The Gay Dubstep Agenda: Celebrate Pride with Bass n Babes Records

Bass n Babes returns with another fierce and feminine album release just in time to celebrate Pride Month. Bass n Babes Records is the only music label of its kind: a dubstep-based music label that highlights the work of women, queer, nonbinary and trans artists. The sounds of the new compilation album features seductive vocals, heavy-hitting bass, and high-energy drums. Bass n Babes Vol. III is a fusion of low-end frequencies and powerful, underground sounds that offer a new perspective to feminine and LGBTQ art.

Bass n Babes Records is a proudly independent record label with the mission of bridging the gap between the LGBTQ and bass music communities. Bass n Babes is all about connection and community, known for its immersive events, community organizing, and advocacy that focuses on gender diversity in the industry.

Bass n Babes Vol. III is a twelve-track, multi-genre bass music album that includes dubstep, experimental bass, UK bass, 140, deep dub, drum and bass, experimental bass, and riddim. The compilation showcases fourteen artists who are rising in the bass music scenes of Los Angeles, Denver, the San Francisco-Bay Area, Vancouver, Toronto, Long Beach, Spokane and New York City. The featured artists include: shmani, Weird Waifu, Vyhara, Bass Temple, CPARK, two girls one laptop (Auracle and Kurei’s new duo project), aariaa, Baby Kush, farley., IIBARRA, Lex Looper, vocalist Rhianah Harleigh and debut releases from SOOSI and Charlotte Rose. Read on for a sneak peak into the songs and artists behind the compilation!

The Bass n Babes Vol. III release party is June 13 in Los Angeles with shmani headlining and support from IIBARRA, Baby Kush, and Lex Looper. You can also catch shmani, Weird Waifu, and Baby Kush in Seattle at Substation on July 16.

The compilation opens with shmani’s bold and explosive track “Shameless.” A fusion of dubstep and hyperpop, this song is about the darker feelings that come along with wanting to be a musician, like getting a taste of fame and wanting more. “Shameless” is real and raw - it’s about the jealousy you feel and the want for everyone to see you in the way you want to be seen. Finally, you give up all reason just to get a taste of it again.

Vyhara combines heavy-hitting bass with world instruments and ethereal atmospheres, taking influence from Clozee. “Underground” is a fun and sparkly UK Bass track that perfectly captures Vyhara’s sound; it is eclectic and powerful, featuring flowing basslines, seductive vocals, and melodic riffs. Atmospheric, bright, and uplifting, this track is effortlessly a dancefloor banger.

Denver-based producer Bass Temple captivates listeners with her immersive bass music experiences. "What It Feels Like" is a dubstep track with melodic elements blending ethereal vocals, aggressive low end sound design, and gritty guitar riffs. Her music blends cinematic textures, psychedelic synths, and high-energy, low-end sound design. Inspired by artists like Nikita the Wicked, LSDream, and CloZee, the track moves between emotional tension and high energy drops designed for festival systems and late night sets.

Lex Looper and farley., both featured on the previous two compilations, join forces for a playful and seductive track: “baddie bounce.” Together, they have merged elements of deep dubstep and UK bass into an underground rave anthem for all the girls, gays and theys. Inspired by HerShe, Blurrd Vzn, Klinical, and Truth, this track features drippy wubs, rugged drums and seductive vocals, this track is intended to keep the listener entranced in the moment.

IIBARRA returns for her second Bass n Babes compilation with “FTB,” a high energy, experimental and aggressive track. With hypnotic vocals, gritty textures and hard-hitting basslines, FTB is inspired by artists like Subtronics, Hershe, Phrva, and Viperactive. IIBARRA is an LGBTQIA+/POC artist from the Bay Area whose main goal is to create a community encouraging creative freedom via their playing and teachings of underground bass music.

SOOSI brings her feminine energy to everything she touches, and that is especially true for her debut release “Mermaid Riddim” that is premiering on Bass n Babes Vol. III. This track is a feminine take on riddim mixed with the influence of deep dubstep. Like its title, “Mermaid Riddim” presents a duality: ethereal melodies over heavy dubstep sounds. Heavily inspired by Distinct Motive, Zingara, and Mushroom Cloud, SOOSI’s sound is defined by a unique fusion of riddim, bouncy bass, and deep dubstep.

WEiRD WAiFU brings your 2D dreams to reality with an experimental twist. Her track “Underland” embodies a journey to wonderland - a curious and curiouser descent into a wubby world. Inspired by Alice in Wonderland, this track embraces whimsy and adventure, reminding the listener that even through hardship, it is important to never give up and always remember who you are.

“In My Bag” was originally composed in 2023 by Kurei and Rhianah Harleigh. This year, they returned to the idea with Auracle, who helped bring it together into the track you hear today. Inspired by nature bass styles like Of The Trees and Clozee, “In My Bag” channels a soft feminine energy that still hits hard. This track is about reclaiming feminine power, financial independence and revenge by success, a perfect representation of Kurei and Auracle’s duo project, two girls one laptop.

Baby Kush wrote “okay diva” to reclaim the word diva, which is frequently used against women to dismiss them as “too much." With crisp drums, wobbly basses and sarcastic vocal remarks, this track is silly, fun, and upbeat, and not meant to be taken too seriously. With inspirations like Zingara, Yewz and Distinct Motive, this track straddles underground bass, dubstep, and deep dubstep. Baby Kush is the founder of Bass n Babes and a dedicated advocate for inclusivity in the bass music scene.

Aariaa returns for her second Bass n Babes compilation album with “Make It Easy.” This track features seductive vocals, aggressive basses and high energy drums. A first foray in bass music for the bass house baddie, aariaa hits hard with her first UK Bass track, inspired by artists such Eptic, Sportmode and FLY.

Bass n Babes Records co-founder Charlotte Rose is the drum and bass princess the scene needs. Her debut track “Is This Thing On?” emphasizes the dichotomy of an artist that takes her music very seriously, but not herself. It is a quintessential Charlotte Rose track: perfectly silly, yet refined; musically aggressive and sonically weird. “Is This Thing On?” features stuttery synths, funny vocals, aggressive basses, yoi yoi yoi’s, and a cameo from Lex Looper, all inspired by artists like Simula, Waeys, Bensley, and Casey Club.

CPARK’s unique take on bass music embodies the artful balance between soft, haunting melodies and gritty basses. Her track “UNBOUND” is about chasing freedom and living in the moments where you lose track of time. The evolving textures, airy vocal fragments and fluid rhythm capture the feeling of being weightless and free. With flowing basslines and glitchy atmospheric elements, “UNBOUND” evokes Whipped Cream, Buunshin, and Pauline Herr.

The album is brought to life visually by ArtFaerie and Jessiecat Creations. The art stays true to the soul of Bass n Babes, embodying queer, ethereal, feminine energy.

Get it on Beatport