U.K. electronic duo KOAN Sound was formed by producers Jim Bastow and Will Weeks in 2008 after the dissolution of several other musical projects. The pair grew their sound out of early electronic influences from acts like Amon Tobin and the Prodigy, working to develop a style that embraced darkness, dramatic use of space, and bass-heavy composition. KOAN Sound's first tracks were decidedly more dubstep oriented, and a 2011 self-released EP, Free, tended more toward that side of their sound. The Max Out EP, released later that same year on Inspected Records, as well as the Funk Blaster EP, also released in 2011 on Skrillex's OWSLA label, both departed somewhat from dubstep, moving the duo's tracks more in the direction of glitchy beats and more funky electronica.