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Bass Modulators shares inside information about the development of the hardstyle scene

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Bass Modulators (Rick) shared his view on developments within the hardstyle industry. With a lot of experience, Rick explains some developments from the rich history of our scene, as well as his predictions for the future.

Rick, you've witnessed the hardstyle scene evolve since 2007. What do you consider the most significant evolution within the genre, and how has it impacted your artistic expression?
I’ve seen a lot of different things evolve in the hardstyle genre. I even dare to say That it is the fastest-evolving genre out there. I’ve been there since the rise of Hardstyle itself when it was just a combination of hard trance and techno, and since then, so many things have changed.

I think one of the biggest evolutions for me was when hardstyle became more melodic and euphoric. That was the moment where it really got my attention. I always was a sucker for (hard)trance, but most of the time, I missed some energy in there, and that was what hardstyle gave me. So for me, that changed the game. But what I also like nowadays is that there are not really any rules anymore. You can experiment and do whatever you like and the boundaries are pretty much gone. So I must say I feel pretty much free to make whatever I like. With melodies, kicks, vocals, crossovers etc.

Reflecting back on the early days of your career, what elements of the hardstyle scene do you miss the most? How do these elements contrast with today's hardstyle environment?
What I really liked about the scene back in the day was the feel-good vibes in the music and on the dancefloor. It was not too complicated, but the music had a story and could definitely give you goosebumps. Everybody who goes to the classic events nowadays knows what I’m talking about. Nowadays, things are getting all over the place and really hard/raw, and a lot of times, they are missing the production quality that I’m looking for. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still enough good quality stuff out there, but I have the feeling that sometimes stuff without any story or feeling still can get high in the charts.

"Hardstyle has the best crowds in the world"

How have you observed the change in hardstyle events in terms of audience and overall atmosphere?
I think the crowd nowadays is really good. There are really fanatic fans. I think the enthusiasm didn’t really change over the years, but maybe only that you have more different groups of fans nowadays. The raw fans, euphoric fans, or specific fans of an artist. Back in the day it felt a little more that everybody was on the same page, if you know what I mean. But that’s not a bad thing. The atmosphere nowadays is still very good! Hardstyle has the best crowd in the world.

From your extensive experience in producing, how would you describe your personal musical evolution? What technological or creative shifts have you embraced in your work?
The biggest shift was when I started to be a little less perfectionistic. I still am, but back in the day, I could sit on one sound for 5 days in a row, and to be honest, that doesn’t really change the soul of the track. If the idea is right, and your hook and drops are good, I will continue finishing it faster now. Since my biggest hits are definitely not my best productions.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the future of the hardstyle scene? What trends or innovations do you foresee shaping the genre in the coming years, and how do you see Bass Modulators in this landscape?
One of the biggest changes without a doubt will be A.I. . I’m really interested in that area and I’m already looking for the boundaries of A.I. in music. There is already so much possible, from A.I. voices to chord progressions, synthesis and so on. The good part is in my opinion that it will spark a lot more possibilities and creativity. A lot of people ask me if I’m not afraid that A.I. will take over Producers, but I’m sure that the personal touch and signature of an artist are still really important to give music its soul. The software and apps available are not to replace us, but to help us go to the next level. I don’t know what the future holds, but for now I like it a lot where we are going right now.