It's Monday, and so time for a new BBB! 🗞️✨
ENJOY 💙💙
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NEWS
An update from me
For the first time since I started the Big Bass Bulletin, there was a week with no genuinely news-worthy items to write about. Clearly, Diplo's horrific AI rhetoric had people worn out from any form of online drama! With that said, I thought I'd take the opportunity to give a little update to you wonderful Patrons as to where I'm at with Nawtystep at the moment, and then pass it off to you guys in search of your general thoughts on what you wanna see going forward.
Honestly, the last couple of years have been quite tough for myself and the channel. I've mentioned this before, but I seriously underestimated how much time moving city takes up, and the fact I still feel in catch-up mode even though I went from London to Manchester - via Edinburgh - almost 2 years ago now just says it all really. It's meant that I haven't been able to put real, genuine time into the channel, which is why almost all the content within that timeframe has been reactions - fun videos that've been relatively straightforward to record and put together. But my plan is very much to level things up again once these 2025 Yearly Favourites videos are up (very soon now that my G Jones / Eprom set is done!), and that's where your input comes in.
(Above is a picture taken literally yesterday at a potluck gathering that I was at - there's some behind the scenes Nawtystep for you!)
I might publicly open this question up to the general Nawtystep community, but before I do that I want to ask you guys, the Patreon legends - what do you wanna see more of from me? I feel like I've sent this question your way before and not been able to follow up on it properly, but now I'll actually be in a good position to bring about real change. Maybe there's space for another channel, maybe it's time to put normal reviewing back at the forefront of Nawtystep, maybe it's documentaries, interviews or fun game-like videos that you guys wanna see more of. This is me giving you free reign to tell me what should be on the main channel, and on this Patreon, in the coming months and years. I want things to shift significantly with Nawtystep as a brand, and your input is a big part of that.
Get suggesting in the comments! 💙
MUSIC
Knock2 & Joyryde collab!
If ever there was a collab from the Bass House world that simply had to happen, it would be this one. In August 2021, JOYRYDE shared a clip to social media of him playing out Knock2's 'dashstar*' at HARDFEST (link below), a video that rocked the Bass music online space at the time, and played a role in catapulting that tune to superstar status within the community. It certainly helped in me realising that it was the best Bass track of that particular year. Fast forward nearly 5 years, and we have the earliest taste of that moment coming full circle, as a collab between the two heavyweight producers has emerged in the Bass consciousness.
First off, you had the @runthetrap Instagram account sharing a clip from Knock2's Coachella set saying 'Knock2 debuting his unreleased JOYRYDE collab at Coachella', but you're sat there wondering if it's actually a collab from them or not. However, when Knock2 and JOYRYDE themselves then share it to their Instagram stories, you know it's an actual thing. Will it be released on a project from either of them, potentially JOYRYDE's rumoured upcoming 2nd album? Or will it be a simple stand-alone collaboration? This we do not know currently, but it's incredibly exciting regardless. I'm refraining from hearing the clip right now, as I want to be properly surprised when I get around to checking it in full.
Joyryde 'dashstar*' clip: https://x.com/enJOYRYDE/status/1422326289155846159/video/1?s=46
How much are you looking forward to this collab dropping?
Baauer's 3rd album title + first single
BAAUER BAAUER BAAUER (in the Space Laces & Dillon Francis 'STAXX' "power" voice). The 'Harlem Shake' producer's highly-anticipated 3rd full-length studio album will officially be called 'U', and its first single 'Better' is out now. The full LP will consist of 16 tracks, and is dropping on June 12th. Moreover, as revealed by Baauer himself in an interview with Zane Lowe, it has been executive produced by fellow electronic music legend Hudson Mohawke. This has been complemented with a Bandcamp-exclusive EP of edits from Baauer, which dropped on the 15th of this month, and is pay what you want. They're definitely worth checking if you like Disco/House crossover music!
Stream 'Better': https://soundcloud.com/baauer/better
Baauer edits EP: https://baauer.bandcamp.com/track/better-off-a-roan
New ring noord mix
Would you like a new mix of unreleased material from Sleepnet (formerly of Noisia) and Former, known together as ring noord? Well, today's your lucky day! 1 hour, 19 minutes of material, and '37 unreleased pieces form another cross-section of material currently circulating in the ring noord workshop'. It's always special when an act / artist this technically proficient is able to unleash this much unreleased material in one go, and I love that this sensational duo are in that exact position right now. This is your must-listen of the week, so get on it when you have a chance!
