Author Archives: Bassweight Society

Forward >>> We March!

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Lately, as we look around, there is entirely too much hating going on.  Too many jaded souls that feel that feel they have the right to determine when a genre is dead.  It is honestly mind-blowing.  Dubstep has always been about pushing boundaries, sub frequencies, and uniquity.  Considering that all three of the aforementioned traits are still EVER-PRESENT, there is no possible way that the music we love so much had died.  While many people’s claims that the current state of dubstep is “too commercialized” , “every song sounds the same”, or ” it’s no longer underground” do have strains of validity, they are in no way suited for generalizations.  Many artists have reached unimagined levels of acclaim for sounds that are over-produced, but these people in no way encompass dubstep, musically or culturally.  If you listen to song after song and truly say to yourself that they all sound the same then you don’t have a grip on what is being put out, or reality for that matter.  The complaint that Dubstep is no longer underground is tired, useless, and blatantly incorrect.  Although a particular niche (brostep) of dubstep has gained a large amount of hype in the past couple years, this doesn’t mean that dubstep, as a whole, is no longer underground.  Just open your eyes and look around!  You will find underground culture still in large effect in every country, city, or province.  Dubstep is so multifaceted that making any generalization will leave you standing in the wrong.  As stated by Goth-Trad in his recent Resident Advisor interview, “dubstep is very progressive, there are no rules…”.

Today’s post has the purpose of reminding you that dubstep is in no way, shape, or form, dead.  The artists and songs that we have chosen for today are examples of music that is the complete opposite of commercialized, songs that all sound very different, and songs that represent the still-live underground culture of dubstep/bass music.

The first producer that fits into this category is the one, and only, Goth-Trad.  This man has been making dubstep since the term hadn’t even been coined yet.  During the early 2000’s the artists who are now credited with the formation of dubstep (Skream, Benga, Goth-Trad, Hatcha, etc.) were just making beats.  It was all about experimentation, innovation, and limitlessness.  They had no idea what they were making but they were just doing it.  Goth-Trad is still making his music under these rules.  Goth-Trad is one of the few producers today that when you hear a track of his you immediately know it’s Goth-Trad.  Now, don’t get it twisted, that is not to say that all of his productions sound the same, because his sounds are all very diverse.  But, his style of production is very unique so when you hear a tune of his, you immediately know.  Already having too many releases under his belt to mention, Goth-Trad has a full-length album due out in February of this year on the Deep Medi imprint.  The highly anticipated album, ‘New Epoch’, was, in part, inspired by the devastating earthquakes that terrorized Japan this past year.  Read more about how the earthquake effected the album/the man here.  We have two songs from the ‘New Epoch’ album for your ears today.  The first track, ‘Departure’, is like riding through the subway systems at extremely high-speeds while everything around you in moving in slow-motion.  The tune in an absolute gem suited for any occasion.  The second track, titled ‘New Epoch’,

Goth-Trad – Departure

Goth-Trad – New Epoch (sorry for the radio rip)

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The next artist that we want to highlight is a Finnish producer who goes by the name LAS (Love and Sound).  First caught wind of this guy when, during the latter part of 2011, Black Box released his track titled ‘Power Surge’.  Now, with many more releases lined up, he is finally beginning to receive the attention that he deserves.  The tracks that we have for you today are both really cool.  The first one, ‘Mental Judgement’, is forthcoming on Box Clever (offshoot of Black Box).  The track has a very nice incorporation of percussion that keeps the feet shuffling, and a soundscape that vibes eerie throughout.  The second track, ‘He Ha Ho’, utilizes a really sick vocal sample, emitting the laugh of a monster from some sci-fi movie (we would imagine).  The minimalist approach on this tune was perfectly executed.  Show some love to LAS is you haven’t already!

