Page 1 failed to load.
Nawtystep - Big Bass Bulletin - October 12th
More from Nawtystep
Nawtystep - Big Bass Bulletin - November 2nd
About This Title
It's Monday, and so time for a new BBB!
(Slightly delayed as I've done the whole thing on my phone while travelling back from Prague and it's been a complete ballache)
ENJOY
—
NEWS
Bass Vocalist Sam King passes
In some of the saddest Bass-related news of recent times, it was reported last week that renowned singer and rapper of the scene Sam King passed away. King was the voice behind some of the biggest tracks of the modern Bass era, in particular 'Break It Down' with Snails & Space Laces and 'Kamikaze' with Kai Wachi, but most notably 'G-Shit' alongside father of the scene, and Lost Lands founder, Jeff Abel, aka Excision. He also worked alongside Abel on the title track for his Lockdown EP with Wooli. It has not been reported, or widely known, how old King was when he passed, or the reason for his death.
Artists in the community took to social media in their droves to both celebrate King and send their condolensces, with the likes of Abel, Space Laces, Ghastly, Snails and more posting their thoughts and feelings to Instagram. It's clear he was a very loved member of the scene, whilst other accounts of him outside of the electronic music world were shared across social media too. His artistry clearly stretched far beyond music into other fields I personally didn't even know he'd explored.
Whilst his contributions to Bass music weren't as regular in recent years, he still stands as one of the vocal legends of the scene given the character he lent to such iconic tracks within the mid-2010s era especially, when dubstep went through significant changes as Brostep took its stranglehold in the industry. He was a cherished figure, and someone whose personality, creativity and overall presence will be sorely missed by all involved and invested in Bass culture.
Rest in power, Sam King
MUSIC
A big week for Bass albums
Last week was a significant week for albums in Bass music, not in terms of volume but in terms of the names that shared new, full-length LPs with wanting fans the world over. The biggest surprise was ISOxo dropping his sophomore / second album, titled Hardcore Diva. After rumours started circulating online that ISO - real name Julian Isorena - would be dropping a new batch of tracks out of nowhere, the young producer posted officially just hours before its drop. The LP contains 12 tracks and features collaborations with the likes of Madeon, Syzy, Nitepunk and more. I'm hoping to hop on twitch tomorrow to stream my reaction to it, so do make sure to tune in at twitch.tv/nawtystep at roughly 9pm GMT!
I will also be giving my reaction and thoughts on the new Chase & Status album Generic Everything, which came out last Friday too, and constitutes as the British duo's 7th studio LP. As reported in a previous BBB, this collection features team-ups with Little Simz, D Double E and Skrillex again. That Skrillex collab, 'Essa Ta Quente', was the first single drop for the album. I've mentioned it before, but it really is a great time at the moment for Bass music fans that have enough of an attention span to sit through an album from start to finish. Hopefully both of these deliver the goods in multiple ways - I'll be finding out tomorrow for sure!
G Jones & Space Laces 2.0
Oh Lordy, this is a bit of a heater. Following up on their snippet collaboration 'RAZOR SHARP' being released on Space Laces' November 2025 Vaultage 004 project, G Jones shared a clip of another collab between him and the Mix King to social media last week. This ID is yet to be named, but sees the pair teaming up to fantastic effect yet again. Often you get producers working together, and the conjoining of styles doesn't really work, or even feel worth it, but this is no such example of that, not even close. The two aesthetics blend so succinctly, with G Jones' classic rave elements perfectly complementing Space Laces' gritty, technological aesthetic. Plus the idea itself is extremely riveting and well-cut, typical of both their styles.
Could there be a world in which a full version of 'RAZOR SHARP' and this newer ID drop together as an A/B, or double single release? I imagine that could be what happens, because stylistically they'd fit together well in one little package. Let's see how these two legends of the modern Bass era go about bringing the full tunes into the world!
ID clip: https://x.com/gjonesbass/status/2108235430307274789/video/1?s=46
Another new Zomboy tune
More zombie dubstep man in 2026! Joshua Mellody, aka Zomboy, unleashed yet another single on wanting fans last week, an apparent howitzer of a track titled 'Build Me Up' that has fans across the scene raving about his recent output even more than immediate previous tunes of his such as 'Royal Blood' and 'Emulator'. I say 'apparent' because I've yet to hear it, but have seen the general feedback for it being especially praise-worthy. This new cut follows up other 2026 tunes from Mellody such as 'Bromance Is Dead' and the mesmeric 'Time Machine' with BARELY ALIVE which released on Monstercat.
