Forged through a cross-country connection and a shared love for bass and bars, the 13-year-old bass phenom Mesophonic and rising rapper Tenney Way III have joined forces for one of the most refreshingly raw collabs of the year, Day Shift.
The duo first connected after Shaq dropped Mesophonic’s bass-fueled single, Dollar Dreams, during a set at Mission Ballroom, a breakout moment that quickly turned heads across the scene.
One of those heads was Tenney, who saw Mesophonic’s sound as a perfect canvas for his sharp-witted rhymes and festival-ready energy.
Now, with the release of their debut collab Day Shift, the pair are carving out a lane of their own. Built on pounding low-end, clever vocal chops, and a no-sleep work ethic, the track captures the chaos of late-night raves and early-morning grind, a sentiment familiar to anyone balancing passion with real life.
Fueled by authenticity and a shared DIY spirit, Day Shift is more than just a banger. It is a snapshot of two artists stepping into their own, one bassline and bar at a time.
Following the release, The Daily Frequency caught up with Mesophonic and Tenney to talk about the story behind the track, how their process came together remotely, and why rap and bass music mesh so well together.
Check out the exclusive interview with Mesophonic and Tenney below.
DF: Thank you for talking with us, and congrats on your new collab, Day Shift! How did you first come together, and what did you see in each other’s sound that inspired you to collab?
MESO: Tenney hit me up on Instagram after I was invited on stage at Mission Ballroom and Shaq played my song Dollar Dreams. That moment got a lot of attention, and a few artists reached out, but Tenney stood out. I liked his vibe. He had this clever, kinda funny rap style that felt fresh and fun. That made me want to build something with him.
TENNEY: I first saw the video of Mesophonic and Shaq playing Dollar Dreams and knew this kid was talented. Seeing and hearing the crowd reaction was fire. I reached out through IG and asked if he’d be interested in a rap and dubstep collab. I knew we could create something dope and sent him a few of my songs to listen to. When he responded and said he was interested, it was on.
DF: Day Shift feels like a heavy-hitting anthem designed for the grind. What was the driving inspiration for the track as a whole, and is there a story you’re trying to tell within the music?
MESO: Honestly, there wasn’t some deep concept. We just wanted to make something that goes. The whole track builds around that opening melody. It’s in the intro and the drop so that kind of ties it all together. We didn’t overthink it. I usually get inspired more when I hear vocals first, so when Tenney sent me the vocals, it helped me imagine where the builds and drops should hit.
TENNEY: I have been a server at a restaurant for six to seven years and over that time I have been a raver and festival goer as well. Anyone that raves and is in the service industry knows that sometimes you party all night and barely get any sleep before having to go to work the next day. That was where the lyrics came from. The “Party til the AM, No sleep I work the Day Shift” is from experience. It encapsulates going to a rave with friends and then having to get ready and clock in soon after getting home.
DF: How would you say the track represents your ethos as rising artists?
MESO: I think it shows that I like keeping things fun and wubby. I’m not trying to be too serious or dramatic. It’s bouncy, has energy, and still hits hard. It also kind of shows who I am, a kid making music that bangs. I think that’s cool and I want people to know that.
TENNEY: As a rap artist, I am big on being yourself. My lyrics are a true representation of who I am. My goal as a rap lyricist is to kill tracks and have fun. Day Shift is the perfect mix of authentic storytelling and creative hip-hop and bass-infused production, giving all listeners an enjoyable listen.
DF: With you both living on opposite sides of the country, what did the creative process look like? Were you in the studio together or passing ideas remotely?
MESO: It was mostly remote. Sometimes I’d send a beat and he’d write to it, or he’d send vocals and I’d build the beat around that. We FaceTimed a bunch before we actually met at Red Rocks for a shoot. But even though it was long distance, it worked super smooth. We were both just on the same page with what we wanted, so everything came together easy.
TENNEY: We kept good communication through text, email, and FaceTime calls to sculpt out ideas. It started with some vocal samples I recorded at my in-home studio. Another time Jerome sent a beat and I recorded vocals with my best friend and engineer, Juice. Although we sent things back and forth, the process was smooth and exciting.
DF: You deliver a masterful fusion of hip-hop and bass. What is it about these two different genres that go so well together?
MESO: I mean, I love both genres, bass music and rap, and they both have a lot of low end so it makes sense to combine them. Other artists have done it before, but I like putting my own spin on it. It’s like getting the best of both worlds, the hard-hitting wubs and catchy vocals that stick in your head.
TENNEY: As a hip-hop and dubstep lover, I have felt for years that there is an untapped lane when you fuse the two genres. Although not the first to do it, I think we do it well and I agree, it is the best of both worlds. We hear great flips and remixes of rap songs all the time and I hope to continue to bring some dope original hip-hop bass songs to the scene.
DF: Do you see yourselves working together again in the future? If so, what kind of direction would you want to take it?
MESO: Yeah, we’ve already done like three tracks together, and I’d definitely be down to do more. Tenney’s super creative, and his writing style just fits with the kind of tracks I like to make. If we do another collab, it would probably be in the same lane, bass and hip-hop with that fun, clever energy. No reason to fix what isn’t broken.
TENNEY: We do already have a few in the vault, all bangers, and I would be down for more. Jerome might be young, but he is super talented. I know he will continue to get better, expanding his sound more and more, and I can’t wait to see him performing at festivals. Just a matter of time.
DF: Lastly, what do you hope listeners take away from Day Shift?
MESO: I just hope people vibe with it. I’m not trying to send some big message. I just want it to hit right. If it makes you want to move, if the beat sticks with you and you come back to it, then that’s the win. I want it to resonate, even if it’s just because it sounds sick.
TENNEY: For anyone who’s ever worked in the service industry, this one is for you. Go check out the new banger from Mesophonic and I. This song will get you through any shift at any job, especially the Day Shift. Go and get it.
