Drumsound & Bassline Smith

Drumsound & Bassline Smith

Drumsound & Bassline Smith are a Derby-based UK electronic music group active since 1998. The act is made up of Simon “Bassline” Smith and SR, and is associated with drum and bass and electronic music. It begins with a meeting at Derby’s Technique club nights in summer 1998, when the Drumsound pair join Bassline Smith and the project develops into a long-running production partnership.

Formation and background

The Drumsound side of the group begins as a crew of six artists and has been making beats since 1997. Simon Smith, known as Bassline Smith, already has a reputation in drum and bass by the time the project forms, with a career that stretches back to the early 1980s. Wright is a classically trained musician with a background in indie rock, while Wiggett is a dedicated drum and bass fan with Jamaican roots. Bassline Smith is described as a funk and soul enthusiast for more than 25 years.

Technique Recordings and scene position

The group is closely tied to Technique Recordings, the label imprint associated with their work. The label celebrates 10 years in 2009, and the group becomes established as a consistent presence in drum and bass over the following years.

Broadcast support and radio work

Drumsound & Bassline Smith receive regular support from BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, including play from Zane Lowe, MistaJam, Annie Nightingale and Annie Mac. They also complete multiple mixes for Radio 1, and there is a request for an Essential Mix in 2010. Their music receives playlist support across BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

Remixes and re-rubs

The group produces re-rubs and remixes for a range of artists and projects. These include VV Brown’s “Leave”, Fugative’s “Supafly”, Chipmunk’s “Oopsy Daisy” for Annie Mac’s Mash Hitz segment, the EastEnders theme for the BBC’s E20 Music Competition, DJ Fresh’s “Louder”, Afrojack’s “Take Over Control”, and remixes for Daft Punk and Moby.

Original releases and chart activity

Among their own singles, “Freak” and “Close” both reach BBC Radio 1 playlisting and are named Record of the Week by Mistajam and Zane Lowe. They also enter the UK charts with “What Can You Do For Me”, a Ministry of Sound release made with Utah Saints.

Touring

The group tours internationally and performs across North America, Europe, and South America, including the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Iceland, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Brazil, Poland, Switzerland, Uruguay and Norway.