There are few acts in the electronic music space that have cultivated a fan base as loyal as Lorin Ashton’s, more commonly known as Bassnectar. The veteran producer based out of Calif. is closing in on the big 4-0, but continues to enamor bass music fans with core-shaking records that hop between his melodic side and grungy dubstep instincts.
Over the span of Ashton’s decade-plus career, he’s dropped 12 studio albums and has already dished out a handful of singles this year including “Watch Out” with Dirtyphonics and Ragga Twins.
Whether you’re in the mood for some hypnotic bass arrangements or melodic pieces that will send you into an emotional frenzy, Bassnectar’s pioneering methods have continued to keep him atop the ever-evolving bass music circuit. Here’s Billboard Dance‘s list of the 10 best Bassnectar songs to date.
Related
10. Bassnectar – “Reaching Out”
While most of Bassnectar’s works have the ability to break your subwoofer at home, “Reaching Out” lands on the lighter side of his portfolio and creates a dreamy digital soundscape. He mirrors the song’s complexion with an equally imaginative music video that explores human connection.
9. Bassnectar Feat. 40 Love – “Wildstyle Method”
This bass-fueled cut straddles the worlds of hip-hop and dubstep in the best way possible. “Wildstyle Method” plays with helium-breathed vocals, stabbing synths and siren samples that will hype up any basement party.
8. Bassnectar – “Here We Go”
“Here We Go” is the opening track of his Timestretch EP released back in 2010 and rightfully so. The mucky sweatbox anthem oozes of grimy U.K. drum and bass, pairing urban percussion with distorted vocals for a grunge-filled good time.
7. Bassnectar Feat. Lafa Taylor – “Speakerbox”
If the Fast & Furious franchise is using your music to tease out the next action-packed sequel, you’re doing something right. “Speakerbox” landed a prime silver screen trailer placement as the soundtrack for The Fate of the Furious.
6. Bassnectar – “Take You Down”
Lush euphoric chords take the driver’s seat in “Take You Down” which includes the vocals of Miranda Hughes. Bassnectar describes the production as “that slow-motion feeling you get when you plunge backwards into something overwhelming, but never hit the ground.”
5. Bassnectar – “Into The Sun”
Brooding bass synths create the foundation for this space-themed track. Ashton showcases atmospheric elements alongside rich dubstep melodies that make for a visually-immersive experience.
4. Bassnectar Feat. Mimi Page – “Butterfly”
The slow-rolling rhythm of “Butterfly” is rather therapeutic, especially with the contribution of Mimi Page’s whispery vocals. The production’s marshy sound design gradually unravels itself until the very end, leaving the popular build-drop dance template to the side.
3. Bassnectar Feat. W. Darling – “You & Me “
Bassnectar describes this song to be about love, family and friendship which is exactly what his tight-knit fan base prides themselves on. His devoted following is what truly separates him from the rest. There are countless bass producers out there, but there is only one Bassnectar.
2. Bassnectar – “Timestretch”
You can’t go wrong with the classics. “Timestretch” has become a staple in Bassnectar’s catalog for its transcendent nature and is likely one of the first tracks of his that grabbed your attention. There’s also a certain satisfaction to be taken from this Bassnectar song’s rumbling, slow-chugging bassline that makes the track so memorable.
1. Bassnectar – “Bass Head”
If there’s one Bassnectar song that has accrued serious attention by the numbers, it’s “Bass Head”. Ashton delivers a catchy hip-hop beat that is intercepted by a playful dubstep sequence filled with grimy wobbles and gargles. Although it was released in 2010, it has stood the test of time and continues to receive love on the radio and festival front.