When you see Christian Bauhofer after the sun goes down, you will find the smiling DJ/producer assuming his party crushing alter-ego, Minnesota. The Santa Cruz local has recently been working on his new EP Altered States, which is set for release in late October, and features collaborations with Grizzly J and Zion I. This EP is more dance-floor oriented than his previous work, embracing higher energy and a more bass driven sound, while still maintaining melodicism. Staying true to his own sound is far more important to Minnesota than just playing banging dubstep, keeping his fans coming back for more. Minnesota's tracks are influenced by artists including MiMOSA and Modeselektor. Some of his personal favorites such as Bassnectar and PANTyRAID have also been playing his tracks in their sets. "Quickly becoming a staple in my sets," commented Bassnectar when discusing the track "Push It." "Perfect for when I need a track that is epic and churning but also melodically hyped." It is not only other artists who have gained an appreciation for Minnesota's sound. After a young man's hearing was restored and he was able to listen to music for the first time in his life, he chose Minnesota's remix of Shotgun Radio's "A Bad Place" as one of the top 5 songs he'd heard, next to artists such as Mozart, Il Postino and Sigur Ros. Minnesota's first EP, Panda Snatching Tycoon, was released on Tycho Records in January of 2011 to critical acclaim. His second release, Ancient Machines, on Mal Label was number nine on the Addictech best seller's list for the year, and every track charted on the Beatport glitch hop charts. Recently, his remix of "California Dreamin'" resurfaced and topped the Hype Machine at#1. Minnesota also collaborated with MartyParty in 2011 on a free EP called Ultraviolet Halo. Minnesota's upcoming Altered States Tour sees him hitting many cities across the US, joined on many dates by Zion I. Zion I are a hip-hop duo from Oakland, California, consisting of producer DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Minnesota's live performance sees him providing the best possible experience by paying close attention to the crowd and putting time and effort in preparing his set.