MP3: Local Duo Caligula Remixes M.I.A. "Steppin' Up," Wins HARD L.A.'s Remix Contest

​As you may have heard, M.I.A. has a new album out. She also performed a string of North American tour dates before jetting off to Europe for the summer festival circuit. Part of that schedule originally included a set at Hard Summer Festival in Los Angeles and New York.

Unfortunately, for M.I.A. the L.A. date got scrapped because of poor ticket sales, and the New York performance was supposedly plagued by sound problems. In the midst of it all, though, Hard organizers launched a remix contest around M.I.A.'s track "Steppin' Up," which was produced by Rusko and features a migraine-inducing backtrack.

Who came out on top? Local production duo Caligula, consisting of Obi Tawil (a.k.a. Damaged Goods) and Mike Larson (a.k.a. Grand Larceny). Together they turned "Steppin' Up" from an almost-dupstep track to a full-blown dubstep Roman orgy. Whaaa-waaa, whaaa-waaa sound? Check. Beats that take a quick nosedive? Check. Perfect tune for jerky head movements? Check.

As part of their win, Tawil and Larson earned studio time at Red Bull Studios in Los Angeles. No word if M.I.A. herself will be picking the rework as an official remix.
MP3: M.I.A. "Steppin' Up" (Caligula Remix)