Bassline house
Encyclopedia
Bassline is a type of music related to UK garage
that originated from speed garage
, and shares characteristics with fellow subgenres dubstep
and grime
for their emphasis on bass. The style originated in Sheffield
around 2002.
Bassline has been at the centre of controversy in Sheffield due to a police raid on the former bassline club night Niche, after which the club closed down. Police raided the club amidst reports that the scene had been attracting violence, drug use and gang culture. Since it was the most popular bassline night in Sheffield prior to its closure, Niche is sometimes used as an alternative name for the musical genre. Like grime, bassline is still associated with violence, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
and grime
, bassline generally places a strong emphasis on bass, with intricate basslines (often multiple and interweaving) being characteristic of the genre. Bassline tracks use a four-to-the-floor beat. The music is often purely instrumental, but vocal techniques common in other styles of garage can also be present, such as female R&B
vocals sped up to match the faster tempo, and also samples of vocals from grime tracks. Most songs are around 135 to 142 bpm, faster than most UK garage
and around the same tempo as most grime and dubstep.
Bassline is gaining popularity on the pop charts and allegedly one reason for this is it appeals to both genders, while grime and dubstep gathered a predominantly male following.
The increased appeal of bassline may be in part due to the vocal contributions of female artists such as Jodie Aysha
. The lyrics of bassline are often focused on love and other issues that may be considered more feminine. In a blog posting, Simon Reynolds
described the bassline genre as "the drastic pendulum swing from yang to yin
, testosterone
to oestrogen, that I had always imagined would happen in reaction to grime, except it took so long to happen I gave up on it and just forgot." It has been argued that grime and dubstep originated in turn from "an over-reaction - to the 'feminine pressure' of late-'90s 2-step."
Together with its return to feminine-style music, bassline is said to embrace pop music aesthetics, and to have a euphoric, exuberant quality similar to that of earlier British rave music - both also in contrast to grime and dubstep.
Bassline has been described as largely similar, and in some cases synonymous, with its precursor 2-step garage
, a description denied by proponents of the scene. The 4x4 beat of bassline has been noted as a difference between the two. Producer T2
maintains the genres share a common origin in house music
but are different sounds, while major bassline distributor and DJ Mystic Matt describes bassline as having a similar rhythm to UK garage, but that the strong emphasis on bass renders it a separate genre.
Bassline originated from the Niche Nightclub in Sheffield, which was closed down on November 27, 2005, following a police raid named "Operation Repatriation", where over 300 police officers raided the club, although no one was arrested. The police force had expressed fears that the scene attracted violence, gang culture and crime, largely from outside of Sheffield.
Sheffield's police force have stated "the only gun crime related to nightlife in Sheffield has been with bassline", and that many shooting
s, stabbing
s and drive-bys have occurred in and around bassline nightclubs including Niche. Steve Baxendale, the former owner of Niche Nightclub, has also expressed that the closure of the club that brought bassline into the spotlight has helped to increase the genre's popularity, but also that organising bassline nights has become significantly harder, as club owners are put off by its early history. In 2009, Baxendale opened another venue in Sheffield called Niche nightclub on charter Square located at different premises from the original Sidney Street building. It was briefly closed after another stabbing in 2010 but allowed to reopen as a members-only venue. As of 25 October 2010 the club has again been closed down permanently.
(Birmingham), the north of England and The London Borough of Enfield
until the release of T2
's single "Heartbroken" on All Around The World
, which attracted international attention, entering the music charts in several countries, including the UK singles chart
where it reached #2. Grime MC Skepta reported from a tour of several resorts in Greece
and Cyprus
in summer 2007 that the track was requested in clubs there. Additionally, the track received significant airplay on UK radio stations. Some music critics have said bassline is more mainstream-friendly than grime
, since it appeals more equally to both sexes, whereas grime gathered a predominantly male following.
In December 2007, a reworked version of Heartbroken, renamed "Jawbroken", created in aid of Ricky Hatton
's world title fight against Floyd Mayweather, was selected as warm-up music for the fight.
T2 has expressed that he is pleased with Heartbroken's success, and with bassline's emergence into the mainstream and its potential to become popular in the rest of the UK and internationally. After T2's success, H Two O released their single featuring the vocal group Platnum
, Whats It Gonna Be which reached number 7 in the national charts on downloads alone, rising to number 2 the following week, where it remained for the next 3 weeks. Later in the year, one of London's leading bassline producers, Delinquent, signed a deal with All Around The World
for another national release, My Destiny.
DJ Q (BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ) & MC Bonez signed a deal with Ministry of Sound
to release their single "You Wot" nationwide download and sale on 14 July 2008 & 21 July 2008 respectively. The video for the single has received airplay on notable TV Music stations such as MTV Base
. Also more recently, 23 Deluxe released their single "Show Me Happiness" which reached #2 in the Radio 1 Dance Singles Chart.
