[LISTEN] BARELY ALIVE Release Debut Label Compilation 'Killed It! Vol. 1'

BARELY ALIVE, Lost Lands, Killed It!, label compilation

iEDM Staff | August 09, 2026

After spending the past year laying the groundwork for Killed It! through a series of BARELY ALIVE releases, the veteran duo is officially transforming the imprint into something much larger.

Out now, 'Killed It! Vol. 1' marks the label's first multi-artist compilation, uniting brostep veterans, rising stars, and underground talent across 18 tracks designed to celebrate the genre's past while pushing it into its next chapter.

At its core, the project represents an evolution for both the label and the broader brostep landscape. Rather than serving solely as a home for BARELY ALIVE's music, Killed It! is positioning itself as a platform dedicated to elevating the next wave of artists carrying the genre forward.

Helping spearhead that vision is Vishal Bhanderi, director of label operations at NIGHTMODE, former A&R and label manager at Disciple, and founder of artist management company To Be Fair.

Together with BARELY ALIVE, Bhanderi is helping shape Killed It! into a dedicated home for brostep's next generation, pairing the raw energy that defined the genre's rise with sharper sound design and modern production techniques.

Opening the project, BARELY ALIVE team up with Cyclops on “WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DUBSTEP,” a collaboration whose title doubles as a mission statement for the compilation itself.

The track combines eccentric vocal samples with festival-ready drops, channeling the spirit of classic brostep through a contemporary lens.

Elsewhere, Bizo's “Good Times” offers one of the compilation's standout moments. Infectious piano melodies and uplifting vocals collide with heavyweight bass drops, capturing the nostalgia of brostep's golden era while maintaining the precision expected from modern productions.

The remaining tracklist showcases the breadth of the movement, featuring contributions from artists including Smiles Only, Edison Cole, K1N, Marcix, LOST FRIEND, sapphi, Ganimed, KING WORM, AUDIOWEAPON, Phaceless, and SAMPLE BANDIT.

Together, the artists explore everything from melodic experimentation and throwback influences to uncompromising bass weapons built for late-night raves and festival moshpits.

“We wanted to kick off the label's next chapter with bangs, growls, and lasers,” Killed It! shared. “‘Killed It! Vol. 1’ is a heartfelt statement from a community of artists bringing their own perspective to brostep.”

With 'Killed It! Vol. 1,' BARELY ALIVE are doing more than launching a label compilation.

They are creating a dedicated home for a sound that has shaped electronic music for more than a decade while ensuring the next generation has a platform to continue its evolution.