Beyond the Cornfields: Marty Augustine, The Producer Redefining Electronic Music in the Midwest with “Ghosts”
Kansas isn’t the first place most people think of when talking about electronic music — but Marty Augustine is trying to change that. The Kansas City based producer just unleashed Ghosts, a 12-track album from his own Slice Pirate Music label that’s equal parts trance revival, late-night warehouse energy, and cinematic storytelling with beats.
From the jump, Ghosts makes its presence known. “Drop That Bass” and “Smoke” are bruisers built for dark, sweaty clubs, while the title track weaves haunting melodies into an atmospheric paranormal trip that sticks with you long after the lights come up. Augustine flexes his nostalgia on “When We Were Young,” a euphoric pop-dance anthem featuring the voice of Maizy Luna that feels like a time machine back to simpler days.
But it’s the deeper cuts that showcase Augustine’s range. Tracks like “5 AM,” “To The Stars,” and “Hypnotica” stretch into his staple expansive, cinematic territory that he has been getting recognition for— soundscapes that feel more like film scores, which very well could, and should, be. Ghosts is proof that his vision is bigger than just building the next drop.
“Ghosts is about the pieces of the past we never forget,” Augustine says. “I wanted each track to bring back old memories and feelings while creating new ones at the same time.”
With this release, Marty Augustine isn’t just dropping another album — he’s showing that the Kansas heartland is more than just a flyover spot on the map — it’s a new frontier for electronic sound. Ghosts is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, YouTube, Amazon, and Bandcamp.
Check out Marty’s other albums and more at www.MartyAugustine.com
Follow on Instagram @SlicePirateMusic
Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@martyaugustinemusic/videos
