New Discussion Feature

CONNECT

Almost 15 years ago when I began envisioning the project I now call ‘Bassnectar,’ I had a million questions to ask, and a million thoughts to share. I wanted to create some kind of platform that would enable me to make a positive impact in the lives of others. There were many hypothetical details, many idealistic notions, and still many questions.

I never really conceived of it becoming what it is today, and due to the amorphous nature of my work flow, my creativity, and my oddball personality, I am not even sure where it is headed, but I am clinging along for the wild, wild, wild ride.

In the meantime, I am feeling overwhelmed by lack of time, and consumed by a million side projects I want to explore and by various ways I want to channel the momentum of Bassnectar and use it to effect positive change in the lives of others. And as a result of my lack of free time, I have become FLOODED with mail, messages, questions, interviews, etc, and I feel like I do not have time to adequately respond. Even when I do, there is no central organization or forum, so a lot of the same questions keep getting asked. Instead of just posting static responses, I would rather engage in constructive dialogue.

So…

We thought we would experiment a bit and start up a Q&A section, kind of like a Question of the Week or something… The idea being that you have a place to anonymously submit questions (see the form below), and we will pick one each week and try to give a thorough answer whenever we can find a moment amidst the melee. Hopefully this will evolve into some serious discussion about deep issues, not the typical superficial banter that seems to be about 90% of online interaction.

Feel free to ask about things that you really want to know, even if it’s just advice, or for some personal insight. Or you can challenge me if you take issue with something I have said or expressed in the past, or if you have heard your friends tell you I am a mainstream sellout, or that I eat babies, or that I am an alien, whatever….maybe I will wind up not having time to respond, but I will give it my best shot.

:)

Thanks!

L

  • ballin eff

    this is awesome. no other artist does this stuff anymore! way to be lorin!

  • chris

    Thank you lorin please get to my answer! lol i know your a busy man but please make my life and answer my question

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Phillip-Irwin/570332377 Phillip Irwin

    Awesome Idea Lorin! I Love how connected you are with your FANS its incredible! Keep up the hard work and if you can get too my question that would be really Great! if not see you at the Bass Center!!!

  • wazilla

    there we goooo, the soapbox I said!
    this is legit, I hope you find the time to share with everyone
    btw, i have a tits recipe for baby barley stew that you just have to try!

  • Birdie

    I submitted a really long question, not sure if it sent, so I'll just say thank you lorin, Michael, and Elliot, you made our 3 year wedding anniversary more magical than ever
    Always grateful, always bassfull
    Jay and Birdie

  • Taniaqt2002

    Your gonna be at BONNAROO, thank you thank you, ahhh its not a festi without your bass!! Looking forward to seeing you in MI and TN!!

  • Mhebert813

    This is incredibly impressive, yet in no way surprising. Your work ethic and ability to network with hundreds of thousands of people is the very reason I have been for years, and will forever be a fan of this project. Thank you. Ill be sure to get you another trophy the next time I see you.

  • Phoebe Bender

    Lorin-
    You were absolutely amazing at Snowball Music Festival!! Every show of yours I go to is just as amazing as the one before. I am soooooo excited by the announcement of your next show. The show that you are playing at Red Rocks on June 18th is my 21st birthday!!! You have given me the best birthday gift ever!!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!
    -Phoebe

    • Justin

      I agree with Phoebe that the snowball music festival was an amazing show especially given the mountain surrounding.  I got tingles when Bassnecty said ” let’s warm everyone up !”  before he started the set

  • Baggio_74

    Thanks for coming to Omaha, NE last night the BASS was so intense. Its my second time seeing you. The whole crew did a damn good job.

    Thanks again,

    Robert D.

  • Torin

    what programs do you use the most to make your music or which ones do you enjoy using the most?

    also
    what is the name of the song you played at the 4-22 show in boston that was immediately before YES? its been bugging me ever since!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…

    cheers!

    • lesliebooher

      almost there torin!

      instead of posting as a comment that gets lost in the mix of all the others

      scroll up here on this page and enter all this and your contact email into that form up there ^^

      right after it says Submit A Question

      • Torin

        haha alright i got it now. thanks Bhaley this song is exactly what ive been looking for, now just waiting for bassnectar to release the remix he had

        • Bhaley

          no problem when I first heard that song I searched high and low to find it hopefully this will be on his upcoming EP

          • Torin

            was just told that it will be! soooooo pumped its probably gonna be all i listen to on my ipod for a good while.