I'd be very surprised if Mellody was simply putting out a string of singles with similar artworks, with no overarching thing connecting them, such as an extensive project to put them all in perhaps. Watch this space, we must ...
Track link: https://on.soundcloud.com/uRzEdZS4KaB2cCYV4Z
The final Chef Boyarbeatz track
The time has, unfortunately, finally come. Last Friday, icon of the dubstep underground Chef Boyarbeatz hung up his boots for that alias in releasing his final track under that moniker, titled 'One More Tune', releasing on Truth's legendary label Deep Dark & Dangerous. The artist, real name Joseph Kopenheffer, took to social media to announce this final hurrah for the project - the name being a comical play on the US tinned food brand Chef Boyardee.
Thankfully, Koppenheffer is not stopping with his musical output any time soon, and will start releasing music under a new alias in the near future. Said new venture has not been officially announced yet, so be sure to follow his Chef B pages to be kept up to date with what he'll be doing in late 2026 and beyond. I've talked to him about this next step and it sounds great, so be sure to lock in to all developments with it!
Track link: https://on.soundcloud.com/miZAF3fg5EWuLv8nPi
Big Bass releases of the week
Singles singles singles everybody!
Check out the latest releases from: Virtual Riot & Whales, Dillon Francis, Hamdi & D Double E, Kai Wachi, Sharks (A/B), HOL!, Skybreak & HAAi and borne. Happy listening!
DISCUSSION
Is 140 turning into Riddim?
This thought has been laying dormant in my head for a few months, and fully crystallised last week after listening to a particular string of EPs in a row. They were all 140-leaning projects, by which I mean not the dubstep BPM broadly speaking, but the specific modern iteration of that genre with the shuffly UKG-esque drums and generally strong UK influence. I don't know about you guys, but to me a lot of that style sounds very similar now, something that other significant recent sub-genres of dubstep - Brostep and Riddim - also went through in a big way. But has that development occurred in quite the same fashion?
As for my question at the end of the previous paragraph, I'd say yes for the most part. As with Brostep and Riddim, there's the initial excitement surrounding the aesthetic, then bigger producers trying it out, then many other artists deploying the same techniques, sounds and ideas over and over, and then the general approach ultimately becoming stale.
I will say, to me at least, it feels like Brostep in particular had more staying power, simply because there seemed to be a bigger gap between it first becoming popular, and becoming boring thereafter. Think of the length of time between Rusko popularising that aggressive, electrifying dubstep sound, and it becoming definitively same-y and repetitive by 2015 or so. Some might even say it only really started getting boring in 2016. Riddim essentially took its place in 2016/17 in terms of popularity, and started becoming meh only a couple of years into its dominant era. However, that's only my take, and says a lot for my general feelings towards that more straightforward, less adventurous, style of dubstep. Others will say Riddim has never been boring, and is very much still alive and kicking 10 years on.
Hamdi ignited the 140 flame with 2023's 'Skanka': can we say, just 3 years on, that form of dubstep delivery is already entering its 'heard this so many times before' stage? To me at least, it does feel that way, but maybe that's to be expected. As more time passes, technology become more and more available to people, and musical watering down becomes more and more prevalent. The good material is definitely there, though I think we have to be wary of driving what is a mostly very-well produced and arranged sub-genre into the ground, to the point no one wants to make it anymore because it's been done to death, and the impression is that there are no more ideas left to give. But you know, there'll always be more innovation around the corner to look forward to!
I'm interested in your thoughts on subject guys, so please do drop them in the comments section below!
FUNNIES // COOL STUFF
Some new i_o insight
A good reel here from producer B-Sides on what it was like mentoring the late, great Techno artist i_o, who passed in November 2020. This is great to watch if you were a fan of i_o's, and even if you weren't to be honest, just to get an insight into how many electronic producers work and function.
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DePUHhHv97S/?xtok=eW43cHZzOTh0d3ds
Visuals for Excision B2B Space Laces
Insane, just absolutely insane. Levitate very much picking up where he left off with VAULTAGE 004, and other recent Space Laces projects. Stellar work!
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeNaV1Vj61v/?img_index=2&exln=MXcwNDJsd3E3cG9ncQ==
ASSNECTAR AMIRITE??
Yep, nuff said in all honesty.
Deadmau5 new Skrillex lore
Someone tried to give some serious Skrillex lore, and was checked somewhat by Deadmau5. Respectfully so, but still ... it had to be done!
