Turntable Talks recently caught up with Reggie Moe, better known as BAINBRIDGE to the world of electronic dance music. As an up and coming artist making waves in the electronic dance music industry, BAINBRIDGE highlights on his journey through trials and tribulations that have paved him a most promising path, molding him into the accomplished artist he is today. BAINBRIDGE talks new music on the way, how he got to where he is today and his plans for the future. Find out what imperative advice BAINBRIDGE has for those looking to pursue a creative career in music, providing insight into his overall experience while actively aspiring for that "big break" as an artist coming up in the music industry.
It's come to no surprise, that "big break" is in the foreseeable future for BAINBRIDGE. As dreams turn into realities, artists and influencers of BAINBRIDGE are now supporters of BAINBRIDGE himself. Excision, a maven to the EDM culture and a vital influencer of BAINBRIDGE who recently showed mad support for him when he dropped his track for a crowd of over 150,000 concert attendees during his set on the mainstage at EDC Las Vegas last month. Having played support for highly acclaimed EDM producers such as ARMNHMR, Doctor P, Knife Party and Yellow Claw, BAINBRIDGE evidently continues to release mind blowing bangers while making major moves behind the scenes.
What first initially inspired your realization that music was what you wanted to base your creative career around?
I've been into music since I was a kid. I don't think I fully realized I wanted to make music a full-time career until my first electronic show back in August of 2013. This realization motivated me because I knew I wanted to be successful in music more than anything, as it's always been my love and passion in life. I told myself I would do whatever it took to get there and that's what I continue to strive for today.
What's the backstory behind your artist alias BAINBRIDGE?
The name BAINBRIDGE came around in an interesting way. I originally went under the moniker, DJ Horizons. I noticed a bunch of upcoming DJs back in 2013/2014 who were using their first and last names, middle names, or a derivative of both. I was thinking about changing my name anyways because DJ Horizons felt generic. One day it popped into my head that hey, I have a pretty unique middle name, and so BAINBRIDGE was born.
When did you first get involved with the production and mixing of EDM and why?
I first got involved with DJing back in 2013 and started producing shortly after. For the first 3 or 4 years, it was more of a hobby and something fun to do. I knew that I wanted to make a career out of it but hadn't quite made the full commitment.
When I attended my first electronic show back in August of 2013, I instantly fell in love with it. Standing in the crowd I had an epiphany. I felt goosebumps experiencing that music for the first time live. To watch the DJ invoke that kind of energy and crowd reaction was something I had never seen before. From the moment I walked out of that show I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
What genre of music would you classify and/or compare your style and sound to?
I would classify my main sound as dubstep or more specifically, "briddim", a combination of brostep and riddim. I love the melodies and energy of brostep mixed with the sound design and flow of riddim. I usually tell people I make bass music in general with a focus on dubstep, as I occasionally release future bass and have been diving into some more trappy stuff lately. I use a lot of trap drums throughout both of my heavy and melodic releases.
What attracts you to the style of genre(s) of music you are known for producing and mixing?
I absolutely love the grimy sounds and flow that dubstep and riddim bring. The live energy is something that I think no other genre has, other than maybe drum and bass or hardstyle.
Do you have any genres of music you'd eventually like to mix or produce that you have yet to dabble in the production or mixing of?
Not at the moment, I'm pretty happy with pursuing bass music (which I consider to be dubstep/riddim, trap, future bass, and drum and bass) for the future of this project.
Have you ever considered or would you consider producing music for other artists?
I actually make rap beats on the side, usually by request only.
Do you play any instruments?
I have been playing trumpet since I was in 5th grade and guitar since 8th grade. As of right now, I'm 24 years old so I've respectively accumulated over 10 years of experience playing these instruments.
What DAWs and MIDIs do you personally enjoy working with? Do you have a preference if you had to choose between one or the other?
I swear by Ableton Live. I originally used FL Studio for a few years and finally made the decision to switch to Ableton. The layout, mixing, audio processing techniques, racks, and so much more that Ableton offers is something I feel no other DAW even comes close to. I'm comfortable with FL Studio, Logic, and Pro Tools however, Ableton will always be my weapon of choice and go to.