  • YumYum

    I was at work today and I heard the song, “Youth of the Nation” by P.O.D. and I thought that this would be a great song for you to fuck around with. I heard a couple of mixes on soundcloud by other people and I wasn’t all that impressed. Anyway, my first time seeing you spin was in Seattle at the Paramount Theater, and honestly dude, I don’t know how you do it, but your music is phenomenal. For real man, you’re a genius when it comes to bumps and beats. Hope all is well, and for you to come back to Seattle and play at the Paramount, because that place is beautiful ;)  -NMR

    • Shasta Lee

      hey you should drop that remix request in the request line.
      right hand side of the tour page :)

  • CJB

    Thanks lorin for getting this back now maybe we can get info out in the fight about real issues.

  • CJB

    Super Congress: the final nail in the coffin of representative democracy and freedom as we know it
    http://www.infowars.com/super-congress-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-representative-democracy-and-freedom-as-we-know-it/

  • CJB

    Rawesome Foods small victory: James Stewart bail reduced to $30,000, Victoria Bloch released from jail

    Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/033234_Rawesome_Foods_news_update.html#ixzz1R1DnQ1xY

    http://www.naturalnews.com/033234_Rawesome_Foods_news_update.html

  • babypat

    wht was tht “swagg” sond played at bass isand?????

  • Anspach_07

    I just gotta say, that on average…the….i dont want to say “average” cause non of us are average right? (above average most def) but the people i meet who get excited when i mention i like Bassnectar turn out to be some of the most open minded happy to help a person than any other group. it is one big bass family. and I love bein in it! pass on the love when you can, we are already starting a wave of openness right?

    • Thomashlewis

      yes, I know exactly what you mean. its pretty wild I have to admit. Glad to be part of the family

      • Shasta Lee

        YES!
        bass family <3

  • Thomashlewis

    Dear Lorin,
         My buddy and I are going to see you this coming weekend in DC. We are so excited and cant wait to see you. When I saw you at Snowball in Avon Colorado you threw down Pink Elephants and it blew my mind, absolutely spectacular. I have been dying to hear it again. I am more than certain that your set in DC will be flawless as it always is, but I pray Pink Elephants is in there somewhere. My favorite show was at the 1st Bank Center on Oct 23rd last year. Incredible. Thank you for all you’ve done, truly life changing.
     
    -Ty Lewis

    • Anonymous

      put your song requests in the request line

      http://www.bassnectar.net/requestline/

      • Thomashlewis

        thank you

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      it’s hard for me to know when a song is “TOO PLAYED” and when it is “CLASSIC”
      it is part of the art to tune into that, and it is basically a full time job.

      it’s crazy because one song can be suuuuper overplayed to one person, but to another person it is the EXACT song they want to hear

      i suggest using bassnectar.net/requestline cuz when i see a fuck ton of requests for something that helps me know when its time (and we have a TON of requests for Pink Elephants) which feels extra crazy now with our new stage set up…so quite likely you will get that one :)

  • Summel89

    dear lorin,
    making a big move from colorado to texas soon for work i couldnt be more afraid considering ive lived in colorado my whole life…my first plans when i get there is to see YOU in austin and houston…leading a journey all alone is your amazing music and your amazing atmosphere thank you!

    • Anonymous

      don’t be scared
      texas is nice :)

  • http://twitter.com/doaoberdmann James Erdmann

    Hey Lorin,
    I got in trouble for recording a live show for the first time the other day by one of the security. I didn’t even know it was a problem brfore then. But I read up on a lot of the copyright laws and now see how it infringes upon those laws(e.g. me “copying” others work without their explicit consent) My question is: Do you think it’s a big deal for people to record clips of live performances, particularly yours? What about posting it on a site like Youtube? It’s mostly all illegal, but there seems to be very little done about it, although Youtube does now seem to be much more strict, catching some, but not nearly all, and even some that is legitimate gets in trouble. I would appreciate feedback from anyone who cares to share it. :) Bass & Love     

