Simone Feroci Takes the Bass to Another Dimension With ‘BassQuakes

Simone Feroci does not exactly ease into “BassQuakes.” The second solo single from the Italian-born, Los Angeles-based bassist comes in with a much more aggressive attitude, putting slap bass right at the center of an instrumental funk-rock collision. There are no vocals to guide the way here. Instead, the bass carries the personality, pushing through the track with groovy hooks and hard-edged basslines while distorted guitars, synthesizers and relentless drums build up the rest of the chaos.

The inspiration behind it is just as wild. Feroci has always had a fascination with space and sci-fi, and “BassQuakes” was built around the imagined feeling of being inside a spaceship that has just crashed onto another planet. Black holes, quasars and rogue planets become part of the track's universe, giving the music a sense of movement without needing a single lyric.

What makes the bass especially interesting is how Feroci approaches the slap technique. Rather than going for the clean, polished sound often associated with modern bass playing, he wanted something much more forceful. His thumb works almost like a pick, creating a sharper attack that turns the bass into a driving force rather than simply another piece of the rhythm section.

And then there is the visual side of “BassQuakes,” which seems to have been given the same permission to get weird. Feroci's accompanying social content features exaggerated characters, random pieces of writing, video game and movie references, and plenty of Easter eggs hiding throughout the frames. He performs the track while stepping into different personalities, making the whole campaign feel like an extension of the song's slightly unhinged sci-fi world.

The outro goes from a bridge into a ripping last minute of an electrifying climax, like the soundtrack of a madman who was about to drive his 1990's mustang off the edge of the earth for one last hoorah!

For a bassist who has spent years performing and recording across Italy, the UK and the United States, it is refreshing to see Feroci using his solo work to simply have some fun with the instrument. “BassQuakes” is loud, strange, playful and unapologetically bass-forward. Basically, if a bass guitar could crash-land on another planet and immediately start a funk-rock riot, it might sound something like this.

“BassQuakes” is out now on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and all major streaming platforms.