It's Monday, and so time for a new BBB! 🗞️✨
ENJOY 💙💙
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NEWS
Travesty at Electric Forest festival
This is so devastating I can hardly bear to write about it, but it was unfortunately the most significant Bass-related news of last week. Coverage surrounding the 2026 edition of Insomniac's Electric Forest festival was generally very positive, until news began to circulate this morning regarding a horrific discovery on its final day. It's reported that a dead newborn baby was found in one of the campsite's port-a-loos, with police currently pleading for any witnesses of the situation to come forward with information. The child was apparently found during a regular maintenance check by an employee of the portable bathroom vendor for the Michigan festival. In a statement about the travesty, Electric Festival organisers wrote: "It causes us so much pain to have to share this difficult news with you. Michigan state police continues to investigate this tragic event, if you can assist in any way". The event had shut for several hours on Sunday night, but that was due to a severe weather warning.
Unsurprisingly, as the news broke, social media - particularly X - was awash with people thinking of who was to blame in this situation. Many people's thoughts went straight to whoever had the child with them - whether pregnant or not - whilst others went straight to blaming Electric Forest and Insomniac. There were some that raised the issue of abortion laws in certain parts of the US, and conversation briefly went towards how the story will develop if it's revealed the potential mother is from a Conservative state that criminalises abortion. Thankfully, there were a few posts on hand to balance out the understandable emotion, and provide a bit of context and understanding.
I don't wanna write about this too much more about this, though I'm not sure there is more to say anyway. If there are any developments on the story, I will report on them in a future BBB.
MUSIC
Skism's AMA - the 2nd half
Skism promised he'd address a load of other questions from his Ask Me Anything, and he delivered. In this part 2 post, he went over many different topics, from whether he's gonna DJ again - "I can't say yes, I can't say no" - to new Never Say Die merchandise, and even started the post with a funny bit on whether Space Laces will ever drop 'Fatality', which I'll leave to your viewing if you're yet to see it.
In terms of more interesting topics, he talked about social media's impact on the music industry, saying "it's levelled the playing field for a lot of people which is brilliant." He also said holding some music back, and essentially gatekeeping it so it's more special when it drops, could be brought back into the scene more. He also said Bass music was generally "in a really good place", a section that I don't think he explored the nuance of enough, but it was good to get some quick thoughts on the topic from him. Elsewhere, he said he always saw himself as more of a DJ than musician, but also never thought he was particularly technical on the decks.
Post link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ5TVQ6CaZe/?img_index=4&igsh=OW5wdGdkazU3YWh1
There's more beyond what I've written in this segment, so definitely check the post out if you haven't yet!
Modestep announce new label
New Dubstep label alert! Whether this is a solely Josh-from-Modestep venture, or coming from the whole band, I don't know, but it's official - there's a new imprint in the scene attached to the UK outfit called umad? In the announcement post, the commentary said 'The times are changing. A new wave of talent is emerging back in the [UK] capital. The sound we all once loved is here again. And all it needs to grow is a home'. In the caption, Josh wrote about 'artists who aren't changing formulas or trends but creating because they have something to say. Seeing that movement grow made me realise it was time to build something around it'. This sounds exciting!
Announcement reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZ-XWjnsIey/?igsh=MWt0bXo2cG14bzY0ZA==
Quite which artists he means, and precisely what kind of Dubstep he's trying to bring back in, I'm not entirely sure. But it's really nice to see an artist as big as Modestep make a concerted effort to bring the true origins of Dubstep back into the mainstream. I wish him / them well on this new venture!
New NIMDA EP drops
STUPID UK TEAROUT BABY. The genre's undeniably biggest artist right now, Nimda, dropped his latest batch of tracks last Friday to wanting Bass fans all over the world. The project is called 'HATRED REIGNS I' and consists of 4 main tracks, plus a 48-second introduction. Interestingly, it didn't drop on his own MENTIS record label. The 'I' in the collection's title suggests that there'll be several editions of this EP - could they then form to become a bigger project? Who knows, but for now it's just great to get a first multi-track release from him since March 2023's Retaliate. I streamed my coverage of the EP last weekend, the video for which is now up on the channel - link below!
