Who is BARELY ALIVE? BARELY ALIVE Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like BARELY ALIVE
There are production duos in bass music, and then there is BARELY ALIVE. The Massachusetts based pair has been carving out their own corner of the EDM world since 2013, building a catalog that spans dubstep, riddim, electro house, and complextro with the kind of technical precision that makes other producers stop and take notes. Adam has been spinning BARELY ALIVE tracks in sets for years because they simply hit different. The bass design, the switch ups, the aggressive yet musical approach. This is production at the highest level.
Who Is BARELY ALIVE?
BARELY ALIVE is an American electronic music production duo consisting of Matthew Meier and William Watkins. Based in Massachusetts, the two joined forces in 2013 and quickly established themselves as one of the most technically gifted acts in modern dubstep. The duo releases primarily through Disciple Recordings, a label known for nurturing some of the heaviest and most innovative producers in the game.
What sets BARELY ALIVE apart from the flood of bass music producers is their versatility. They do not just make one style. One track will be face melting riddim, the next will be a meticulously crafted electro house banger, and the one after that might be a vocal driven melodic piece that shows off their songwriting chops. That range is rare, and it is exactly why their tracks end up in DJ sets across every subgenre of bass music.
The duo has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the scene: Zomboy, 12th Planet, PhaseOne, Virtual Riot, and INFEKT, among others. These are not casual collaborations either. Every joint track sounds like both artists pushed each other to their absolute limit. The result is music that sits at the intersection of technical mastery and raw energy.
BARELY ALIVE’s Sound Explained
Describing BARELY ALIVE’s sound requires acknowledging that they refuse to stay in one lane. At their core, they are a dubstep act, but that label barely scratches the surface. Their productions pull from brostep’s aggressive sound design, riddim‘s hypnotic minimalism, electro house’s high energy drops, and even complextro’s intricate rhythmic patterns.
The bass design is where BARELY ALIVE truly shines. Their low end has a weight and texture that feels almost physical. These are not generic sine wave wobbles or recycled Serum presets. Each bass patch feels designed from scratch, with complex modulation routing that creates movement and character. When a BARELY ALIVE drop hits, you know it immediately because nothing else sounds quite like it.
Their melodic work deserves attention too. Tracks like “Imagineer” and “Know You Better” showcase an ability to write genuine songs with vocal features, chord progressions, and emotional dynamics. This duality, the capacity to be both devastatingly heavy and genuinely musical, is what gives their catalog such replay value.
Top 15 Tracks
- Time Machine (with Zomboy): A masterclass in collaborative bass design. Two of the genre’s best producers going head to head, and the result is pure fire.
- SPEED DEMON: Pure aggressive energy from start to finish. The drop hits like a freight train and never lets up.
- Electric Lady (with Nyptane & XO ELIZA): Shows off the duo’s melodic side with crisp vocal work and a drop that balances heaviness with musicality.
- OBSCURE VIBE (with INFEKT): Two bass music powerhouses linking up for a riddim workout that oozes groove and texture.
- Wompum VIP: The VIP treatment takes an already classic BARELY ALIVE track and cranks every element to the next level.
- Send It (with 12th Planet & PhaseOne): Three producers at the top of their game combining for an absolute weapon of a track.
- Bad Boys (BARELY ALIVE & YDG Remix): A remix that completely transforms the original into a bass heavy monster with attitude for days.
- Know You Better (with XO ELIZA & Drew Seeley): Smooth, melodic, and proof that BARELY ALIVE can write songs that resonate beyond the festival crowd.
- Imagineer (with XO ELIZA): Dreamy synth work building into drops that are both heavy and emotional. The kind of track that works at 2 AM or 2 PM.
- HANDS UP: Peak energy dubstep that demands movement. The title says everything you need to know about what happens when this one drops.
- Zombie Hunter: An early track that put BARELY ALIVE on the map. Raw, aggressive, and still holds up years later.
- Chicken Jockey: The kind of quirky, inventive bass music that only BARELY ALIVE would think to make. Creative sound design at its finest.
- Hold Me: A deeper cut that showcases emotional range alongside the duo’s signature bass weight.
- Lens: Precise, clinical production with groove to spare. Everything in its right place.