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      it is loaded issue.
      currently, i just got back from the 3rd night in a row, and i got 2 more to go, so i need to sleep, lets chat this soon thought, it is a GREAT issue

      summary: yes!!! THE LESS PEOPLE TRY AND RECORD SHIT and the more they just LIVE IT UP in the moment THE BETTER

      its like someone at a wedding spening all their time filming the thing, instead of just weeping and laughing and cheering for their loved ones getting married and actually LIVIN the moment

      the recording can NEVER capture the moment…it is always a sad fraction of the moment, diluting the novelty with each sad replay

      L

      • http://twitter.com/doaoberdmann James Erdmann

        Good point, man. Get some grade-a rest! :)

  • hummingbirdheart

    Ah ones to wonder if Lorin will read this, lets see.

    So I’m sitting here, sick at home most likely from standing in line for 3 hours in Bloomington (which was sick by the way, SO much energy from you and the masses), missing work and all I’ve done with my time is read up on Occupy Wall St., and creep on some old school interviews with you from back in the day. Haha I’m not trying to come across as a fan girl, but you are one intelligent, eloquent man. You speak your mind and you don’t give a fuck what people think. You’ve got so much drive with an amazing message, not to mention so much natural talent. I read some of the comments people leave you, and yeah, you can womp out like a motherfucker but all I can think about is no, can you hear this? This isn’t “dubstep”, this is science. There’s love in this.

    I woke up from a DreaM abouT a year and a half ago and everything was different. I really woke the fuck up. It wasn’t long after I started Really listening to your music and getting involved in all of this. All the little details, I’ve caught them. I’ve walked out of every show I’ve seen a different person. Its almost (Allmostt) hard to rage cause all I wanna do is take everything in- the lights, the visuals, the crowd, you bouncin’ back and forth. Which by the way, fuck yeah. I hate nothing more than going to shows where the dj presses play and stand back. I mean, I’ve met people that follow you from show to show. People get your logo tattoo’d on their skin. For life. Thats just amazing.

    So I guess this is just to say thank you – from someone who you’ll never know, but whose life you’ve changed. Someone who doesn’t go for the drugs or the opening act. A, ahem, “bass head” if you will ;)

    Since you dedicate your life to this shit, I figure its gotta mean something.

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      it truly does
      even more so cuz i read this while i was home sick (got HIT HARD by the flu the day i got home from Bloomington) and i am not really one who takes all the buzz to my head, i actually really truly humbly see that you have been positively affected, and that is one of the things i set out to do, so thanks for saying hey.

      i am guessing the large effect of my work will be evident in invisible ways, as the waves of appreciation ripple out into other people, so hopefully you can be one of those waves.

      i am one of those waves for a great many of humans who have affected me :)

      • hummingbirdheart

        Everyone’s just gettin’ down with the sickness!   We got to the venue at five since doors “opened at 6″, in line about a hundred feet from the door and we didn’t even get in until eight o’clock. People herded like cows to the entrance, cutting everyone, yelling at the TWO poor security guards givin’ the job to search 7,000 bodies to hurry up haha like time was something they could control. Worth the wait, worth the cold. My hearts still beating in time with the bass drops. You’re throwing down hard for this tour, I love it. In a new city basically every other day? Fuck man do you run on batteries?

        The internets a silly little place, I almost figured I’d just be sending my words out into the ether so this just made my day/life. “as the waves of appreciation ripple out into other people, so hopefully you can be one of those waves. i am one of those waves for a great many of humans who have affected me” – Beautifully said. I feel like I’ve spent these twenty years on earth just gathering radiant souls for my love army.

        Yanno, you live, you learn, you lose your place, you pick back up and I can’t be the only one sitting and wondering why in the fuck I’m here. But theres a feeling that comes and it swells in your heart and you know. You know there there really is no reason you’re here but to experience all this fucking beauty whether it comes to you in a bass drop or a butterfly or a burger, it doesn’t matter. We’re here to learn and grow and to be happy and make a damn difference because how were living right now, it isn’t working. I respect so much that even with the fame and down and out redonk life you lead you take the time to inform people about incredibly important things without preaching. I watched a video of the set at burning man that you stopped and talked to the crowd about making a difference. 60,000 people there to party, but 60,000 people could start a revolution. People pay to hear sound waves but there aren’t even that many people on Wall St. right now to speak their minds and [potentially] change their lives FOR FREE.

