Bubblegum Bass: The Sweet and Sticky Revolution in Electronic Music

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

The Rise of a Colorful Genre

In the ever-evolving landscape of electronic music, a new genre has emerged that’s as vibrant and playful as its name suggests: bubblegum bass. This unique style has captured the attention of music producers and listeners alike, blending elements of pop, dance, and experimental electronic music to create a sound that’s both familiar and refreshingly new.

Bubblegum bass, also known as PC Music (named after the record label that popularized the genre), is characterized by its bouncy rhythms, plastic-sounding synths, and often pitch-shifted vocals. It’s a style that pushes electronic production to extreme levels, creating a sound that’s simultaneously catchy and disorienting.

What Makes Bubblegum Bass Unique?

• Exaggerated pop elements
• Artificial and distorted synths
• High-pitched, often pitch-shifted vocals
• Choppy and unpredictable rhythms
• A mix of dance music genres

For electronic music producers, bubblegum bass offers a playground of sonic possibilities. It’s a genre that encourages experimentation and pushes the boundaries of what’s considered “normal” in pop and dance music.

The Origins and Evolution of Bubblegum Bass

Bubblegum bass didn’t appear out of thin air. Its roots can be traced back to various electronic music styles, including electro house, UK garage, and even some elements of hip-hop. However, it was the formation of the PC Music label in 2013 that really kickstarted the genre’s rise to prominence.

Key Figures in Bubblegum Bass

One of the most prominent figures in the bubblegum bass scene is A. G. Cook, the founder of PC Music. Cook’s production style, characterized by its hyper-pop aesthetics and unconventional sound design, has been instrumental in shaping the genre.

Another artist who has made significant contributions to bubblegum bass is SOPHIE. Her 2018 album “OIL OF EVERY PEARL’S UN-INSIDES” is considered a landmark release in the genre, showcasing the full potential of bubblegum bass’s experimental tendencies.

“I think all pop music should be about who can make the loudest, brightest thing.” – SOPHIE

These artists, along with others like Charli XCX, Hannah Diamond, and 100 gecs, have helped push bubblegum bass from an underground curiosity to a genre that’s influencing mainstream pop music.

The Sonic Palette of Bubblegum Bass

For electronic music producers looking to explore bubblegum bass, understanding its sonic characteristics is crucial. Let’s dive into the key elements that define this genre’s unique sound.

Synthetic Soundscapes

At the heart of bubblegum bass is its use of artificial and often extreme synth sounds. These aren’t your typical warm, analog-style synthesizers. Instead, bubblegum bass revels in sounds that are clearly digital, often described as “plastic” or “metallic.”

• Use of FM synthesis for harsh, bright tones
• Liberal application of effects like distortion and bitcrushing
• Extreme pitch modulation and frequency shifting

Vocal Manipulation

Vocals in bubblegum bass are rarely left untouched. Pitch-shifting is a common technique, often pushing voices into unnaturally high registers. This creates a hyper-real, almost cartoonish effect that’s become a hallmark of the genre.

• Heavy use of autotune and pitch correction
• Chopping and rearranging vocal samples
• Layering multiple pitch-shifted versions of the same vocal

Rhythm and Structure

While bubblegum bass often uses standard pop song structures, it likes to play with rhythm in unexpected ways. Beats can be choppy and glitchy, with sudden changes in tempo or time signature.

• Incorporation of trap-style hi-hat patterns
• Use of unconventional time signatures
• Sudden breaks and changes in rhythm

Production Techniques for Bubblegum Bass

For electronic music producers looking to try their hand at bubblegum bass, here are some techniques to experiment with:

1. Synth Design

Start with basic waveforms and push them to extremes. Use FM synthesis to create metallic, bell-like tones. Don’t be afraid to make sounds that initially seem “wrong” or “too much” – that’s often where the magic happens in bubblegum bass.