- Partner in Crime (with Virtual Riot): Two of bass music’s most technical producers creating something that could only come from their combined skill sets.
Why 4D4M Vibes With BARELY ALIVE
The connection between 4D4M and BARELY ALIVE comes down to a shared philosophy: bass music should push boundaries while still making people move. 4D4M’s own productions sit in that same space where technical sound design meets dancefloor energy. When Adam is building tracks in the studio, the standard BARELY ALIVE sets for bass design and arrangement is exactly the kind of benchmark that drives better production.
Both acts understand that heaviness for its own sake gets old fast. You need groove, you need musicality, you need moments of dynamics that make the drops hit harder. BARELY ALIVE nails that balance consistently, and that craft translates directly to the kind of sets 4D4M plays out. The energy is infectious, the production is meticulous, and the result is music that works just as well on headphones as it does on a massive club system.
Discography
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | We Are Barely Alive | Disciple Recordings |
| 2016 | Shirts Off EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2017 | Wompum EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2018 | Steel Lungs EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2019 | Wifi Tears EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2020 | Fully Loaded EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2021 | Reaper EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2022 | Impact Weaponz EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2023 | Digital Tremors EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2024 | Wired For Sound EP | Disciple Recordings |
Live and Touring
BARELY ALIVE has become a staple at major bass music events worldwide. The duo regularly performs at festivals like Lost Lands, EDC, Bass Canyon, and WAKAAN Music Festival. Their live sets are known for being high energy from start to finish, mixing original productions with edits and remixes that keep the crowd engaged throughout.
What makes a BARELY ALIVE set special is the pacing. These two understand how to build tension and release it, how to transition between subgenres without losing momentum, and how to read a crowd. They are not just pressing play on a pre arranged mix. Every set feels crafted for the specific moment and venue.
Beyond festivals, BARELY ALIVE has completed multiple headlining tours across North America and Europe, selling out midsize venues consistently. Their Disciple Recordings showcases, which often feature label mates like Virtual Riot performing back to back, have become legendary in the bass music community for their energy and exclusive unreleased track drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is BARELY ALIVE?
BARELY ALIVE primarily produces dubstep and riddim, but their catalog spans electro house, complextro, trap, and melodic bass music. They are known for refusing to be boxed into a single genre, often switching styles between tracks on the same EP. This versatility is one of their biggest strengths as producers.
Is BARELY ALIVE a duo?
Yes, BARELY ALIVE is a production duo consisting of Matthew Meier and William Watkins. The two producers are based in Massachusetts and have been working together since 2013. Their collaborative dynamic is a huge part of what makes their music so layered and complex.
What label is BARELY ALIVE on?
BARELY ALIVE releases primarily through Disciple Recordings, one of the most respected bass music labels in the world. The label is home to other major acts like Virtual Riot and has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of dubstep, riddim, and bass music production.
What are BARELY ALIVE’s most popular songs?
Some of BARELY ALIVE’s most popular tracks include “Time Machine” with Zomboy, “SPEED DEMON,” “Electric Lady,” “Send It” with 12th Planet and PhaseOne, and “Wompum VIP.” These tracks consistently appear in DJ sets and festival lineups across the bass music scene.
Has BARELY ALIVE played at Lost Lands?
Yes, BARELY ALIVE is a regular performer at Lost Lands, the massive dubstep and bass music festival hosted by Excision. Their sets at the festival are consistently among the most talked about each year, featuring heavy dubstep and riddim alongside unreleased collaborations.
Who has BARELY ALIVE collaborated with?
BARELY ALIVE has collaborated with a wide range of bass music artists including Zomboy, Virtual Riot, 12th Planet, PhaseOne, INFEKT, Wooli, and YDG. These collaborations consistently push both artists to deliver their best work, resulting in tracks that define the modern bass music sound.
Where can I listen to BARELY ALIVE?
BARELY ALIVE’s music is available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud. Their full discography is available through Disciple Recordings. Live sets and remixes can also be found on their YouTube channel.
BARELY ALIVE Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | BARELY ALIVE on SoundCloud |
| @BarelyAliveUS | |
| @BarelyAliveUS | |
| YouTube | BARELY ALIVE on YouTube |
| BARELY ALIVE on Facebook |