        I’m twenty years old and I have this stupid job and this stupid apartment and stupid bills  to pay and stupid debt with no stupid car (straight up being a little drop in the 99% pool) but all I wanna do is live. Travel, make art, share the love, but I’m stuck in my 10-6 job dealing with people day in and day out who need to wake the fuck up. I mean, what advice would you give someone like me? I’m not talkin’ something that’ll get me through my day, I’ve been searching for something more but coming up with no results.

        Oh well look at me babble. Haha  i guess because outside of you being an artist I get down to, you’re a human I’d like to get to know >.< 

    • Shasta Lee

      wow that made me really happy.

  • elie harouk

    maaaaannn comee to lebanon com with your hair with your mixer with your mind with your soul wee need you in beirut specialy me !!! 

  • Josh Slenker

    I know you hear this all of the time but you changed my life. Happiness is sometimes so hard to come by, but no matter where I am or what I’m doing you and your music make me happy.My moms passed away last year while I myself were going through some issues, She was the only person I ever really looked up too. Taught me most of my outlooks on things in life. I recently saw you live for the first time lst weekend in ATL, blew my mind. While I was raging  I noticed myself looking behind me and all I saw were people coming together for you. Unity. I dont Just like your music, I like what it stands for. I now live by it. I now realize that through you I shall learn all that my moms didnt get to teach me. Just like her I know you wont ever lead any of us heads in the wrong direction. You take so many of us to a better place when we hear you, I just want you to know that me as a 20 year old male would not be the same if not for you Lorin. I live in North Carolina and I would love the chance to help show the love that was shown to me at my first show. Whenever your next tour on the east coast may be Id love to be able to work a show or many shows if possible.Either way you are so fucking loved. Continue to blow people away. NYE is gonna be so dope!

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      i felt the same way when i started going to raves and that is what fueled what i do today and why. i am so in awe of the deep beauty in life, i just want to give back, and hopefully people like you who also feel similarly affected will also give back to others :)

      • Wolf Haley

        Great minds think alike, hahahaha. It really is a dope feeling to be surrounded by so many people who despite where they’re from all love each other and hopefully all music in general. You’re touring right now and man do I wish I came along, with my fam. Me and my brother used to talk about going to shows and getting to meet you, I thought things like that were rare but with you and all the basshead its an everyday thing to see you interact with us. Hes been to way more shows than me, actually hes touring with you right now which I’m mad jealous about haha. Kashad is his name and bass is his game hahahha. You make him dumb happy, you make me dumb happy, and you made us alllll falllllll in love hahahaha. I got accepted to be an ambassador, not too long after the first message I posted. Like it was meant to be, hopefully I’ll get to meet you soon. You’re great and you have so much love coming from North Carolina right now its unheard of. Can’t wait for you to come back. Keep preaching with your music, I love you man.

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      i felt the same way when i started going to raves and that is what fueled what i do today and why. i am so in awe of the deep beauty in life, i just want to give back, and hopefully people like you who also feel similarly affected will also give back to others :)

  • bambam

    LORIN! do me a favour….sack off the big venues in the UK do some smaller ones and come to my town….Leeds needs you good sir, the sweaty, intoxicated youth of my city need your unifying presence and a fucking sick night, that is all :)

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      HAHAHAHA!

      why do you guys get such cool “lingo”

      come to think of it there are many things i would like to “sack off” now that i know it is an option!!! :)

      as for the small venues: the thing for me is there is such limited time, i tour full time, its never enough, almost every show sells out, and I am trying to be everywhere at once (and im not bragging here, i am SO GRATEFUL!!!!) but when i finally make it to a place i feel like it will be a year or more before i am back, so i want to let everyone in, if i play too small a venue, too many people get shut out… its tough cuz of course small venues sound better
      :)
      L

    • http://www.bassnectar.net LORIN

      HAHAHAHA!

      why do you guys get such cool “lingo”

      come to think of it there are many things i would like to “sack off” now that i know it is an option!!! :)

      as for the small venues: the thing for me is there is such limited time, i tour full time, its never enough, almost every show sells out, and I am trying to be everywhere at once (and im not bragging here, i am SO GRATEFUL!!!!) but when i finally make it to a place i feel like it will be a year or more before i am back, so i want to let everyone in, if i play too small a venue, too many people get shut out… its tough cuz of course small venues sound better
      :)
      L

  • bambam

    LORIN! do me a favour….sack off the big venues in the UK do some smaller ones and come to my town….Leeds needs you good sir, the sweaty, intoxicated youth of my city need your unifying presence and a fucking sick night, that is all :)

  • dbirdflyshi

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT30f8ODuD8&feature=channel_video_title

    what is the  name of this song that was played at the divergent spectrum tour concert?

