Zeds Dead and REAPER, Kromestar, SEEK, Sling Wave, and QZB dropped fire new music bass tracks the week of January 22.
As the New Year gets into full swing, we are seeing countless festival and tour announcements and plenty of fresh bass music releases. This week, some iconic shows happened over the weekend in London that caused some serious global commotion in the scene and major FOMO from us dubstep fans over here in the States.
Alix Perez‘s 1985 Music took over London’s famous Roundhouse venue while Dubstep pioneers Skream and Benga got together for the first time in years for Boiler Room. The videos we saw confirmed these were two unmissable events.
Additionally, the community continued to make their voices heard this week when it comes to not allowing predators in the scene. An Atlanta venue heard more than enough backlash to make them cancel an upcoming Bassnectar event, even releasing a statement apologizing and stating that their event space did not condone supporting abusers.
While there was plenty of new music this week to choose from, we’ve narrowed it down to five of the tracks we think stood out the most, from dubstep to drum and bass. Whether you’re a fan of heavy, mainstage bass hits or deeper cuts, we feature it all in our IDcharts. Read on for this week’s hottest releases.
Read along for more information on five fresh tracks that dropped this week, and listen to more bass music curations on EDM Identity’s Colossal Commotion and Drum & Bass Delights playlists for the latest tracks updated weekly.
Bass Music IDchart 001 – January 22-28, 2024
Kromestar – The Progress, Pt. 2
Bass music Pioneer Kromestar has a famous track that dubstep fans know and love called “The Progress.” First released in 2016 via Library Music, it would end up one of his most popular for its timeless sound and addicting headnod beat. To kick off the New Year, he decided to treat fans to a re-release with Nebula Music Group that included a never-heard “Part 2” to the iconic track.
The synths and subtle details remain in tune with the original track while introducing a new beat all its own. The source material proved timeless because of its classic sound and ease of listening. The same rings true of the sequel.
Zeds Dead & REAPER – Back Bus
Catchy jump-up DnB and dubstep collide when the sounds of Zeds Dead and REAPER — and, in this case, Deadbeats and Brownies & Lemonade — come together. Grime vocals introduce the track before it takes off into a drum and bass-fueled ride suitable for any high-energy dancefloor. Zeds Dead’s signature synths can be heard throughout as Reaper intertwines his trademark tempo to get things into a fast-paced groove. The pace slows down and gets even heavier for the finale, ushering in a thoughtful tempo change.
The track premiered as a part of the Deadbeats and Brownies compilation, where the two beloved labels came together for a collection of 15 tracks as well as an unforgettable show in Los Angeles. We know this project is just the start of plenty more adventures to come from the two influential imprints.
Sling Wave – Hotwheel
Denver-based Dubstep producer Sling Wave has made his debut on TRUTH‘s Deep, Dark, and Dangerous this week in the form of a four-track EP. With previous support from labels like WiddFam and Subline Audio, this release was a long time coming and marked a career-boosting milestone for Sling Wave.
Our favorite track among these was easily the finale, “Hotwheel,” where Sling Wave brings listeners deep into a dark and cavernous journey of sound. The low-end and satisfying 140 tempo hit perfectly in this track, and this release makes us eager to hear what more will come from Sling Wave.
SEEK – DEBUNK
Among the milestones for amazing underground artists, this week is SEEK‘s debut project on VEIL‘s Street Ritual. Filled with dubstep goodness, it’s difficult to pick just one track from his METHOD EP, but “DEBUNK” is already a clear favorite amongst fans and other artists alike. Some of the hottest tracks in dubstep right now intertwine riddim-inspired flair with a low-end 140 beat, and that’s exactly what SEEK did with this track.
It’s safe to say tastemakers had their ears on this release, given that videos circulated of Skream dropping “DEBUNK” during his Boiler Room set this past weekend. It’s a well-deserved full-circle moment for SEEK as a rising artist, and we can’t wait to hear what else he’s working on.
QZB – Fix You ft. Sydney Bryce
This week’s IDchart wouldn’t be complete without some feel-good vibes in the mix. QZB teamed up with vocalist Sydney Bryce for “Fix You” as part of Critical Music‘s first release of 2024, and it’s a drum and bass delight you’ll want to run back.
The vocals from Sydney Bruce float amongst ascending percussion and acute details that come together with its fast tempo to make a gorgeous sonic masterpiece. A timeless aesthetic encapsulates the drum pattern and melody of “Fix You,” while the lyrics give the track a modern twist and make it hard not to fall in love at first listen.