2. Sound Processing

Heavy processing is key to achieving the bubblegum bass sound. Experiment with:

• Distortion and saturation
• Extreme EQ boosts and cuts
• Bitcrushing and sample rate reduction
• Wonky filters with extreme resonance

3. Rhythmic Experimentation

Play with your DAW’s grid. Try offsetting elements slightly to create a “wrong” feel. Use glitch effects to create stutters and repeats in your rhythms.

4. Vocal Production

Even if you’re working with instrumental tracks, incorporating vocal elements can help capture the bubblegum bass vibe. Try:

• Pitching up spoken samples
• Using text-to-speech software as a sound source
• Applying heavy autotune to even non-melodic vocal samples

The Aesthetic of Bubblegum Bass

Bubblegum bass isn’t just about sound – it’s also closely tied to a particular visual aesthetic. This “post-internet” look often features:

• Bright, saturated colors
• 3D rendered objects and environments
• Glitch art and digital artifacts
• References to early internet and Y2K aesthetics

For electronic music producers, considering this visual element can be important when presenting bubblegum bass tracks, whether through album art, music videos, or live visuals.

The Impact and Future of Bubblegum Bass

While bubblegum bass started as a niche genre, its influence has spread far beyond its original boundaries. Mainstream pop artists have begun incorporating elements of bubblegum bass into their productions, blurring the lines between underground and mainstream.

Influence on Mainstream Pop

Artists like Charli XCX have acted as a bridge between the world of bubblegum bass and mainstream pop. Her collaborations with PC Music producers have brought the genre’s sound to a wider audience.

Criticism and Controversy

It’s worth noting that bubblegum bass hasn’t been without its critics. Some see it as an ironic or insincere take on pop music, while others argue that its exaggerated nature can become grating or overwhelming.

“It’s a Marmite thing. Some people think it’s the most annoying thing they’ve ever heard. Some people think it’s the best thing that’s happened to pop music in 20 years.” – A. G. Cook

The Future of the Genre

As with any genre, bubblegum bass continues to evolve. Some of the directions it might take include:

• Further integration with mainstream pop
• Exploration of even more extreme sound design techniques
• Collaboration with other experimental electronic genres

Tips for Producing Bubblegum Bass

If you’re an electronic music producer interested in trying your hand at bubblegum bass, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Embrace the artificial: Don’t be afraid of sounds that seem “too digital” or “fake”. These are often the building blocks of great bubblegum bass tracks.
2. Push your effects to the limit: Use extreme settings on your plugins. If it sounds “too much,” you might be on the right track.
3. Experiment with rhythm: Try programming beats that feel slightly “off” or unexpected. This can help create the disorienting feel often found in bubblegum bass.
4. Play with pitch: Pitch-shifting is a key element of the genre. Try pitching elements up to create that characteristic high-energy sound.
5. Mix pop structures with experimental sounds: Use familiar song structures as a framework, but fill them with the most unusual sounds you can create.
6. Don’t forget the fun: Bubblegum bass, at its core, is about joy and energy. Let that guide your production choices.

Video: Bubblegum Bass Tutorial In Ableton Operator

Conclusion: The Sweet Future of Electronic Music

Bubblegum bass represents a unique moment in electronic music history. It’s a genre that takes familiar pop elements and pushes them to their extreme, creating something both recognizable and alien. For electronic music producers, it offers a chance to break free from conventional production norms and explore the outer limits of what’s possible with digital audio.

Whether you’re looking to produce full-on bubblegum bass tracks or just incorporate some of its elements into your existing style, this genre offers a wealth of inspiration and techniques to explore. Its influence on the broader music landscape is undeniable, and as it continues to evolve, it’s likely to keep pushing the boundaries of what we consider pop and electronic music.

So fire up your DAW, crank up those pitch-shifters, and see where the sweet, sticky world of bubblegum bass takes you. Who knows? You might just create the next big evolution in this exciting genre.

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