Vid link: https://youtu.be/7-8bA6Wvarg?is=lw-0mcW37x3vFXBZ
Soltan shares open post and announces new EP
As you all know, in the last few weeks I've written about a few very open posts from producers in the Bass scene, and how welcomed they've been by everyone in the community. Well, last week we got another one, and this time from Soltan. In a 10-part Instagram carousel post, the Iranian artist told fans and followers of the alias' recent history, where he nearly gave up making Dubstep to release House, felt constantly rejected by his peers, and generally felt more disappointed than determined. However, he turned everything around following that January 2025 slump, the details of which I'll leave to your discovery because it's a very heart-warming, inspiring, empowering read. As per, link below!
Post link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ-RB64Dk4y/?img_index=5&igsh=bm8zZXdheW9pdjFt
He also mentioned (slide 7) that, following his recent single release with Dr Mad titled 'Nishapur' for Never Say Die, that he has a finished EP that he's 'excited to share soon'. Though he contextualised that, and his recent overall upturn, within the ongoing war with the US. If ever you need to remind yourself that times can be tougher as a producer / DJ, definitely look to this post!
Big Bass releases of the week
As well as the new NIMDA project, there were notable EP drops from Ophion and Bassfreak in the Dubstep underground, as well as a debut one from Sleepnet and Former as ring noord. The biggest compilation release came in the form of PhaseOne-owned Sounds of Mayhem's The Uprising V, whilst lesser-known gem Ethanplus put out his latest album Machines. Singles-wise, I'll point you guys in the direction of new tracks from Teddy Pain x DJ Diesel et al (reaction up on this Patreon), Barely Alive & TYNAN, Ray Volpe & Kai Wachi, Boogie T x Dodge & Fuski and Alix Perez. Happy listening! 💙
DISCUSSION
Figure's remix contest
Seeing this tweet blew my mind in several ways, I can't lie. I'm not quite at the level yet of being able to spot that music is AI-generated straight away, so when someone says they can tell when a track is 'fully AI' - as Figure said in his tweet (below) - it always takes me aback. Moreover, the fact that half the submitted remixes for a Figure remix contest - a big, notable producer, so that'll be a fair few tracks - are entirely AI-generated is all kinds of baffling, depressing, and everything in between.
I don't really have much more to say about this, because what else is there to say by this point? It's awful. How have we already got this far past the breaching point? We could genuinely reach a point where, once AI-generated music becomes normalised enough, people actually forget how to make music themselves. Granted, that likely won't happen in our lifetimes, but you can see what's happening here can't you? The more you use AI, the lazier you become, and the less motivated you feel to create, research, or do literally anything yourself. Who in their right mind would want to be a part of that now, and potentially shape that bleak future for future inhabitants of this world?
That being said, at least I now have a more surefire way of telling when music is AI-generated, as detailed by Figure and one of the repliers to his tweet (below). We must combat this together, otherwise the wider industry we know and love - let alone just the Bass scene - will be in absolute tatters before we know it.
FUNNIES // COOL STUFF
Another BTSM AI post
Black Tiger Sex Machine continue to fight the good fight, and be vocal in the charge against AI use in the music scene. This time, their words are centred more around the visual side of music - artwork, event flyers etc - and the point stands just as much as with the music itself. FUCK AI.
Post link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaB2woNFoCq/?igsh=MW03b2t0eW50Z3cydA==
A truly funny analogy
And on the subject of AI-generated art ... yeah, this gave me a good little chuckle.
Flex Poovilion
One more AI-related thing from the Bass music scene last week that genuinely had me chortling. Absolutely outrageous that a website could post this, rather than an actual, genuine picture of Flux Pavilion. At least there's an AI sticker on it for transparency? Eh.
Time to go back, SHAQ?
This is mad, to be fair. Given how impressive this shot is, and how run-of-the-mill his music releases are, maybe it's time for him to transition back to basketball playing?
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaH5kXtTJl5/?igsh=MWJ1bWVqbHQ1MTNnNQ==
A riDICKulous supergroup
Something that just had to be shared, sorry. It's a group that basically already exists, but that acronym is simply sensational.
Big up Isonant by the way, check his tunes here: https://soundcloud.com/isonant
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Did I miss anything from the last week in Bass music? Let me know below! 😌