDER and NGHTMRE reaffirm the strength of their creative partnership. It’s a precise, emotionally grounded release that bridges their history with the evolving sound of Gud Vibrations, underscoring why their collaborations continue to resonate across the global bass scene.
SLANDER is a Grammy-nominated American electronic music duo consisting of Derek Andersen and Scott Land based in Los Angeles, CA who are best known for their unique, emotional, melodic bass music sound. Going from being Icon Collective graduates to selling out massive hard ticket venues including Red Rocks, and performing at global festivals such as EDC, Lollapalooza, Tomorrowland, and Ultra. SLANDER has become one of the hottest acts in dance music with one Double-Platinum, a Platinum, and one Gold RIAA Certifications to their name.
Tyler Marenyi, better known as NGHTMRE, has cemented his place as a leading force in modern electronic dance music and beyond. Based in Los Angeles, the producer, DJ, and label owner first skyrocketed to fame in 2015 when Skrillex premiered his then-unreleased track “Street” during Ultra Music Festival’s main stage—an iconic moment that set the stage for NGHTMRE’s meteoric rise.
Over the past decade, NGHTMRE has become a heavyweight across EDM and hip-hop, co-founding the Gud Vibrations label with SLANDER and collaborating with an impressive roster of artists, including ZHU, The Chainsmokers, Gunna, Tory Lanez, A$AP Ferg, and Dillon Francis. Known as a true innovator, NGHTMRE’s immersive sets combine intricate sound design, unconventional samples, and field recordings, creating unforgettable experiences for his audiences. From his tenured residency at Hakkasan Las Vegas, to headlining festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo, Ultra, and Electric Forest, NGHTMRE has electrified audiences worldwide.
His global reach extends to marquee events like EDC Mexico, Tomorrowland, and Lollapalooza in Brazil, Chile, and France, as well as performances at iconic venues such as the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, Terminal 5, and Los Angeles’s Grand Park. In 2023, NGHTMRE expanded his creative boundaries, collaborating with REZZ, Knock2, and Big Gigantic—culminating in the debut of Gigantic NGHTMRE. This followed the release of his 18-track deluxe edition of DRMVRSE, a conceptually driven album paired with a mini-documentary exploring the project’s themes.
As his ambitious Sonic Wars B2B North American tour wraps into 2024, NGHTMRE is gearing up for another explosive year with new music and worldwide performances on the horizon. Celebrating this milestone, NGHTMRE released 10 Years of NGHT, a coffee table book chronicling his journey from underground sensation to global icon. The visually stunning collection showcases the evolution of his artistry, offering fans a rare glimpse into the creative process behind his unforgettable live shows, innovative productions, and collaborations.
Looking ahead, NGHTMRE is preparing to unveil his next full-length LP, ‘MINDFULL.’ On the surface, the album serves up good vibes while taking a playful jab at our internet-addled brains. It’s both a call to unplug from the hyper-scrolling, brain-numbing digital reality and an invitation to escape into the NOW—filling your mind with the raw, unfiltered beauty of real life. At its core, ‘MINDFULL’ is a cathartic experience, an opportunity to rage and release from the overwhelming chaos of modern existence, offering listeners both an emotional outlet and a path toward presence.
Born in Jerusalem and raised in New York City, ZOHARA’s been writing and singing from the age of eight, alone in her bedroom with a journal and a guitar. By 18, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue music full-time — a leap that led to her breakthrough when the first song she ever wrote and released professionally, “Remember” with Gryffin (97M+ Spotify streams), became a global dance hit, reaching #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Songs chart and #1 on SiriusXM BPM’s year-end chart, and launching her first-ever live performance on the Coachella stage in 2019.
Renowned for her once-in-a-lifetime voice, soaring emotional melodies, and raw, moment-defining lyrics, ZOHARA has become a magnet for top DJs seeking records that hit both the heart and the mainstage. She is also featured on other massive dance releases including “Water (feat. ZOHARA)” with KREAM (≈ 51.4M+ streams), “Out of My Mind” with Gryffin (≈ 8.0M+ streams), and “WHERE ARE YOU TONIGHT (feat. ZOHARA)” with Gryffin (≈ 1.7M+ streams), cementing her global streaming presence.
She has performed on the main stages of ULTRA Music Festival (2024) and EDC Las Vegas in front of 80,000+ fans, as well as at Red Rocks, Brooklyn Mirage, and Outside Lands & more. In the studio, she is an active songwriter who has collaborated in sessions with artists including David Guetta, Madison Beer, Oliver Heldens, Ally Brooke, Noa Kirel, and Eden Golan, and written alongside elite songwriters Ashley Gorley, Sophie Simmons, No/Me, Solly, Jake Torrey, David Brook, Alma Goodman, and SermStyle.
With over 369,000 monthly Spotify listeners and counting, ZOHARA enters 2026 with major momentum, launching the year with a highly anticipated collaboration with SLANDER and NGHTMRE, widely expected to be a major hit in the dance and festival space.
SLANDER, NGHTMRE, and ZOHARA’s new single “Free” is available on all platforms via Gud Vibrations.
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