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“IT’s a cerTaIn<br />
aTTITude ThaT<br />
comes Through.<br />
WheTher IT’s dIsco<br />
or dubsTep, IT’s<br />
goT ThaT neW York<br />
aTTITude.”<br />
Individually, Trouble & Bass members are united by the sole overlapping section of their<br />
Venn diagram: bass music. But they’re separately informed by their own experiences living<br />
in the city, which is now experiencing a true renaissance for dance music and parties—it’s<br />
arguably at its most diverse and interesting point since the 1990s. (Luckily, though, there are<br />
no Party Monster-mongering club kids at this point, though T&B as a collective does have a<br />
very endearing propensity for Creepers.)<br />
“It’s one big fire,” says the Captain. “New York is much different than any other metropolitan<br />
area, because you have so many ethnicities slapping together. Like Kingdom will play at some<br />
Dominican club, and Cubic Zirconia will play at some Lower East Side club, and Michna will<br />
play at a club with bottle service. Everyone takes what they do and puts it together.”<br />
Trouble & Bass has been the fulcrum for many factions of the NYC dance explosion. They’ve not<br />
only been tireless promoters of other artists through their label and new booking company, but<br />
they’ve reached out to smaller, like-minded musicians in their outer orbit for collaborations,<br />
shared bills and even video cameos. “I felt that it was important to start Trouble & Bass as a<br />
way to propel artists,” says Drop the Lime, “because I remember how frustrating it is when<br />
you’re starting out and you’re like, ‘How do I get my music out there? How do I play gigs? What<br />
do I do?’ It’s frustrating, especially when you’re really hungry.”<br />
Though their music varies, Trouble & Bass makes arias for haunted raves, serenades the<br />
midnight movers and will crush your ribcage with a drop. That’s perhaps the most New York<br />
thing about them. Because everyone who lives in New York knows that New York culture is<br />
an ever-shifting lava lamp. Scenes are malleable, clubs are fleeting, all artists must evolve to<br />
stay remotely relevant. But when it comes down to the city’s sound, there’s one finite element<br />
that has been, is now and forever will be. “It’s a certain attitude that comes through. Whether<br />
it’s disco or dubstep, it’s got that New York attitude,” says AC Slater. “If you listen to LA music,<br />
it’s got its own vibe, it’s polished, but when you listen to New York music, it’s grit.”<br />
“That New York grit,” continues the Captain. “True grit. And if it doesn’t have it, then you’re not<br />
making New York music.”<br />
Check out Scion A/V Presents: Trouble & Bass: Sounds of NYC, a compilation of new music and a book<br />
featuring Drop the Lime, Hussle Club, Kingdom, Michna and Cubic Zirconia at scionav.com/troubleandbass
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