Do you produce and/or mix music under any other artist aliases?
I'm currently only doing music for the BAINBRIDGE project although I have some plans in line for a different alias down the road.
What do you think separates your style of music from other artists producing the same or similar sub-genres of music as you?
I think my flow and sound design paired with a contrast between melodic elements and heavy drops is what makes my style unique.
Have you worked with any labels, artist management agencies, or promotion companies in the past or are currently working with any now?
I've worked with labels such as Riddim Network, Maxd Out Records, JesusDied4Dubstep, MMXVAC/Plugged Records, and a few others. I am currently under the management of Devin Hays with Fine Line Artist Agency. I have worked with promotion companies such as Ocular Presents, Skyway Theatre, SIMshows, TC Presents, Maxd Out, 4Horsemen among others. My overall experience has been extremely good with most industry professionals I've worked with.
Where is your hometown?
This one is a tough one for me. I was born in St. Paul, MN. However, I lived between Mahtomedi, MN, and Prescott, WI as my parents were going through a divorce. When I was 10 years old my dad moved to Prescott so I lived back and forth between their houses until I was 17 when my mom and stepdad moved to Loveland, Colorado so I went with them. I stayed in Colorado for three years before I made the decision to move back here to finish my schooling in the cities.
Do you have a favorite show you've headlined at?
My favorite show had to have been when I headlined The Loft in Minneapolis in January of 2019. The energy that was brought that night, paired with seeing a lot of old friends along with the production and professionalism of the venue made for one unforgettable night. Seeing my name on that marquee was a dream come true.
Do you have a favorite artist you've especially enjoyed performing or tagging with?
My favorite artist that I've gone b2b with is probably Velvo. He's such a genuine guy and definitely gets the crowd into it.
Have you collaborated with other artists?
I have collaborated with Parallax out of LA and High Zombie. I have a lot of collabs currently in the works that I'm excited to share with everyone.
Are there any local or mainstream artists you want to collaborate with in the future?
My dreams collabs are probably Calcium, Mastadon, Excision, Virtual Riot, Slander, Skrillex, SVDDEN DEATH, and Zomboy off the top of my head. All of these guys are absolutely insane at production and are constantly pushing the industry forward.
As an up and coming artist actively working in the industry, what are some strengths and weaknesses you have personally experienced while establishing your creative career in the music industry that you have found valuable?
I've found that setting a schedule is extremely important, but also having downtime is key. If you aren't feeling music that day, take a day off and work on something else that's music-related like watching a tutorial, doing sound design, organizing samples, etc. I've found that I'm more productive if I work on music one or two days a week when I'm feeling it compared to forcing myself to work 8 hours a day.
I notice I get stuck every time I force it and complete half a song or more on the days that I feel like producing.
Mental breaks are very important to avoid writer's block so having something that I enjoy doing outside music is important for me personally. I'm a huge gamer. Writer's block is probably the biggest weakness for me. I'm such a perfectionist that I strive for the perfect sounds, mix, and uniqueness that I want to represent my project. I get the most frustrated when I can't get something going or make something I'm happy with.
Who are your influencers and how have they influenced you while successfully establishing your creative career in the music industry?
One of the biggest and only influencers I follow is Gary Vaynerchuk. The raw messages he puts out there cut straight through all of the noise and remind me why I'm doing this, why I'm passionate about it and to not stress over the little stuff and keep the big picture in mind.
Are there any artists in the music industry that have influenced your creative career?
My biggest influences right now are Calcium, SVDDEN DEATH, Mastadon, Zomboy, Boombox Cartel, and OmegaMode. These guys are pushing the boundaries of bass music every day and inspire me to do the same.
What is one of your favorite tracks that never gets old no matter how many times you've heard it?
Mastadon by Death Pit. This is one of the craziest tracks I've heard and will be on my USB for the foreseeable future.
In what ways has the music scene in Minneapolis helped shape and mold your creative career?