  • Onan

    I DONT ALWAYS USE CAPS LOCK BUT WHEN I DO IM PISSED OFF AT BASSNECTAR

    • Onan

      ^for going to calgary instead of edmonton

    • Anonymous

      bahaha
      don’t yell :P

  • trp

    hey! how many subs do you planning too bring to vancouver? Im dieing in aticipation!!!

    • guest

      probably just as many as he brings to other shows…

  • Jtnichol

    Mr. Bassnectar sir,

    I’m hoping you get this message of thanks and gratitude. About a month ago I posted somewhere that I’m a music teacher in a cornfield in NE KS and how I used your song “upside down” to teach pitch and how it moves up and down. I’m saying I used that song for K-5 students man!  What  a rush for them!  They definitely got the lesson and I took it a step further to let them know some of the original sounds weren’t meant to be pitched at all but the electronic manipulation of them turned them into music rather than rhythm!  They GET IT!  (so do I)

    What I love about Bassnectar is that I can use a hip hop/electro beat and feel safe using it in the classroom because it almost never has some dumb ass rapper up there talking about himself in lyrics.  Just pure sonic love and nothing else.  good job man.

    I’m also a fellow DJ. http://www.kcdj.pro.  But I’m just a DJ nothing more.

    I’m hoping to apply for grant money to be used to bring MIDI sample pads/laptops to the music classroom so kids can experiment with tools like Maschine etc to quickly create.  Hopefully I’ll become less of a DJ and more of a creator like yourself.  Down the road.

    But of course the reason I’m writing is to THANK you for sending us the EP of “Upside Down” and “Matrix” on Vinyl!!!

    Dude….you gave me a whole new lesson just right there!  The fact 1. artists can be reached and will respond
    2.  Vinyl records and their acoustic properties compared to MP3.  

    Never the less we blasted it out um….of our Caliphone record player just like you had in elementary school.

    Dude.  We are 35 minutes from the Airport in Kansas City but if you could look out of my music classroom you would see corn on one side and cows out of the other.  

    We are blessed to have been touched by your music MR. Bassnectar sir.  The record will stay with the kids and this school forever even if I don’t.  Someday they will truly know the importance of your contribution.  More than they already know brother.

    Warmest regards,
    Jeremiah Nichol
    http://www.kcdj.pro
    http://www.facebook.com/kcdj.pro
    Music Teacher Pleasant Ridge Elementary

  • Toddelliott3

    HHey anyone know what kind of car bassnectar drives?

  • Matt

    Anybody know where Bassnectar when to high school? A few of my friends and I found his name in a 1996 yearbook at our alma mater (Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, CA). I just graduated from there, so if we are both Bellarmine alums, that would be sick. Plus, it’s an all guys school so I am sure he has a ton of fans.

    Go Bells.

    • Matt

      *went to high school

      • Connor

        I’m a sophomore at bell right now and recently everyone has been talking about him going here. Plus he lived in SJ until he was 18 so I’m assuming it’s him. Go bells

  • Bobby W.

    Lorin!! NYE in Nashville was best show hands down!! Song selection was excellent couldnt have chosen a better playlist or a better song to bring in the new year!! The having to get a band to be on the floor was disappointing because I ob didnt get one but no matter what i was still close & could see you raging & the relentless bass you kept dropping and the crowd that never stopped cuz it is impossible to!! DC area needs to see you alot more this 2012 year cuz I will attend every show close enough!!

    But on another note if you found my face after the concert id appreciate it if you can send it back to me!!

    Bobby W.

  • Bobby W.

    what is the song that you played at new years eve in nashville with the rock beat & lyrics starting off “we are the children of the sun” & when does your brand new track drop you played there also!!??

    Bobby W.

  • zachmacc1

    what equiment and software do you use