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeMyPVWxQPm/?srtk=YnF3cjVvZHJwOTI4
—
Did I miss anything from the last week in Bass music? Let me know below!
It's Monday, and so time for a new BBB!
(Slightly delayed as I've done the whole thing on my phone while travelling back from Prague and it's been a complete ballache)
ENJOY
—
NEWS
Bass Vocalist Sam King passes
In some of the saddest Bass-related news of recent times, it was reported last week that renowned singer and rapper of the scene Sam King passed away. King was the voice behind some of the biggest tracks of the modern Bass era, in particular 'Break It Down' with Snails & Space Laces and 'Kamikaze' with Kai Wachi, but most notably 'G-Shit' alongside father of the scene, and Lost Lands founder, Jeff Abel, aka Excision. He also worked alongside Abel on the title track for his Lockdown EP with Wooli. It has not been reported, or widely known, how old King was when he passed, or the reason for his death.
Artists in the community took to social media in their droves to both celebrate King and send their condolensces, with the likes of Abel, Space Laces, Ghastly, Snails and more posting their thoughts and feelings to Instagram. It's clear he was a very loved member of the scene, whilst other accounts of him outside of the electronic music world were shared across social media too. His artistry clearly stretched far beyond music into other fields I personally didn't even know he'd explored.
Whilst his contributions to Bass music weren't as regular in recent years, he still stands as one of the vocal legends of the scene given the character he lent to such iconic tracks within the mid-2010s era especially, when dubstep went through significant changes as Brostep took its stranglehold in the industry. He was a cherished figure, and someone whose personality, creativity and overall presence will be sorely missed by all involved and invested in Bass culture.
Rest in power, Sam King
MUSIC
A big week for Bass albums
Last week was a significant week for albums in Bass music, not in terms of volume but in terms of the names that shared new, full-length LPs with wanting fans the world over. The biggest surprise was ISOxo dropping his sophomore / second album, titled Hardcore Diva. After rumours started circulating online that ISO - real name Julian Isorena - would be dropping a new batch of tracks out of nowhere, the young producer posted officially just hours before its drop. The LP contains 12 tracks and features collaborations with the likes of Madeon, Syzy, Nitepunk and more. I'm hoping to hop on twitch tomorrow to stream my reaction to it, so do make sure to tune in at twitch.tv/nawtystep at roughly 9pm GMT!
I will also be giving my reaction and thoughts on the new Chase & Status album Generic Everything, which came out last Friday too, and constitutes as the British duo's 7th studio LP. As reported in a previous BBB, this collection features team-ups with Little Simz, D Double E and Skrillex again. That Skrillex collab, 'Essa Ta Quente', was the first single drop for the album. I've mentioned it before, but it really is a great time at the moment for Bass music fans that have enough of an attention span to sit through an album from start to finish. Hopefully both of these deliver the goods in multiple ways - I'll be finding out tomorrow for sure!
G Jones & Space Laces 2.0
Oh Lordy, this is a bit of a heater. Following up on their snippet collaboration 'RAZOR SHARP' being released on Space Laces' November 2025 Vaultage 004 project, G Jones shared a clip of another collab between him and the Mix King to social media last week. This ID is yet to be named, but sees the pair teaming up to fantastic effect yet again. Often you get producers working together, and the conjoining of styles doesn't really work, or even feel worth it, but this is no such example of that, not even close. The two aesthetics blend so succinctly, with G Jones' classic rave elements perfectly complementing Space Laces' gritty, technological aesthetic. Plus the idea itself is extremely riveting and well-cut, typical of both their styles.
Could there be a world in which a full version of 'RAZOR SHARP' and this newer ID drop together as an A/B, or double single release? I imagine that could be what happens, because stylistically they'd fit together well in one little package. Let's see how these two legends of the modern Bass era go about bringing the full tunes into the world!
ID clip: https://x.com/gjonesbass/status/2108235430307274789/video/1?s=46
Another new Zomboy tune
More zombie dubstep man in 2026! Joshua Mellody, aka Zomboy, unleashed yet another single on wanting fans last week, an apparent howitzer of a track titled 'Build Me Up' that has fans across the scene raving about his recent output even more than immediate previous tunes of his such as 'Royal Blood' and 'Emulator'. I say 'apparent' because I've yet to hear it, but have seen the general feedback for it being especially praise-worthy. This new cut follows up other 2026 tunes from Mellody such as 'Bromance Is Dead' and the mesmeric 'Time Machine' with BARELY ALIVE which released on Monstercat.