Mix link: https://youtu.be/8sCT-7YO0cw?si=32SPcb58cCJiE8pQ
New Bejalvin album
One of underground Bass music's most famed duos, Bejalvin, are following up 2025's BEJUBSTEP 3 with another lengthy project in 2026 - PLANETARY DEVASTATION, dropping May 8th. Last year's 7-track collection featured a host of hyper / meme-y Bass fan favourites, from phonon to grape milk, Loompaskettee to Explorers of the Internet and beyond, so it's interesting to think about who might feature on this new LP. Or maybe it'll be a completely solo Bejalvin effort, though they do like their collaborations so I'd be surprised if that was the case. Regardless, I'm looking forward to checking this out when it drops, and might even stream my reaction to it upon its release. It's sure to be quite the journey!
Biggest Bass releases of the week
Yet again, it was a far bigger week for singles in the Bass scene than it was albums or EPs. Let me direct you, in particular, towards new tracks from MUST DIE!, Dion Timmer, PhaseOne & FuntCase, Dyatic and Jiqui & Phrva. And then, a little bit separate from predominantly-Dubstep producers, I'd look at new cuts from KOAN Sound, MPH and Juelz. Oh, and new A/Bs from DnB legends Simula and Teddy Killerz - can't be forgetting those!
And there genuinely isn't too much in terms of big names to report on beyond that - happy listening! 💙
DISCUSSION
Don't compete, just build
There were a few directions to potentially take this discussion point in, whether it's how 'jaded' many producers within the Bass scene are, or how artists are actually 'building community' at the moment. But I settled on the subject of competition, and how it can vary from mini-scene to mini-scene within the Bass sphere, plus what it even means to have that between artists essentially operating in their own lanes. Let's explore it some more.
Firstly, I bring up the 'mini-scene' thing because of the main response to underground Dubstep producer Ophion's tweet, which came from fellow artist SweetTooth, and is pictured below. I must admit I'd never thought of this before, but are American producers far more naturally competitive than European artists within the Bass scene? Does the sheer amount of American Bass music producers make it feel like more of a competition, due to how saturated it is, and the subsequent need to feel you have to stand out, and do things better than the other musician doing something similar to you? Do these things simply not exist in Europe? It's a fascinating bit of insight that has really got me thinking, and it sucks that there isn't really a clear way to measure this. However, you can talk to people about their own experiences surrounding this phenomenon, and getting it straight from the artists is also extremely valuable. For those of you actively making Bass music right now, does this meme resonate with you at all?
It leads me to wonder whether healthy competition can exist in the music industry, where you have singular acts fending for themselves. I feel like one producer / DJ / artist's success driving another to do more doesn't really have an end point. It only leads to more extreme things being done to be 'better' so to speak, which is likely how we've ended up at the point where social media, and ultra-self-promotion, is essential to progressing with a music-making career. If you're in a sports team, for example, there's healthy competition between players who play in the same position and wanna start, but there's also a simultaneous surrendering of oneself to the ulterior motive that is succeeding as a collective. With your solo venture, there's more chance of ego inflation, which as aforementioned, has no definitive limitations, nothing holding it back. Team situations are controlled whilst individual pursuits aren't as much, so maybe more of that is needed in the American Bass scene. More collectives, creating more together, whilst still doing the solo stuff. Does that make sense?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this discussion point, please do drop them in the comments!
FUNNIES // COOL STUFF
Lol, good one!
I think this tweet was posted earnestly, but all I could reply with was 'you cooked here' because it surely can't have been anything other than a joke. If you can't find another good track to play live instead of your own remake of someone's unreleased tune, then I hate it break it to you but you're not a good DJ. There I said it!
Shout out to Levity for their aptly sarcastic response too, by the way.
140 kids at shows
The "fuck afffff" at the end had me creasing to be fair. Big up Dubstep producer dêtre for this banger - must-watch!
Clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXZYSvajnV_/?igsh=NnRob254b2tvaWZi
Good music discovery tips!
It's always good to have new ideas for ways of finding music, and Pigeons & Planes definitely delivered with this reel. Good stuff!
Reel link: https://x.com/pigsandplans/status/2046318160127856709?s=46&t=TEbbHyZ3OlICtgts4_3J0g
Good music producer tips!
There's some truly great stuff here for the producers amongst you! My personal favourite was the way Virtual Riot simplified what is needed for each sound you include in a track - volume, pitch and frequency. Take the time to understand and appreciate that part of the craft, and I'm sure you'll go a long way.
Post link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXc8lKXj9ba/?img_index=3&igsh=MTNnbnh4czhjMWVldw==
Well done Anthony
Can confirm that, as things stand, Fantano very nearly completed the ratio with this reply. 16k likes for each tweet right now. Fair play!
Yes, it's true
I do actually understand why playing Peter Griffin Dubstep music is an alien concept to the vast majority of people. I do get that. But yes, it does happen and people do enjoy it. That's the beauty of how silly Bass music can be.
Clip: https://x.com/mmiau22077/status/2046593141294203338?s=46&t=TEbbHyZ3OlICtgts4_3J0g
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Did I miss anything from the last week in Bass music? Let me know below! 😌