Two artists known for pushing bass music into darker, stranger territory are stepping into a new world together. Minneapolis-native BAINBRIDGE and Denver producer High Zombie have officially joined forces as SMOKIN POTIONS, introducing their collaborative project with their debut EP, Tell Me, out now via BREAK ROOM.
Built around a sound the duo calls “dungeoncore,” the three-track EP pulls from the grit and aggression of the underground while refusing to stay tied to one lane. The project blends distorted bass, trap-inspired production, club rhythms, grime, and darker electronic elements, creating a sound that feels equally connected to both the American and UK bass scenes.
At the center of the release is the title track, “Tell Me.” The song opens with an almost cinematic atmosphere, using suspenseful symphonic melodies and warped synths to create a sense of anticipation before everything begins to unravel. Smooth, haunting vocals sit at the center of the track, questioning whether a new connection can live up to the intensity of the chemistry already there.
From there, “Tell Me” becomes increasingly unpredictable. Screeching distortion, rapid-fire percussion, heavy bass, club-driven grooves, and halftime rhythms constantly shift the song’s direction. Rather than following a straightforward formula, the track thrives on movement and instability, pulling listeners through different sounds and moods without warning.
While Tell Me marks the official arrival of SMOKIN POTIONS, BAINBRIDGE and High Zombie have been building toward this collaboration for years. Their creative relationship dates back to 2019 through a series of collaborations across their individual projects, including “BRIKZ,” “Burial Recipe,” and “Misery Potion.” The pair later introduced SMOKIN POTIONS with “WANT U,” giving listeners an early glimpse into the chemistry that would eventually become the foundation of the project.
Their collaborative work has already earned support from artists including Illenium, PhaseOne, RIOT TEN, Hekler, JEANIE, Bella Renee, Whales, and Pixel Terror, while SMOKIN POTIONS has continued to grow beyond the studio and onto the stage. The duo made its U.S. debut at Apocalypse Festival in 2025 before making its Canadian debut at Delirium Festival. Upcoming appearances include Club Studio Time in Denver, with additional performances in Dallas and Fargo still to be announced.
The name SMOKIN POTIONS also reflects the creative philosophy behind the project. Much like alchemy, the duo’s music is built through transformation taking different sounds, emotions, and influences and breaking them down before turning them into something entirely new.
Smoke represents something temporary and difficult to hold onto: emotion, uncertainty, and the things that can disappear just as quickly as they arrive. The idea of a potion represents the opposite a deliberate combination of ingredients, sounds, and ideas carefully brought together to create a specific reaction.
That idea runs throughout Tell Me. Beneath the heavy bass and unpredictable production is a project centered around questioning, transformation, and the search for something deeper. The title itself is more than a simple request for an answer. It feels like a demand for honesty whether that truth comes from another person or from finally confronting yourself.
With Tell Me, SMOKIN POTIONS aren’t simply combining two artists into one project. They are creating a new space where distortion, groove, darkness, and experimentation can exist together. Dungeoncore may be the name they’ve given this world, but Tell Me is the first real invitation to step inside it.
CONNECT WITH SMOKIN POTIONS
INSTAGRAM / THREADS / SOUNDCLOUD / SPOTIFY
CONNECT WITH BAINBRIDGE
INSTAGRAM / X / FACEBOOK / SOUNDCLOUD / SPOTIFY
CONNECT WITH HIGH ZOMBIE
INSTAGRAM / X / FACEBOOK / SOUNDCLOUD / SPOTIFY
CONNECT WITH BREAK ROOM
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