Top 10 Bass Artists of 2018

Another big year for EDM and an even bigger year for all the bassheads out there. 2018 left the cheese behind and took a turn for the darker in every great way possible as heavier, deeper, filthier sounds took over. Lost Lands returned for its 2nd ever run. Riddim became a thing. Space Mom Rezz put out another album. More bass music entered the scene, more headbangers were converted, more necks were broken. There were artists that continued to impress and push the boundaries of production. Then there were those that led the wave of fresh talent on the cusp of breaking out. We got them all for you here. 

10. KOAN sound

The Bristol bass duo have won the respect and love of listeners everywhere through their intricate sound design and genre-infusing production. Signed to OWSLA and having worked with artists like Ed Sheeran, KOAN sound’s massive debut album Polychrome has quickly risen to be a favorite of the year, with its mixture of glitch, funk and ambience.

9. G Jones

Greg Jones aka G Jones has been stirring up the underground bass scene since 2012 when he was producing as a senior at UCSC. Recognized for his undeniable production genius, G Jones has collaborated with big players like Bassnectar, DJ Shadow, Bleep Bloop, Ekali and more. His efforts have culminated into his debut LP The Ineffable Truth, an experimental journey that is no short of a masterpiece and regarded as one of the best albums of the year by many listeners.

8. Ghastly  

From his signature “Lights Out” Zomboy remix to party banger “Crank It” with Mija and Lil Jon, securing a Bassrush residency at Exchange LA and being backed by the likes of Skrillex, Dillon Francis, Borgore and more, Ghastly has racked up the fair share of accomplishments over the past few years and he’s still not quite done. His 2018 debut album The Mystifying Oracle is a hybrid of Ghastly’s personal emotions and genre styles and most of all, jam-packed with sweet bass house.

7. Spag Heddy

You might not love Italian food, but you won’t say no to Spag Heddy. Winning with his heavy-hitting drumstep sound, juicy tomato bass and head-splitting live sets, Spag Heddy has cemented his spot as one of the biggest bass producers in the scene and undoubtedly the best puns in the game. With a new EP release Gospel and appearances on Never Say Die Vol. 6, the pasta producer is just starting to heat up.

6. Wooli

Wooli is the name of East Coast “briddim” producer who’s been creeping into the spotlight of bass music in 2018. Despite not having headlined his own show yet, Wooli is already attracting fans with his live sets, opening for industry giants like Excision and breathing freshness into the hard dubstep landscape. He’s also collaborated with massive peers like Snails and Trivecta and released his debut EP Mammoth, all in the span of a short two years.

5. Space Laces

Leading the dubstep wave, producing hard hitting tracks like “Throwing Elbows” with Excision, and blowing minds with performances like his Lost Lands set, Space Laces has been lauded as an absolute must-see. With throbbing intensity and chaotic visuals to pair, his 2018 EP release Overdrive is every bass lovers heaven.

4. WAVEDASH

Comprised of three, young producers who have already showcased their talent with multiple premieres on NEST HQ including “Bang” and an inaugural release off Gud Vibrations, “Deathwish”. All eyes are on WAVEDASH’s upcoming four-track EP Opening Ceremony.

3. Nitti Gritti

Some may see him as incredibly dynamic and others see him as an artist with an identity crisis. In Nitti Gritti’s case it may be both, but it’s impossible to deny his talent for producing and exploring a diversity of genres. Since 2016, Nitti Gritti has been remixing tracks in all styles, from a lush take on Bazzi’s “Mine” to a heavy trap refiguring of NGHTMRE and SLANDER’s “GUD VIBRATIONS”. His 2018 EP Drive not only goes hard, but also proves his ability to continue to push the boundaries of his creative production.

2. 1788-L 

Not much is known about 1788-L except that the producer has been gathering all the hype of mid-tempo bass this year. In less than a year, 1788-L has garnered attention for their glitchy, hypnotic sound and elicited comparisons to other experimental bass peers like Rezz, k?d and TYNAN. Having released multiple tracks and a debut EP “S E N T I E N C E”, the mysterious producer seems to be gearing up for an even bigger year in 2019.

1. Peekaboo 

One of the newest members of WAKAAN, Liquid Stranger’s collective, Peekaboo and his eerie good music has burst onto the scene and gotten a big nod in a years time. His productions are minimalistic and clean, yet brimming with some of the heaviest bass you’ll get to hear. Peekaboo’s 2018 Imposters EP and its alien-centric samples showcases his capabilities to create the illusion of a wobbly journey into bass space.

It’s not too late to get out there and catch a few more shows before the year ends. Hopefully, these bass artists that brought the noise all of 2018 inspired you to put on your best bass face and headbang some more.

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