It's Monday, so time for another BBB! 🗞️✨
ENJOY 💙💙
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NEWS
Samplifire's AI artwork situation
Dubstep producers Samplifire and Calcium ran into a bit of online trouble last week as they announced their new collaboration 'BONEFIRE'. In sharing the artwork and release date, they were met with a slew of replies to the X post lamenting the fact that there was clear AI usage in the artwork itself. Samplifire - who posted the announcement tweet - was quick to reply to those highlighting the AI use, saying 'not ai this is the artist we hired for the art he killed , please respect the artist . i dont use ai for art wether music or visual!' to several people. But when people responded to those tweets with zoomed-in picture proof of AI-generated imagery, the issue was actualised.
The initial response was, unsurprisingly, a little scathing, as people felt let down by an artist as high profile in the modern Dubstep scene as Samplifire resorting to AI for their artwork. Thankfully though, for the most part blame was not directed at Samplifire, who people saw as acting with good intention in hiring a human to make the artwork. Many could see that a scamming situation of sorts had happened, where the artist used AI alongside their own creation. The producer isn't the one to call out here, as explained effectively by fellow electronic musician Emplexx below. People pushed back on the original detractors - one user said 'artist tryna discredit other artists to gain more recognition what a classic' - but without any proof that AI wasn't used for the artwork, their words held little weight in the conversation.
All this to say: producers, make sure by checking and double-checking with whoever's making your artworks, because I doubt you'd want to go through what Samplifire and Calcium just have.
Subtronics' new haircut
You might be sat reading this thinking 'come on Connor this isn't news!' but it was a thing that happened last week and generated a huge response, so it has to be covered! But yes, that is all this segment is about - Subtronics' new haircut.
He looks great with this trim to be fair, I'd say it's giving mid-00s lead singer of a British Pop Rock band. Johnny Borrell from Razorlight kinda vibes, you know? You guys likely have no idea what I'm talking about or referencing there, but do check it out to see exactly what I mean.
Could this mean a shift in style for the Subtronics project is on the horizon?
MUSIC
Getter's first EP since 2021
Last Friday, Getter dropped his first EP since May 2021's Some Creature. This new project, titled DOOM, has 5 cuts on it, comes in at just over a quarter of an hour, and was released on Bassrush Records. It also features several vocalists from the Rap scene, including well-known names such as SXMPRA and Shakwell.
To accompany the EP's release, Getter shared a quick reel containing a few bits of info about DOOM, saying it's "essentially my brain now," a strong concoction of his biggest musical influences in electronic music and Rap. I'm planning to do a run-through of the collection on Twitch later today, so watch out for that and tune in if you can!
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUH6b4_D_70/?igsh=cDU3ZGFoYnRqaXR5
Have you heard the EP yet? If so, what are you making of it?
Feed Me, Flux Pavilion and Kill The Noise drop new collab
On November 5th last year, Kill The Noise teased a new track on Instagram with the caption 'Cookin @feedme @fluxpavilion'. Fast forward a couple of months and said 3-way collaboration, titled 'Another Level', is out now on Feed Me's label Sotto Voce. I was quite surprised to read that this is their first track together as a trio, but that's likely because they've all worked with each other as duos, as well as remixing each others' originals too. They all come from the same era of modern Bass music, so this triumvirate had to happen at some point - 'took long enough' as Feed Me said in his post announcing the tune.
With this being released on Sotto Voce, I imagine it will be part of a new, upcoming Feed Me project. The trio also hosted an Instagram live between them to celebrate the single release, which is up on Feed Me's page if you wanna check it out. I skipped through it a bit, it's a good watch and something I'd recommend giving your time!
Feed Me, Flux Pavlion, Kill The Noise live stream: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUMwtLDCASF/?igsh=NXRvdWZ3eTViMjRu
Also, I think this is another case of having to shout out the artwork - fantastic stuff!
Barely Alive's new Brostep mix
Okay yeah, Brostep is absolutely, definitely, 100% back. To accompany their upcoming 'Overdrive' tour, Brostep's best-ever duo Barely Alive dropped a new classics- and ID-filled mix under the same name. Yes, I know Barely Alive looks like one person, but that's just how the alias performs live. It's always been two people making the music.
I've yet to hear it but cannot wait to, especially since I think there's a lot of clever doubling and tripling of countless Brostep classics of the early-to-mid-2010s era. IDs-wise, there are confirmed collaborations with the likes of TYNAN and Edison Cole, as well as potentially more exciting names that Barely Alive have asked fans and followers to guess in content they've shared around the mix.
Mix link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mtnAbltJkg
I could even be tempted into doing a video for it, though it's completely time dependent. I've gotta keep up with all the actual releases coming out right now, as well as get these bloody Yearly Favourites '25 videos out! But as ever, I shall try.
