Nathan Navarro- Dubstep bassist.

Psychbass · #1 02-25-2013, 08:05 AM

This dude is ridiculously good. His whole band is really. I've never seen a band so into their gear that they can look at a toaster and say... I wonder what that would sound like....

That and they are Berklee guys..

I caught their show in Bloomington, IL... they can seriously bring it live. I hope they become huge.

Nathan's Solo Dubstep Bass project:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th2ReDFPO_0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUQ60gkgfF8

and
Pinn Pannelle Sampler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOysh1Y3ohE

God, this dude's awesome.

Meddle · #2 02-25-2013, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychbass

That and they are Berklee guys...

It doesn't get much more 'grime' than that.

I've seen his stuff on Youtube; a fair pastiche. Shame so many of these guys forget the 'dub' part of dubstep. The only time I used to listen to dubstep was in a club that would begin the night with King Tubby stuff and move onto dubstep as the night progressed. Crushing bass and all, but a good understanding of space and ambience.

This new stuff is cheesy buzzy crap, even Taylor Swift uses it.

It has become an academic exercise for skinny white nerds who want to make a bunch of noise.

InvertTheIdols · #3 02-25-2013, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meddle

This new stuff is cheesy buzzy crap, even Taylor Swift uses it.

It has become an academic exercise for skinny white nerds who want to make a bunch of noise.

+1. I like seeing bass players who can be creative with it (like Nathan) and actually play it live, but there's just too much excessive filtering through MIDI sequencing now. At that point, it stops becoming real to me....

Meddle · #4 02-25-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InvertTheIdols

+1. I like seeing bass players who can be creative with it (like Nathan) and actually play it live, but there's just too much excessive filtering through MIDI sequencing now. At that point, it stops becoming real to me....

Once it matures into its own thing it might become interesting again. Once Nathan Navaro incorporates it into something interesting then I might take notice. Thus far he has solved an almost scientific problem; "How can I make a conventional bass guitar sound like dubstep bass programming". Sure, he has achieved that goal, but adding the smug tagline "this guy went to Berklee" doesn't impress me, and it probably won't impress the Steely Dan crowd either (as though paying top dollar to a University suddenly gives you talent you never naturally had).

The hand control device looks cool, the filtering sound is pretty good as well, but the weird psuedo-classical instrumentation is just boring. The music lacks the depth, 'drops' and ambience of the original dubstep genre. This is maybe where dubstep has gone; fizzy bass lines that can be heard on laptop speakers and tinny headphones. The older dubstep I used to listen to in clubs would be useless music for any other occasion.

Addison · #5 02-25-2013, 11:51 AM

The coolest thing I've noticed about Nathan is how incredibly nice and humble he is as a person... he's a killer player (even beyond the dubstep stuff) and he also happens to be a great guy.

Just thought I'd throw that in there.

Psychbass · #6 02-25-2013, 11:59 AM

I can see that for some of the solos stuff (some), but Listen to Face Stealer by Pinn Pannelle. Nothing boring about that song. The main riff is killer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdmH19tjszY

Seth

Johnny Roots · #7 02-25-2013, 01:05 PM

I think this stuff sucks. I hear alot gimmicks.
The last link, sucks too. Feels to well..like Academia trying to break dance.

Psychbass · #8 02-25-2013, 01:12 PM

LOL... to each their own. :-)

He impressed Marco Minneman enough to make an album together.

Psychbass · #9 02-25-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addison

The coolest thing I've noticed about Nathan is how incredibly nice and humble he is as a person... he's a killer player (even beyond the dubstep stuff) and he also happens to be a great guy.

Just thought I'd throw that in there.

He was very gracious when I met him. Did a great job explaining the use of the Hot Hand. Very humble and cool guy.

Swakey · #10 02-25-2013, 01:27 PM

Not my kind of thing really. I can't wait till someone like Pat Metheny writes some dubstep influenced music

jlane72t · #11 02-25-2013, 02:07 PM

sounds like garbage to me (and I enjoy EDM) but that "stand" he has under his amp in the last video is awesome!

Terry Funk · #12 02-26-2013, 01:08 PM

This is very cool, thanks. I really love electronic music (Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Squarepusher, Flying Lotus, etc), but I'm usually not a fan of dubstep, as too much of what I've heard sounds either really cookie cutter, or just like random sound effects. I like that a) this actually grooves pretty dagone hard, and b) bassplayers such as this cat, or Thundercat Bruner, are finding ways to bring the instrument into the 21st century to use on current music, and not just the same guitar-oriented, or quasi-funky (not that theres anything at all wrong with either) material.