LAS – Mental Judgement

LAS – He Ha Ho

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The last artist that we want to highlight really caught us off-guard!  We were introduced to his sounds after the boys at Trusik:Dubstep did a little highlight on him right before the new year.  This Dutchman, Camu, has taken the eternal phrase of “meditate on bassweight” to a new plateau.  The clips that we have for you today will send you on a journey through tribal hallucinations, spiritual cleansing, and extremely powerful sub frequencies.  He has already received support on Rinse FM for a couple of his previous productions and if he keeps putting out tunes in the manner he has been, he’s going to be a quick-rising sensation for all the deep heads.  The first tune, ‘Asmat’, made me laugh with excitement because it was so good right off the bat.  This track honestly will put you into the jungle.  The atmospheric production is absolutely amazing.  The second tune, ‘You Are’, is a seemingly flawless fusion of sounds.  Again on a tribal vibe, this track has bit more dance appeal than the previous.  Enjoy!  And try not to drool all over your computer.

Camu – Asmat

Camu – You Are

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Alright everybody hope these sounds will ease you into the weekend, nice and steady.  We will see you all on Monday with a fresh batch of dankness that we always bring to the table.  Be safe and, most importantly, be present.

To the gods.

-Bassweight Society (Kinman)

Dub Down Babylon!

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Wag wan bredren, yes I!  Thursday is here, meaning that the weekend is right around the corner.  We wanted to bring you some tunes that would get you out of that work mode and ease you into the freedom that the weekend brings.  Today’s focus is going to be on Dub Reggae influenced riddim’s, tunes that incorporate elements of rasta in their production.  It is crucial to appreciate the Dub Reggae influences in the music that we listen to.  All bass music has stemmed from a root that leads back to Dub-Reggae one way or another.  From Jamaican soundsystems with selectahs holding it down on 7″ platters, to influences like King Tubby and his innovative role as a mixing engineer/producer, Dubstep would not have evolved without the help of past soldiers pushing the growth of Roots-Reggae.

The first tunes we bring to you are from an artist from Poland that has consistently provided Reggae infused dubs over the years.  He goes by the name Radikal Guru.  Earlier this year, in October, he dropped a record titled the ‘Rootsteppa’.  With the title of the album used perfectly to indicate the vibe that you’re about to enter when listening to this album, he lays down 12 riddim’s full of Reggae drums and high-quality basslines for listeners to enjoy.  Some tunes have vocals while others are straight forward dubs.  A couple tunes to highlight from the album are ‘Wisdom Dub’ and ‘Tundra Dub’.

Wisdom Dub comes in with a sitar-like intro met with BIG kick drums and a beautifully delayed Reggae horn.  When the tune drops, the combination of bassline, weegie board snares, and horns creates 5 minutes of listening pleasure.

Radikal Guru – Wisdom Dub

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Tundra Dub starts off real nice with the combination of horns, piano, snar, and delayed vocals to mesmerize you.  The tune rocks steady for its entirety, showing the value in its production.

Radikal Guru – Tundra Dub

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The next tune we have for you is one forthcoming on Moonshine Recordings, the primary label for Radikal Guru’s releases.  The tune, titled Cry Murda, by JingBong Ting ft. Ziggi is a massive deep riddim’ laced with sick vocals throughout.  With remixes by Ho T and Roommate, this track will be a massive release when it hits the streets next Monday, January 16 as a digital release.  Classic piano chords and Ziggi chanting rasta flows make this one a great gem for kicking back to or throwing into sets.  Guaranteed to make listeners swagga’.  Check for the bass distortions near the end of the tune and make sure to check the remixes.  Roommate brings his vibes into da’ ting’, while Ho T gives a classic jungle take on it.  Tell a soundbwoy run!

JingBong Ting ft. Ziggi – Cry Murda + Remixes

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The last tune is SO FRESH!  We can’t wait to get our hands on it!  Die & Break recently came out with a video for their new single, Peace & Dub, featuring vocals from MC’s Fats and Buggsy.  Forthcoming on Digital Soundboy as part of the Grand Funk Hustle EP, this is one to watch out for.  With the date of release unknown, it may be a bit of time before you find yourself bagging it if you know what I mean.  Real live sounding drum kits, ragga chants, spot on vocals from Fats and epic flows from bugsy, you can expect this one to be tearing up dance floors for some time.  Kick back and enjoy!

