Overview
bass2bass is an experimental music project born in Bristol around two decades ago, led by musician and producer Richard Fawthrop. Grounded in a deep love for bass and rhythm, the project moves fluidly across genres—Jazz, Funk, Drum & Bass, and Electronica—blurring boundaries and reshaping expectations.
From its inception, bass2bass has functioned as both a personal outlet and a collaborative platform, always rooted in the pursuit of musical depth and innovation. Using the latest developments in software and music creation alongside original samplers and synths from the past gives some of the music a very unique yet familiar sound.
Origins and Vision
Conceived as a space to explore the emotional and physical pull of bass frequencies, bass2bass reflects Fawthrop’s ongoing fascination with groove, space, and sonic storytelling. The project isn’t about fitting in—it’s about leaning into the unknown. Whether it's an off-kilter jazz progression, a rolling D&B break, or an ambient wash of synths, every track is a piece of the broader bass2bass narrative: exploratory, immersive, and unapologetically
bass-focused.
Genres and Style
Stylistically eclectic but always cohesive, bass2bass dips into a wide range of influences. Think head-nodding funk grooves, late-night jazz flourishes, jungle-influenced beats, and ambient textures—all tied together by an unmistakable emphasis on bass as both instrument and idea. It’s music as atmosphere, but also as architecture: rich, layered, and built to move both body and mind.
Collaborations and Key Contributors
While Fawthrop remains the creative core, bass2bass has consistently drawn strength from collaboration. Notable contributors include:
StreetKid – a recurring presence whose rhythmic sensibility and beat-driven energy have shaped several key releases
Nicole Thomas – bringing soulful vocals and melodic warmth to the mix
A rotating crew of session players, whose instrumentation and improvisational edge continue to push the project in fresh directions.
Discography and Key Releases
bass2bass has produced a steady stream of albums, EPs, and standalone tracks, each one offering a unique angle on the project’s evolving sound. Standout albums include:
Underverse – a liquid Drum & Bass-inspired trip through breakbeats, subs, and layered atmospheres
Outer Limits – a genre-fluid recording leaning into jazz textures, deep funk, and cinematic electronica and all things Sci-Fi
Essential tracks:
“Under” – trip-hop inspired , built on the Bristol Sound and fluid lyrics
“Beach” – jazz fusion with a complex bass with a cool summer vibe
“Bite” – emotional drum and bass about ending a relationship and finding strength
“Possibilities” – meditative and spacious, fusing jazz piano with electronic flourishes
“Universal” – sweeping and expansive, a genre-spanning journey through melody and mood
Ongoing Evolution
bass2bass is in constant motion. New material continues to drop, each release venturing into new territory—modular synth experiments, live sessions, hybrid genre fusions. The project isn’t chasing trends; it’s chasing feeling, form, and the next unexpected sound.
Legacy and Future
Twenty years on, bass2bass is still reaching forward. It’s not about nostalgia—it’s about exploration. Rooted in bass, driven by curiosity, and committed to the craft, bass2bass remains a quiet but powerful force on the experimental edge of the UK music scene.