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
that originated from speed garage
Speed garage
Speed garage is a type of music, associated with UK garage and hard dance scenes.-Characteristics:Speed garage has sped-up NY garage 4-to-the-floor rhythms. Snares are placed as over the 2nd and the 4th kickdrums, so in other places of the drum pattern. Speed garage tunes have warp, heavy...
, and shares characteristics with fellow subgenres dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
and grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
for their emphasis on bass. The style originated in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
around 2002.
Bassline has been at the centre of controversy in Sheffield due to a police raid on the former bassline club night Niche, after which the club closed down. Police raided the club amidst reports that the scene had been attracting violence, drug use and gang culture. Since it was the most popular bassline night in Sheffield prior to its closure, Niche is sometimes used as an alternative name for the musical genre. Like grime, bassline is still associated with violence, anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
Characteristics
Like dubstepDubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
and grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
, bassline generally places a strong emphasis on bass, with intricate basslines (often multiple and interweaving) being characteristic of the genre. Bassline tracks use a four-to-the-floor beat. The music is often purely instrumental, but vocal techniques common in other styles of garage can also be present, such as female R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
vocals sped up to match the faster tempo, and also samples of vocals from grime tracks. Most songs are around 135 to 142 bpm, faster than most UK garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
and around the same tempo as most grime and dubstep.
Bassline is gaining popularity on the pop charts and allegedly one reason for this is it appeals to both genders, while grime and dubstep gathered a predominantly male following.
The increased appeal of bassline may be in part due to the vocal contributions of female artists such as Jodie Aysha
Jodie Aysha
Jodie Aysha Henderson, born in Leeds, is a British singer and song writer.-Biography:She is most recognised for collaborating with British Music Producer T2 on the song "Heartbroken" released in November 2007. Aysha wrote the song when she was 14 about her older sister who at the time was...
. The lyrics of bassline are often focused on love and other issues that may be considered more feminine. In a blog posting, Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds
Simon Reynolds is an English music critic who is well-known for his writings on electronic dance music and for coining the term "post-rock". Besides electronic dance music, Reynolds has written about a wide range of artists and musical genres, and has written books on post-punk and rock...
described the bassline genre as "the drastic pendulum swing from yang to yin
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
, testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
to oestrogen, that I had always imagined would happen in reaction to grime, except it took so long to happen I gave up on it and just forgot." It has been argued that grime and dubstep originated in turn from "an over-reaction - to the 'feminine pressure' of late-'90s 2-step."
Together with its return to feminine-style music, bassline is said to embrace pop music aesthetics, and to have a euphoric, exuberant quality similar to that of earlier British rave music - both also in contrast to grime and dubstep.
Bassline has been described as largely similar, and in some cases synonymous, with its precursor 2-step garage
2-step garage
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically English style of modern electronic dance music, and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage.A transcription of this article is available as a PDF file.-Characteristics:...
, a description denied by proponents of the scene. The 4x4 beat of bassline has been noted as a difference between the two. Producer T2
T2 (producer)
T2 is a British garage and bassline record producer. He has been mixing since his teens, and began releasing tracks in 2004. He is signed to management team NVA Management, owners of the 2NV record label. In 2007, his single "Heartbroken", featuring Jodie Aysha, hit #2 on the UK Singles Chart...
maintains the genres share a common origin in house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
but are different sounds, while major bassline distributor and DJ Mystic Matt describes bassline as having a similar rhythm to UK garage, but that the strong emphasis on bass renders it a separate genre.
The closure of Niche Nightclub
Sheffield's police force have stated "the only gun crime related to nightlife in Sheffield has been with bassline", and that many shooting
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
s, stabbing
Stabbing
A stabbing is penetration with a sharp or pointed object at close range. Stab connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others.Stabbing differs from slashing or cutting in that the motion of the object used in a stabbing...
s and drive-bys have occurred in and around bassline nightclubs including Niche. Steve Baxendale, the former owner of Niche Nightclub, has also expressed that the closure of the club that brought bassline into the spotlight has helped to increase the genre's popularity, but also that organising bassline nights has become significantly harder, as club owners are put off by its early history. In 2009, Baxendale opened another venue in Sheffield called Niche nightclub on charter Square located at different premises from the original Sidney Street building. It was briefly closed after another stabbing in 2010 but allowed to reopen as a members-only venue. As of 25 October 2010 the club has again been closed down permanently.
Emergence into the mainstream
Bassline still remained an underground scene in the West MidlandsWest Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
(Birmingham), the north of England and The London Borough of Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
until the release of T2
T2 (producer)
T2 is a British garage and bassline record producer. He has been mixing since his teens, and began releasing tracks in 2004. He is signed to management team NVA Management, owners of the 2NV record label. In 2007, his single "Heartbroken", featuring Jodie Aysha, hit #2 on the UK Singles Chart...