Die & Break – Peace & Dub

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Hope you guys enjoyed the sounds!  We will be coming at you with much more rasta love in the future as this was just a mere fraction of the large tunes out there that fall into this category.

AIYO!

-BWS (Lowkey)

Rewind Wednesday! Timeless Tunage

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Respect!  Here we go with another Rewind Wednesday.  This week is featuring some, as the title states, absolutely timeless music.  Hope you enjoy the sounds!

The first tune that we want shout out is one written by the Dubstep messiah, Mala.  Currently in the lead for the DSF awards‘ “Best Producer” category, this tune, although on the older side, showcases the skills and heart that have earned Mala this standing.  The tune, titled ‘Miracles’, is one of the BWS all-time favorites.  The vocal samples put into this track speak so much truth and really hit home for those who have followed the genres progression from early on, and even those new to the game.  The claim of “soundsystems have done miracles” could not ring more true, especially once you here this tune on a proper set of speakers.  The sub-heavy, reggae-influenced, and groove-filled production perfectly exemplifies the timelessness that Mala institutes into, literally, EVERY SINGLE PRODUCTION of his.  This man is truly an inspiration.  One out to the badman Mala, who will never read this post.  Just for shits and giggles.

Mala – Miracles

This next tune hails from across the seas on the small island of Japan.  Goth-Trad, the bassweight samurai as we like to call him, has been making music since a lot of us were still young children.  Stated by Kode9, this  is a “one-man army who has been changing the UK continuum from Japan”.  BWS would full-heartedly back up this statement.  His ‘Babylon Fall’ EP that was released in 2011 was an absolute smasher, and the highly anticipated full-length album, ‘New Epoch’, will be released sometime in February of this year.  The tune that we have for you today, ‘Cut End’, was released back in 2007 on the Deep Medi imprint and is truly a heavyweight anthem.  With asianic strings hooking you from the beginning this tune progresses into irie horns, reverb drenched stabs, and a wall of bass that makes the Great Wall of China look like a picket fence in suburbia.  Mad respect out to Goth-Trad!

Goth-Trad – Cut End

Next up to bat for all the heads is a tune that quite a bit different from the above.  The Glasglow based producer, Rustie, has been pushing some of the most feel-good music for the later part of the 2000’s.  His dance-filled interpretations of Bass music are not only unique, but just plain incredible!  On collaborations with the purple king himself, Joker, Russel Whyte has made quite the imprint, on an international level.  This tune was released in 2008 and is titled ‘Zig Zag’.  As stated above, it’s a bit different, so make sure you press play with an open mind on this one!

Rustie – Zig Zag

The last track we want to leave you with is ‘50,000 Watts’, produced by Matty G.  This tune BLEW up the west coast and most importantly, Matty G.  Although he had already had releases prior to this tune, it wasn’t until Joe Nice starting playing this out on Gourmet Beats radio and at the DMZ nights that Santa Cruz native Matty G was literally known by every head in the Dubstep scene.  An absolutely massive bassline, a mad-catchy vocal sample, and perfect timing put this tune down in the history books to never be forgotten, or at least we hope!  Lend your ears, children.

Matty G – 50,000 Watts

There it is everybody!  Enjoy the sounds, and pay your respects to the artists.  Check back tomorrow as Bassweight Society takes a look at the influence Reggae has had on the formation/perpetuation of Dubstep.

One love.

-Bassweight Society

Future Jungle – An Introduction

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Hello once again everybody.  By now, you have all most likely broken your new year’s eve resolutions so….cheers! Going into 2012 we have a lot of sounds, artists, and labels to be looking out for, and at BWS we like to focus our efforts on doing just that. Today’s post is a brief introduction into future jungle, a sound that is gradually gaining popularity and still has room for growth and evolution.

Future jungle – also dubbed as 140 jungle – seems to make sense to dubstep enthusiasts, and you’ll see why. Future j’s upbeat sound takes from Jungle’s use of pacey amen breaks, set at a lower tempo – 140bpm. It also revives a lot of other sounds from early jungle such as speedy chord progressions, punchy sub hits laced with rolling basslines and the essential ragga vocal. When combined successfully the tracks create an atmosphere of a smoky, lazer-lined warehouse packed at 4.a.m. One artist who would be headlining this rave is Arc 88.