Wehner · #13 02-26-2013, 01:10 PM

I follow Nathan's stuff here from Denmark, and I find him very creative and inspiring. Also check out his project Dot.

hover · #14 02-26-2013, 01:18 PM

Pretty extreme level of close-mindedness happening in this thread...it's surprising. If it's not your bag, fine, but that doesn't give you reason to dismiss it entirely.

Listen to Chris Hargreaves, who is another Dubstep Bassist in the band Submotion Orchestra, and his use of effects for texture all the way down to the wobbly suboctave tones are nothing short of inspiring.

Johnny Roots · #15 02-26-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

Pretty extreme level of close-mindedness happening in this thread...it's surprising. If it's not your bag, fine, but that doesn't give you reason to dismiss it entirely.

Listen to Chris Hargreaves, who is another Dubstep Bassist in the band Submotion Orchestra, and his use of effects for texture all the way down to the wobbly suboctave tones are nothing short of inspiring.

LOL

So if I think something sucks thats close mindedness? My god...liberals are ****ed up. Listen Hover....I personally think its not good. Was " suck" to extreme for you? Nowadays, you cant even say what you think or its considered close mindedness, racist etc.

So Hover, is it cool if someone disagrees with you? I dont like it, that makes me close minded? Oh wait...if you like something and someone else doesnt, its close minded? Is that it?

Are we in an age where, if we dislike something, we are made to try and like it? Cause thats how it feels with your nit comment. Sorry Hover, it doesnt appeal to me.

Quote:

If it's not your bag, fine, but that doesn't give you reason to dismiss it entirely

Why not? If its not my bag, why am I not allowed to dismiss it? Please elaborate on your hipster logic. Is there a law? Am I not free to dismiss something? I looked at the videos and others, read a little about them....not my gig man. Thanks

OP has a good attitude, he loves this stuff. Couple of us expressed we didnt. OP said, to each his own. Moved on. No biggie. How boring would it be if we all agreed and stroked each other?

hover · #16 02-26-2013, 05:59 PM

Feel better now? I'm not going to engage you too long only to suggest you take a moment to ask yourself why you were compelled to walk in, piss on his thread, and walk out without adding anything of any substance whatsoever?

Hipster logic? Please. Liberal? PLEASE. I don't recall asking anyone to agree on anything, only to consider for a moment that though you don't like it, that any genre potentially has something to offer to anyone, but you don't subscribe to that, and that's fine and dandy. Really must have struck a chord with you to quote me line twice to make your point.

Feel free to tell me to piss off now, have a laugh.

Psychbass · #17 03-02-2013, 10:39 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRX9WfA4gn4

Awesome.

D.A.R.K. · #18 03-02-2013, 10:49 AM

That was dub step?
Sounded like pop music to me.
I agree, they forgot the dub.
This is actually a great example of how music styles are commodified for a large audience.
Dubstep has been around a fairly long time now, so that's no surprise.
I hope they do well, good on 'em, but based on what I just saw, there is much better out there (for my tastes).

The Lurker · #19 03-04-2013, 10:33 PM

Most of his stuff sounds like instrumental versions of Evanescence songs to me. Dubstep's now trendy and the big grindy riff is today's tapping guitar solo.

Einherjar · #20 03-04-2013, 10:53 PM

I really don't like any dubstep. Just not my thing. And whenever I say that I get "well yeeaahhh maaaannnnn you just haven't heard the GOOD stuff yet" and proceed to play songs by some random artist I've never heard of that sounds like every other "good" dubstep song anyone else who is a fan has ever made me listen to.

I know that can be a symptom of unfamiliarity with a genre. I listen to a lot of extreme heavy metal. People tell me an Emperor song sounds like Cradle of Filth and I want to strangle them. (I'm not a cradle fan) There's a big difference to me because I've become accustomed to the sounds within the black metal genre whereas to someone unfamiliar it all sounds like the same blistering fast incoherent wall of noise.

Personally, I find dubstep shallow and repetitive. I love a lot of electronic music. But I will stick to the disturbingly eerie and complex layers in my industrial and EBM. Thanks.