's single "Heartbroken" on All Around The World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
, which attracted international attention, entering the music charts in several countries, including the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
where it reached #2. Grime MC Skepta reported from a tour of several resorts in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
in summer 2007 that the track was requested in clubs there. Additionally, the track received significant airplay on UK radio stations. Some music critics have said bassline is more mainstream-friendly than grime
Grime (music)
Grime is a style of music that emerged from Bow, East London, England in the early 2000s, primarily as a development of UK garage, dancehall, and hip hop...
, since it appeals more equally to both sexes, whereas grime gathered a predominantly male following.
In December 2007, a reworked version of Heartbroken, renamed "Jawbroken", created in aid of Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....
's world title fight against Floyd Mayweather, was selected as warm-up music for the fight.
T2 has expressed that he is pleased with Heartbroken's success, and with bassline's emergence into the mainstream and its potential to become popular in the rest of the UK and internationally. After T2's success, H Two O released their single featuring the vocal group Platnum
Platnum
Platnum are a British three-piece bassline vocal group from Manchester, UK, consisting of male vocalist Aaron Evers and female vocalists Mina Poli and Michelle McKenna. The trio are best known for providing the vocals on H "Two" O's 2008 single, "What's It Gonna Be?", which reached number two in...
, Whats It Gonna Be which reached number 7 in the national charts on downloads alone, rising to number 2 the following week, where it remained for the next 3 weeks. Later in the year, one of London's leading bassline producers, Delinquent, signed a deal with All Around The World
All Around The World (record label)
All Around the World Productions Limited is a record label from Blackburn, England. The label specialises in Dance Music and most recently R&B.-History:AATW was founded by directors Matt Cadman & Cris Nutall in 1991....
for another national release, My Destiny.
DJ Q (BBC Radio 1Xtra DJ) & MC Bonez signed a deal with Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound
Ministry of Sound London, commonly referred to as simply Ministry of Sound or MoS, is a nightclub based in London, United Kingdom and an associated record label. It was ranked fourth in the 2010 DJ Magazine top 100 clubs poll 2010. As well as the nightclub in London, there is another in Egypt and...
to release their single "You Wot" nationwide download and sale on 14 July 2008 & 21 July 2008 respectively. The video for the single has received airplay on notable TV Music stations such as MTV Base
MTV Base
MTV Base is a 24-hour music and general entertainment channel from MTV Networks International. The channel focuses primarily on music from the world of R'n'B, hiphop, reggae, soul and urban. The MTV Base brand first launched in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland on July 1, 1999,...
. Also more recently, 23 Deluxe released their single "Show Me Happiness" which reached #2 in the Radio 1 Dance Singles Chart.
Notable bassline artists
- Paul Sirrell
- DJ QDJ QZander, better known by his stage name DJ Q, is a Huddersfield born DJ who presents a UK garage mix show on BBC Radio 1Xtra. Teamed with MC Bonez, he is also known for his commercial single, "You Wot!"....
- H Two O
- T2T2 (producer)T2 is a British garage and bassline record producer. He has been mixing since his teens, and began releasing tracks in 2004. He is signed to management team NVA Management, owners of the 2NV record label. In 2007, his single "Heartbroken", featuring Jodie Aysha, hit #2 on the UK Singles Chart...
- WideboysWideboysThe Wideboys are UK house, Bassline and UK garage Record producers and remixers.The Wideboys are managed by Matt Waterhouse from MWR/Hyperactive. In 2008, they signed to Sony ATV Music Publishing. Prior to this, The Wideboys had been signed in various deals with the likes of Warner, Univeral and...
- DJ EZDJ EZDJ EZ is a DJ from Tottenham, North London, specialising in UK garage music. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest DJs ever to grace the UK garage scene.- Biography :...
- 187 Lockdown187 Lockdown187 Lockdown was a British speed garage act, comprising Danny Harrison and Julian Jonah. The duo produced one album, with four singles released from it, and remixed many songs towards the end of the 1990s....
- Serious DangerSerious DangerSerious Danger was a speed garage artist and record producer, born Richard Phillips. First becoming prominent in 1997, he was quite popular in the London area. Signed to Fresh Records, his best known releases are "Deeper" , "High Noon" and "Spin Spin Sugar". He also remixed "God Is a DJ" for...
- Birmingham Crew
- DJ EJ
- TS7
External links
- Niche: NICHEUK.com, The Official Niche Nightclub Website
- Hattie Collins: About To Blow! Bassline, MTV Base and RWD Magazine feature, December 2007
- Causes: http://www.causes.com/causes/563248, Support Niche Back To Sidney Street, 2011