Take a minute or two to explore his Soundcloud especially his most recent track, ‘Pelican’ and his release on Terrain Records, ‘2 Many’. Both tunes exemplify what we think is a good representation of the 140 lovechild of jungle and dubstep.

Arc88 – Pelican

Arc88 – 2 Many

Larger artists are embracing the sound as well. Check out this 145 bpm Goldie remix of Joker‘s ‘On My Mind’ ft William Cartwright:

Hopefully these tracks took you back in time, and now you’re looking forward to the sounds to come, and remember, this is just and introduction to sound that is still largely undefined (we’re still hesitant about sticking a name on it). We’ll be back next week with more tunes and some firsthand insight from artists themselves. Stay Tuned!

To wrap up this post we have a special Future Jungle mix from local Santa Barbara artist and selecta – Archive. We asked him to put this mix together for us because he’s been pushing the sound in his sets, and is a great resource when finding new tracks and artists. Archive’s appreciation for 140 Jungle stems from his deep jungle/drum and bass roots and his love for deep sub heavy dubstep. Please give the mix a listen, it is absolute FIRE, no joke! Tracks are posted on his Soundcloud, and check back in a week for a follow up post.

Archive – Bassweight Society Mix

Peace!

-BWS (Shice)

Mix Mondays: Weight For The Week

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What up everybody!  We hope ya’ll had a great weekend, we most certainly did.  BWS co-founder, Shice, tore up the streets of Santa Barbara at the Santa Babylon party featuring headliner Esh-One from New Mexico.  Always a good time with the Santa Babylon boys!

We’re back with another installment of Mix Monday, and we, as always, have some heaters for your ears.

The first mix that we have for everybody is one built by Birmingham based producer/DJ, ENIGMA.  This mix, done for the Dubheadz crew, is jam-packed with HUGE tunes.  Sub-frequencies emitting at the most powerful level, mixing skills on point, and a track selection of the highest caliber, this mix will set your head straight.  Starting things off with one of his own productions, titled ‘Lights Out’, you will be instantly hooked by the lurky sounds of this mix.  Starting off with the melodic, atomospheric bass music that ENIGMA does so well, the mix slowly rises to it’s peak, causing panic on the dance.  Being a seasoned musician since the age of 5, ENIGMA is no stranger to finding a proper balance within his sounds, as shown in his productions and mixes.  So, lend an ear and enjoy!

ENIGMA DUBZ – ‘Mix for Dubheadz’

The next mix that we have for you is one done by BWS founder, Kinman.  This all-vinyl mix showcases some of the largest tunes produced in 2011.  Starting off with ‘Celestial Dub’, a tune produced by Coki, the mix progresses into the soulful productions of Antiserum, Ill-Esha, and Author, then taking off into a realm of mad percussion and chestplate-shaking frequencies.  So many HUGE double-drops lined up in this one.  Sit back, light one up, and enjoy the deep sounds of Killawatt, Benton, DJ MADD, District, Headhunter, and many more.  Nuff’ said!

Kinman – Bassweight Sessions Volume 2 (ALL-VINYL)

The last mix that we have for you, Jah’s children, is one done by the recently added BWS artist, Lowkey.  Long-time Bass enthusiast, Lowkey sets the vibe right with some of the most purple sounding dance floor rhythms that are available at the moment.  Featuring artists such as Joker, Kavsrave, Icicle, and Distance, this is nothing short of a heavyweight anthem.  An entry in a recent mixtape competition, the mix displays a keen ear, seasoned mixing skills, and an overall good vibe.  Take a listen and show some love to Lowkey.

Lowkey – Jah Know

That’s the word this week, as far as mixes.  Again, in case you forgot, we will now be featuring a post  everyday, Monday – Friday.  Be sure to check in tomorrow as we have a very special highlight on 140 Jungle.

Enjoy the sounds.

To the Gods.

-Bassweight Society