Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is constantly evolving, with subgenres appearing as fast as the BPMs that make up the songs of the style. One of the more recent EDM subgenres borrows sounds from the past to create its futuristic style, and is known as Future Bass. It’s melodic and synthy, and is both intimate and explosive. Let’s take a closer look at the genre, what defines it, and how you can incorporate it into your next creative project.
What is Future Bass
Future Bass is a style of electronic dance music (EDM) that blends elements of Trap, Dubstep, and House, but with a warmer, more melodic sound. Unlike the aggressive drops of Dubstep or the relentless energy of Trap, Future Bass emphasizes emotional depth.
- Sound design: Heavy use of modulated synthesizers, side-chained* chords, and wobbling bass lines.
- Mood: Often uplifting, dreamy, or bittersweet.
- Structure: Builds tension with airy pads and vocal chops, then releases into euphoric drops filled with shimmering synths.
The genre is versatile, appearing in festival anthems, chill playlists, and even pop collaborations.
*Side-chaining is a production technique where the signal from one track triggers an effect, usually a compressor, on another track. In simple terms, it lets one sound automatically lower the volume of another.
History of Future Bass
The basic ideas for Future Bass started to form in the mid-2000s. A key moment was in 2006 when Flying Lotus released his album 1983. This album used the famous Roland TR-808 drum machine, a staple of dance music. More importantly, it showed clear influences from Dubstep and a calmer style of electronic music called Chill Trap. This blend of heavy beats and more relaxed sounds was the foundation on which Future Bass would be built.
In the few years after 2010, Future Bass truly became its own popular music style. Scottish producer Rustie released two albums that helped define the sound: Sunburst (2010) and Glass Swords (2011). These records brought in the bright, highly-produced sounds the genre is known for. The first Future Bass producer to get a huge hit was Flume. His 2013 remix of Disclosure’s “You & Me” introduced the new sound to the general public.
Around 2015, Future Bass began to branch out. A Japanese producer, Snail’s House, introduced a new subgenre, Kawaii Future Bass, with the Kirara EP. “Kawaii” means cute in Japanese, and this style adds elements of Japanese pop culture, such as audio clips from anime and video games, to the music.
The New York music group The Chainsmokers, who formed in 2012, have since achieved even greater success than Flume’s original hit. By blending Hip-Hop, Dubstep, and Trap, The Chainsmokers created major pop hits like “Roses,” “Closer,” and “Who Do You Love.” Another important artist is Illenium. This Chicago DJ made his own popular tracks by remixing songs by artists like The Chainsmokers and Flume. These remixes show how the Future Bass sound continues to grow by building on the success of its own pioneers.
Today, Future Bass remains a thriving and evolving genre. It has influenced pop music, EDM, gaming soundtracks, and social media trends.
Future Bass Characteristics
Future Bass has a handful of signature traits that make it instantly recognizable. Here are the main elements that define the sound:
- Synth-driven melodies: Detuned, modulated, or “wobbly” synth chords (often sidechained for pulsing effect).
- Vocal chops: Heavily processed, pitched vocal samples are a defining texture.
- Punchy trap-influenced drums: Snare rolls, hi-hat flurries, and 808-inspired beats.
- Dynamic drops: Build-ups that explode into euphoric, chord-heavy sections.
- Tempo: Typically ranges between 130–160 BPM (often around 140 BPM).
Meet your Future Bass Pond5 Artists for 3 creative uses in your projects
- Manifest_MnS – A Pond5 Artist since 2019, and a bit of a mystery, so we’ll let the music speak for itself. Two of the eight available tracks, Radiant Rush Future Bass and Glitter Bounce Future Bass have uplifting, positive vibes that are perfect for corporate videos.
- Robertkemmann230 – A Pond5 Artist since 2023 with an eclectic collection of tracks to choose from. Future Bass Loop No. 2 has a sophisticated sound to heighten any high-end product, like sleek cars and luxurious watches.
- SplashStudio – A Pond5 Artist since 2017 with almost two thousand tracks and thousands of SFX. The track, Urban Chic – Main Version (Pop, Future Bass, Fashion) is a catchy, melodic tune that exudes confidence and glamour. It’s the perfect soundtrack for your fashion show or to showcase urban nightlife.
The future is now. Don’t wait another second to finish your project with the sound that will make it right. Find royalty-free Future Bass tracks on Pond5 to add shimmering depth to your next creative project. Subscribe to Pond5 today.