What's the Best Bass for Hyperpop?

[IamJohn]

Tbh, the only reason I'm making this thread is that the genre of Hyperpop has never been mentioned on this site (look it up, 0 results). Seeing as it is one of the newest genre's of music with growing popularity, it seems like a good idea to get TB to start thinking about how the bass guitar is and can be incorporated, starting with what gear to use.

For those of you who don't know, which is apparently everybody based on the search results;

"Hyperpop is a loosely-defined music movement and microgenre, characterized by a maximalist or exaggerated take on pop music"

Some of the bigger artists in the scene would be 100 Gecs, Bladee, SOPHIE (r.i.p), Charli XCX, and Slayyyter for reference.

Even though the genre is heavily steeped in electronic music, there's still a role for the bass. Recently 100 Gecs released the song Doritos and Fritos which contains a very prominent bass line.



So in classic Talkbass fashion, I'd like to begin by asking the question that will definitely be well received with an objective answer we all agree on; what's the best bass for Hyperpop?

 

[jd56hawk]

I hate to suggest it, but keyboards?
(By the way, thanks for the nightmares that will surely follow!)

 

[Watchootognbout]

It would seem "Hyperpop"is a playlist.
Not a genre.

 

[BadSanta1281]

There's not enough genres already?

 

[gln1955]

It surprised the hell out of me, but I didn't hate that.

To answer the question, P bass with flats, of course.

 

[Barry Vestal]

 

[cashmoneywill]

P-bass for the most part, but I know some people/artists in the scene like midwxst use a vista musicmaster bass.

 

[J_Bass]

Hi,

I didn't know that existed, it's always good to listen to something new.

That sounds like a fusion between 80s and 90s computer games music with Devo. Sounds good.

 

[IamJohn]

P-bass for the most part, but I know some people/artists in the scene like midwxst use a vista musicmaster bass.

Any reason you say P-bass, other than that it's the standard for most everything (including my bass collection)?

 

[IamJohn]

There's not enough genres already?

No

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, that's about as far from Buddy Holly/Eddie Cochran as you can get, so... definitely not my cup of whatever. As for your perfectly reasonable question? Barring keyboard bass - which, IMO, would would work quite well - and would certainly be in keeping with the... genre? I'd say; probably whichever active 5-string bass makes your heart beat fast. Which one would that be? Only you can decide that. Besides, as someone who loves to play Buddy Holly - and any other R&R, Rockabilly, C&W, and Blues songs that are older than you are - on a passive 4 string bass? I really couldn't advise you...

 

[Watchootognbout]

View attachment 4732239 View attachment 4732240

 

[IamJohn]

Hi,

I didn't know that existed, it's always good to listen to something new.

That sounds like a fusion between 80s and 90s computer games music with Devo. Sounds good.

Funny you say that. The origins of Hyperpop are tied to a guy named A.G. Cook who's collective PC music was influenced by just that.

 

[IamJohn]

View attachment 4732252

More please bud

 

[IamJohn]

I hate to suggest it, but keyboards?
(By the way, thanks for the nightmares that will surely follow!)

Definitely a valid option that sounds great.

 

[J_Bass]

As for the bass, I would say I would prioritize aesthetics and then worry about the tone.

Like these:

 

[GTHintz]

Tbh, the only reason I'm making this thread is that the genre of Hyperpop has never been mentioned on this site (look it up, 0 results). Seeing as it is one of the newest genre's of music with growing popularity, it seems like a good idea to get TB to start thinking about how the bass guitar is and can be incorporated, starting with what gear to use.

For those of you who don't know, which is apparently everybody based on the search results;

"Hyperpop is a loosely-defined music movement and microgenre, characterized by a maximalist or exaggerated take on pop music"

Some of the bigger artists in the scene would be 100 Gecs, Bladee, SOPHIE (r.i.p), Charli XCX, and Slayyyter for reference.

Even though the genre is heavily steeped in electronic music, there's still a role for the bass. Recently 100 Gecs released the song Doritos and Fritos which contains a very prominent bass line.



So in classic Talkbass fashion, I'd like to begin by asking the question that will definitely be well received with an objective answer we all agree on; what's the best bass for Hyperpop?

Interesting how we have a new subgenre. So that video sounded like a precision bass was used. Maybe a Yamaha attitude or something but definitely was split coils or something along those lines. It sounds to me like electronica using hipster basses. If I were going to be doing something like this style I'd want to be really out front in the music with my bass so I'd get a ballsy sounding Warwick thumb bass or something active and really go to town. Or something like a fretless Ibanez like Sean Malone played and really get interesting. Fretless stingray like Tony Levin would be cool. This sounds like a genre that you can do whatever you want with. Get a modern sounding bass and rip it. I'm not going to sit here and dog this stuff like I'm sure we're going to have but I'm just going to say that I'd get something super aggressive sounding and play the hell out of it.

 

[J_Bass]

Funny you say that. The origins of Hyperpop are tied to a guy named A.G. Cook who's collective PC music was influenced by just that.

Reminds me of the video games I used to play when I was a kid.

And Devo. Definitely some Devo vibe, which is great!

 

[IamJohn]

Another great bass line is from Coconuts by Kim Petras. It's a pretty standard slap bass line, but it's good example of the idea exaggerated pop music and where a bass player might find a role. Ridiculous lyrics that are very self aware, but also very fun and catchy.

 

[IamJohn]

Or something like a fretless Ibanez like Sean Malone played and really get interesting. Fretless stingray like Tony Levin would be cool. This sounds like a genre that you can do whatever you want with. Get a modern sounding bass and rip it. I'm not going to sit here and dog this stuff like I'm sure we're going to have but I'm just going to say that I'd get something super aggressive sounding and play the hell out of it.

That Tony Levin part makes a lot of sense. The boldness of every instrument in Sledgehammer is similar to how the instrumentation in Hyperpop works I think.