The big Bass releases of the week
Along with everything mentioned above, there were several other significant releases from the Bass music world last week. The biggest drop on the album front was the new 8-track, 55min Infected Mushroom project for Monstercat titled IM30. On the EP front, I think it would be right to highlight the new collaborative collection between Neuro fan favourites Stasys and Azaleh called Return Of The Primordial Garden. Compilations-wise, I have to mention the latest offering from one of the best labels in the underground of modern Dubstep, Toxic Volume 2 from Dr. Ozi's very own Hard Tooth Records. That comp is an 11-tracker featuring the likes of Ozi himself, Magic Bite, ETikka, VAPID and more.
In terms of single releases, it'd be good to mention solo cuts from Dubstep legend Plastician and Code: Pandorum, as well as collabs from Chime & DanTheMak and Kai Wachi & Tisoki. Hamdi also put out an official remix of Fred again..'s collab 'OK OK' with Danny Brown, JPEGMAFIA and more.
Happy listening all! 🔊💙
DISCUSSION
No one cares about your originals
A statement of truth, as Oddprophet says? Or vintage ragebait? As with most posts I bring into the DISCUSSION section for each BBB, there are layers to this one, so let's dive into it.
From a saturation perspective, I think this is true. We are not in the early 2010s anymore, where the amount of artists in circulation was a lot more manageable, and social media wasn't around to essentially make the amount of music that exists feel overwhelming. That is the case now, where unfortunately you have to go the extra mile to stand out. That might mean trying to make a style of Bass music that hasn't been made before, or creating an alluring persona for your music, or making avant-garde artworks to complement the tunage. Though perhaps a more surefire way to get word of your name around is to remix / bootleg classic originals that people know well from any genre of music. I have to say, when I see edits of well-known originals pop up on Soundcloud, my interest is immediately piqued as to how exactly they're going to transform that track. People like to hear iconic vocals in different contexts, in standard listening but also in live environments. In turn, DJs like finding them and playing them out, so generally speaking remixes, bootlegs, edits and any material of that kind are sought after.
On the other hand, it depends entirely on what you want from your music career. If your aim is to become a big name, then yes I think the remix / bootleg route is a good one to go down. However, if that isn't of paramount importance to you, and you just wanna release original music and build up that kinda catalogue, then do that. You can make a name for yourself with original music I think, but - as I alluded to earlier - only if you're offering something unique within Bass music. From my own reviewing / journalistic perspective, there are thousands and thousands of artists out there, so I'm not gonna give my attention to artists that aren't doing anything remotely different to the norm, or progressing their sound over time in any way. It's that simple. There are artists I've cut out from my listening entirely because, frankly, my time is much better spent elsewhere. Definitely do what you can to stand out, and bring individuality to the table, is what I would say. Otherwise, you're not solving a problem, or scratching an unscratched itch, so to speak. Many people are going down the remixing path, sure, but there are always other legendary originals out there to edit that no one has touched yet.
All that to say - producers, identify exactly what it is you want to do with your music, and you'll be in a good position to evolve as a musician.
Dubstep shows are better without lasers and visuals
And here's another, more straightforward topic of discussion from SweetTooth that I thought would be good to include for this BBB too.
My simple response would be that it depends on the kind of Dubstep, right? For the deep, more OG material I'd completely side with having no lasers or visuals at all. That would retain the underground feel of the show. However, with loud, bombastic Dubstep, I think visuals and lasers can work very well. Maybe I would rephrase what he's said to 'Dubstep shows don't need lasers and visuals', because different events have different kinds of music, and different kinds of energy.
Where do you stand on this particular talking point?
FUNNIES // COOL STUFF
Apashe performs 'Kyiv' at Red Rocks
Following the release of the 'Kyiv' single and music video last week - covered in the most recent BBB - we now have footage of Apashe, Alina Pash and a supporting orchestral band playing the track out at Red Rocks in Denver, Colorado. Absolutely sensational stuff.
Clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUDz6O6Ef6y/?igsh=NHdtMWc3empjdnli
Ragga Twins thank Skrillex
This is very wholesome indeed - legendary vocalist duo Ragga Twins receiving a gold plaque for their part in Skrillex's debut album Recess, which recently reached 40,000 sales in Canada. This is their first plaque of this magnitude that they've received. "Big up Skrillex!" they say in the video. You gotta love 'em.
Clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT_NxGlkY36/?igsh=MTNncWs0NDFzMDE4aA==
It's also good to know that people are still buying music, and likely physical copies too.
Virtual Riot at the GRAMMYs
I definitely recommend peeping Virtual Riot's Instagram story today. There are a wealth of snippets from his time at the GRAMMYs last night, featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, Gesaffelstein and more.
It's about time he was at an event of this calibre to be honest! Props to him for his work on Skrillex's F**K U SKRILLEX ... project.
Nimda x a Boxing fight
This is insane. I heard recently about general plans within the industry to pair Bass shows with other kinds of entertainment, but definitely didn't think they'd be coming around this soon!
To be clear, it's a boxing match happening in the same Budapest venue - and room - that Nimda is playing a show at. Yep, you read that right.
Watch this account's Instagram story: cxdugger
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Did I miss anything from the last week in Bass music? Let me know below! 😌