THE QUIET THAT HURTS EP
A Drum & Bass Exploration of Silence, Emotion, and Renewal
Following the release of their recent singles “Threads” (October 3) and “Dancing in the Leaves” (November 5), acclaimed electronic producers What So Not and Buunshin announce their collaborative EP The Quiet That Hurts, set for release on December 3, 2025.
Arriving as a swift follow-up to What So Not’s 2024 EP Motions—a project praised for its emotional nuance and layered storytelling—The Quiet That Hurts marks a deeper dive into introspection, movement, and shared creative vision. Anchored in drum & bass but unconstrained by genre, the five-track EP balances high-energy momentum with moments of stillness and reflection.
Across the project, What So Not and Buunshin construct an evolving emotional arc, blending cinematic sound design, intricate rhythms, and ethereal vocal performances. The EP features a diverse lineup of collaborators: Maiah Manser on “Threads,” Alina Pash on “Tragic,” Lucy Lucy on “Dancing in the Leaves,” Aiko on “The One,” and Mara Necia on the closing track “Falling In.” Each contribution adds a distinct voice while serving the project’s broader narrative of vulnerability, self-examination, and connection.
The Quiet That Hurts explores the tension between noise and silence—how distraction can shield us from confronting deeper truths, and how stillness can become a catalyst for growth. By merging their distinct production styles, What So Not and Buunshin deliver a cohesive body of work that feels both expansive and intimate, inviting listeners into a space where emotion, movement, and restraint coexist.
Tracklist
- Threads (ft. Maiah Manser)
- Tragic (ft. Alina Pash)
- Dancing in the Leaves (ft. Lucy Lucy)
- The One (ft. Aiko)
- Falling In (ft. Mara Necia)
Quotes from What So Not
EP: “Partway through the creative process, I flew to China & stayed in a temple with Shaolin Monks, training Kung Fu. It was an intense physical & mental experience & upon my return to regular life, I found myself asking “Where do ‘ideas’ come from? How do you create something that has never been done before? What is the source of all creation?”
I came up with this concept of the ‘Void’, the negative space you must enter to draw down ideas from the universe in their purist form. A type of meditation or ‘flow state’, absent of the noise of the world.
‘Threads’ quite literally become the theme of this concept. The mania of our internal dialog, holding us back from manifesting our greatest dreams & ideas. The tempo rising arpeggiation, a pressure point of energy as we attempt to break though the ego barrier & the magnificent payoff on the other side.
Speaking with Ferry on this topic became the foundation of the EP & the meaning behind ‘The Quiet That Hurts’. Filling our lives with unnecessary noise, placing our attention & energy into things that don’t serve us, all in an attempt to run away from that confronting silence… but the truth is that is where the answers lay”
Dancing in the Leaves: “A moment of pure joy, captured in sound. Horribly jet lagged on a cloudy Netherlands morning, wandering past a pond, I was suddenly swarmed by a flock of chirping ducks. Smiling uncontrollably, it instantly turned my whole mood around, reminding me of the unconditional love felt with my childhood pet. Returning to the house, I dragged the video of these ducks into ableton and started trying to score that feeling (you can actually still hear audio of me & the ducks from that video in the finished record!).
More as a therapeutic exercise, I didn’t think much of the loop until it caught Buunshin’s ear & he asked for the parts to flesh out a few more sections. It all came full circle expressing the feeling of this story to my childhood neighbour ‘Lucy Lucy’ as we wrote the topline to ‘Dancing in The Leaves’ – an effortless little jam about the unconditional love of animals.”
More on What So Not
What So Not is an Australian electronic music producer celebrated for his boundary-pushing sound that blends bass, trap, and melodic elements with cinematic depth. Emerging in the early 2010s, he quickly gained recognition for his emotionally driven production and high-impact live performances. His versatility has led to collaborations with artists such as Skrillex, RL Grime, and Toto.
With over 1.3 billion global streams and standout tracks including “High You Are,” “Jaguar,” and “Gemini,” What So Not has built a lasting presence across electronic, hip-hop, and alternative audiences. His debut album Not All the Beautiful Things (2018) and follow-up Anomaly (2022) cemented his reputation for blending festival-ready energy with introspective songwriting.
A mainstay at festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Ultra Music Festival, What So Not continues to evolve as a defining voice in modern electronic music, consistently reaching new audiences worldwide.
More on Buunshin
Buunshin, born Ferry Mellegers, is a visionary force emerging from the Dutch bass music scene. Known for challenging conventions and pushing emotional boundaries, his sound navigates themes of fragility, catharsis, and human connection. His work has earned early support from artists such as Skrillex, Flume, Porter Robinson, and Chris Lake.
Handed the torch by Noisia, Buunshin has developed a genre-defining presence through both releases and live performances. His collaborations with artists including What So Not, DJ Fresh, IMANU, DROELOE, and The Caracal Project have further solidified his reputation. His remix of Apashe’s “Distance” was recognized by UKF as one of the most iconic drum & bass tracks of all time.
Driven by constant experimentation and a deep emotional lens, Buunshin continues to explore the light within darkness. With his debut album on the horizon, his work has already resonated with millions worldwide.
FOLLOW WHAT SO NOT:
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIK TOK
FOLLOW BUUNSHIN:
SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | YOUTUBE | SOUNDCLOUD | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X | TIK TOK
