“Switch Up” was released on this day nine years ago. The track was created in Denver, CO, after Gus purchased a one-way ticket there in late February 2016. He recorded the song—produced by Optic Core—and filmed the accompanying music video spontaneously during the first week of March. Nearly a decade later, “Switch Up” remains a cherished piece of his musical journey, marking a crucial chapter when he lived in the city, making music and playing shows with Schemaposse. Gus flew to Denver from Pasadena at the end of February 2016 to perform at a scheduled show at Rhinoceropolis on March 4. It was the third Schemaposse show—the collective he had joined in late 2015—and the third show of his career, and he was very excited to take to perform. Being in the city for the first time also gave him the opportunity to meet online collaborators in person and create music with them. During his stay, he released a lot of music, including an EP with ItsOkToCry and multiple singles with his friend YungGoth. Gus shared “Switch Up” on SoundCloud on March 3, 2016, and performed it live the next day at Rhinoceropolis. Around this time, he connected with videographer QuietCam, who interviewed him and his collaborators at the house where they were staying. The footage became part of a short documentary series on the rise of the underground scene. In the interview, Gus’s passion for his craft was clear, and it was obvious he thrived in these intense, collaborative creative environments. “I’m gonna be staying here, I’m gonna be staying in LA.… It’s just wherever my homies are at,” he said, later reinforcing in his music that he would never “switch up” on those who had believed in him. Later that week, Gus and QuietCam linked up to shoot the “Switch Up” music video on a Denver street. Goth joined him, and Gus rocked a pair of ski goggles—just like the ones he had worn in the “Beamer Boy” video back in January. He loved those goggles, often wearing them at shows and while hanging out in the city. On March 8, he released the “Switch Up” music video, the first of several collaborations with QuietCam that month. Gus performed the song throughout his career, often bringing it back whenever he played a show in Denver—a testament to the significance of this brief but pivotal period in his journey. - @lilpeep