I'd be very surprised if Mellody was simply putting out a string of singles with similar artworks, with no overarching thing connecting them, such as an extensive project to put them all in perhaps. Watch this space, we must ...
Track link: https://on.soundcloud.com/uRzEdZS4KaB2cCYV4Z
The final Chef Boyarbeatz track
The time has, unfortunately, finally come. Last Friday, icon of the dubstep underground Chef Boyarbeatz hung up his boots for that alias in releasing his final track under that moniker, titled 'One More Tune', releasing on Truth's legendary label Deep Dark & Dangerous. The artist, real name Joseph Kopenheffer, took to social media to announce this final hurrah for the project - the name being a comical play on the US tinned food brand Chef Boyardee.
Thankfully, Koppenheffer is not stopping with his musical output any time soon, and will start releasing music under a new alias in the near future. Said new venture has not been officially announced yet, so be sure to follow his Chef B pages to be kept up to date with what he'll be doing in late 2026 and beyond. I've talked to him about this next step and it sounds great, so be sure to lock in to all developments with it!
Track link: https://on.soundcloud.com/miZAF3fg5EWuLv8nPi
Big Bass releases of the week
Singles singles singles everybody!
Check out the latest releases from: Virtual Riot & Whales, Dillon Francis, Hamdi & D Double E, Kai Wachi, Sharks (A/B), HOL!, Skybreak & HAAi and borne. Happy listening!
DISCUSSION
Is 140 turning into Riddim?
This thought has been laying dormant in my head for a few months, and fully crystallised last week after listening to a particular string of EPs in a row. They were all 140-leaning projects, by which I mean not the dubstep BPM broadly speaking, but the specific modern iteration of that genre with the shuffly UKG-esque drums and generally strong UK influence. I don't know about you guys, but to me a lot of that style sounds very similar now, something that other significant recent sub-genres of dubstep - Brostep and Riddim - also went through in a big way. But has that development occurred in quite the same fashion?
As for my question at the end of the previous paragraph, I'd say yes for the most part. As with Brostep and Riddim, there's the initial excitement surrounding the aesthetic, then bigger producers trying it out, then many other artists deploying the same techniques, sounds and ideas over and over, and then the general approach ultimately becoming stale.
I will say, to me at least, it feels like Brostep in particular had more staying power, simply because there seemed to be a bigger gap between it first becoming popular, and becoming boring thereafter. Think of the length of time between Rusko popularising that aggressive, electrifying dubstep sound, and it becoming definitively same-y and repetitive by 2015 or so. Some might even say it only really started getting boring in 2016. Riddim essentially took its place in 2016/17 in terms of popularity, and started becoming meh only a couple of years into its dominant era. However, that's only my take, and says a lot for my general feelings towards that more straightforward, less adventurous, style of dubstep. Others will say Riddim has never been boring, and is very much still alive and kicking 10 years on.
Hamdi ignited the 140 flame with 2023's 'Skanka': can we say, just 3 years on, that form of dubstep delivery is already entering its 'heard this so many times before' stage? To me at least, it does feel that way, but maybe that's to be expected. As more time passes, technology become more and more available to people, and musical watering down becomes more and more prevalent. The good material is definitely there, though I think we have to be wary of driving what is a mostly very-well produced and arranged sub-genre into the ground, to the point no one wants to make it anymore because it's been done to death, and the impression is that there are no more ideas left to give. But you know, there'll always be more innovation around the corner to look forward to!
I'm interested in your thoughts on subject guys, so please do drop them in the comments section below!
FUNNIES // COOL STUFF
Some new i_o insight
A good reel here from producer B-Sides on what it was like mentoring the late, great Techno artist i_o, who passed in November 2020. This is great to watch if you were a fan of i_o's, and even if you weren't to be honest, just to get an insight into how many electronic producers work and function.
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DePUHhHv97S/?xtok=eW43cHZzOTh0d3ds
Visuals for Excision B2B Space Laces
Insane, just absolutely insane. Levitate very much picking up where he left off with VAULTAGE 004, and other recent Space Laces projects. Stellar work!
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeNaV1Vj61v/?img_index=2&exln=MXcwNDJsd3E3cG9ncQ==
ASSNECTAR AMIRITE??
Yep, nuff said in all honesty.
Deadmau5 new Skrillex lore
Someone tried to give some serious Skrillex lore, and was checked somewhat by Deadmau5. Respectfully so, but still ... it had to be done!
Reel link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeMyPVWxQPm/?srtk=YnF3cjVvZHJwOTI4
—
Did I miss anything from the last week in Bass music? Let me know below!
Comments (0)