The Minneapolis scene has provided me with the opportunities to get my music out there, with an awesome platform to play shows and express my creativity. The fans I have in Minneapolis are die-hard supporters and I will forever be grateful for that.
How has the EDM scene influenced your creative career?
The EDM scene is constantly changing. I don't pay too much attention to scene politics and talk. I mainly focus on my music and what I want for my career.
Do you have a favorite track you've released so far?
My favorite track I've released so far is my collab with High Zombie, BRIKZ. This one was just an overall blast to write and everything happened how it was supposed to.
How has your style of music changed and progressed over the course of your creative career as an artist?
I originally started making house music, although the first genre I heard was dubstep back in 2010. I transitioned to making bass music after seeing Excision at the Bass Pod at EDC LV 2016. That set made me fall back in love with bass music and I knew I wanted to make the switch.
What concert venues have you especially enjoyed performing at and why?
My favorite venues I've performed at are Skyway Theatre and 800 Live. These two have an awesome layout and production.
Are there any concert venues or music festivals you have yet to perform at that you want to perform in the future?
My dream performance is on the main stage at EDC Las Vegas and Rampage in Belgium.
As a concert attendee, what single night out has been the most memorable for you?
The first EDM show I attended was Datsik, Delta Heavy, and Bare Noise or Aphex Twin (I can't remember) at the Ogden Theatre in Denver in August of 2013. This was the night that changed my life and made me realize I wanted to pursue a career as an electronic music producer/DJ.
What is one thing you can share about yourself with Turntable Talks that you believe your fans don't know but would want to know more about?
I struggle with depersonalization and anxiety. So many artists these days suffer from mental health issues and I feel like it's something that needs to be addressed more in the industry. We have to take care of each other.
Do you have a specific destination you'd like to live at or travel to in the future?
I absolutely plan on moving to Los Angeles when the time is right. It is the mecca for electronic music and the opportunities out there are insurmountable.
What is one valuable lesson you've learned while coming up as an active artist in the music industry?
Focusing on my music was the biggest lesson I learned. When you're constantly bombarded with people sharing their achievements and accomplishments on social media, it can stack up and take a toll on your mental health. An artist might only post one thing that week about their progress, but when your whole feed is filled with different artists sharing their accomplishments, you start to feel like you aren't going anywhere. Ignoring that and focusing on your project and what you want out of your career was the best advice I was ever given. This was extremely important for me because it pushed me a lot farther than I thought I could go, and taught me how to tune out the noise and focus.
How has the music industry influenced yourself as an artist and your life as a whole?
The music industry opened my eyes to what's really behind the scenes. So much more goes into it than just making a song and uploading it and getting to play a show. It's influenced me to tell my story and to provide that same escape to other people that dance music gave to me.
Where do you see yourself in this industry 5 years from now?
In 5 years, I see myself as someone making waves and pushing boundaries in the industry.
Do you have any plans for the release of new music up your sleeve?
I have massive plans for this project that I have been working on for the past 2 years. It's all coming together very quickly and is almost finished. I'm hoping to unveil the future of this project sometime before the end of the year. The music I have coming out is the best music I've made to date.
What three tips of advice do you have for local artists looking to pursue a successful creative career in the music industry?
My three tips of advice for people looking to create a career in the music industry would be to:
1. Surround yourself with positive people, but also people who aren't afraid to tell you where you need improvement. A lot of people get false hope instead of constructive criticism.
2. Ask yourself the ultimate question. How bad do you want this? There are thousands of other people who are working harder than you every day to get to where they want to be. Are you willing to sacrifice everything to get to where you want?
3. Don't be afraid if you aren't seeing the results you want right away. This is a lifelong career and journey. It takes years to get to a professional level, so don't rush it. Just keep on pushing and grinding. Don't ever lose sight of what you want. Chase your dreams, because they say you'll never work a day in your life if your job is doing what you love.
Where can your fans generally find you? Any specific venues, media streaming sites, or social media platforms?
I am on almost all major social media platforms. I use Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. My music can be found on SoundCloud, Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, and more.
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