Who is BARELY ALIVE? BARELY ALIVE Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like BARELY ALIVE
There are dubstep duos that play it safe, and then there is BARELY ALIVE. Adam has been obsessed with this Massachusetts duo since first hearing “Time Machine” rattle through a festival PA, and that obsession has only grown. The sheer aggression of their bass design, combined with genuinely melodic moments, makes BARELY ALIVE one of the most distinct acts in modern dubstep. This is not background music.
4D4M studies what makes heavy bass music work, and BARELY ALIVE consistently delivers some of the best case studies available. Their ability to move between bone-crushing riddim patterns and emotionally charged melodic passages within a single track is rare. Matthew Meier and William “Watt” Watkins do it with a precision that stands out across a crowded field.
Who Is BARELY ALIVE
BARELY ALIVE is an American electronic music duo founded in 2013, composed of Matthew Meier and William “Watt” Watkins. The two grew up together in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, attending Monument Mountain Regional High School together. They started producing together that same year, releasing early singles on Dirty Duck Audio and Adapted Records, quickly building a following through remixes of Getter, Virtual Riot, and Astronaut.
In 2014, the duo signed to Disciple Recordings and dropped their debut EP, Lost In The Internet. The response was immediate: BARELY ALIVE finished as the second best-selling dubstep artist on Beatport for 2014. Their debut full-length album arrived in October 2015 on Disciple Recordings, featuring 14 tracks that covered everything from anthemic festival dubstep to rawer, darker territory.
Since then, the duo has released music on OWSLA, Monstercat, Firepower, Bassrush, and their own Killed It! imprint. Their second album, Odyssey, landed in August 2018 and pushed their sound further. Within the duo, William “Watt” Watkins handles performance and touring while Matthew Meier drives the production.
BARELY ALIVE’s Sound Explained
BARELY ALIVE operates primarily in dubstep, but their catalogue pulls from riddim, trap, electro house, glitch-hop, drumstep, and bass music broadly. The result holds together stylistically while covering a lot of ground.
At the center is bass design. BARELY ALIVE basses have a mechanical, almost robotic quality. The growls in tracks like “Wompum VIP” and “HANDS UP” are layered and textured in a way that rewards proper sound system listening. These are not simple patches. They are intricate constructions that shift and morph across a track, keeping the listener locked in through repeated plays.
Their riddim work is especially sharp. Riddim lives or dies on groove and repetition, and BARELY ALIVE understands how to use minimal structure without it feeling empty. “SPEED DEMON” demonstrates this: the groove locks in early and never lets go, but something always shifts underneath to keep it fresh. When vocal collaborators come in, they know how to give those moments room before bringing the bass back.
Top 15 BARELY ALIVE Tracks
- Time Machine (feat. Zomboy): The collaboration between two of dubstep’s sharpest acts. The drop hits like a freight train and this is the track that hooks new listeners immediately.
- SPEED DEMON: Pure riddim energy, locked tight from start to finish. A crowd-mover in the truest sense.
- OBSCURE VIBE (feat. INFEKT): A darker, more atmospheric collab with INFEKT that leans into the duo’s experimental side. The vibe is genuinely unsettling in the best way.
- Electric Lady (feat. Nyptane, XO ELIZA): The melodic side of BARELY ALIVE. XO ELIZA carries the top line while the production simmers before eventually detonating.
- Wompum VIP: A rework of one of their signature tracks, with the bass taken to another level. VIP versions give them room to push further than the original.
- HANDS UP: Floor-focused, relentless riddim. Short, sharp, nothing wasted.
- Know You Better (feat. XO ELIZA, Drew Seeley): A more pop-influenced take that still holds the duo’s production fingerprints throughout.
- Bad Boys (BARELY ALIVE & YDG Remix): Their remix of the Marshmello and Lil Jon collab. They replace the pop sheen with something considerably heavier while keeping the original recognizable.
- Send It (feat. 12th Planet, PhaseOne): Three of bass music’s heaviest names on one track, and it delivers on every bit of that potential.
- Imagineer (feat. XO ELIZA): A polished, intricate collab with details that reveal themselves on repeated listens.
- Hackers (feat. Armanni Reign): A standout from their debut album. Armanni Reign’s vocals cut through the bass perfectly and the drop lands every time.
- Windpipe (feat. Ragga Twins): The Ragga Twins bring a distinctive dancehall flavor. An unusual collab that pays off completely.
- Stomp: Exactly what the title promises. No frills, no filler, just a properly aggressive dubstep track.
- Binary: A more technical track that highlights the production precision the duo brings to the studio. Intricate without being cold.
- The Riddler: A nod to the classic riddim sound with a modern production approach. The groove is infectious.
Why 4D4M Vibes With BARELY ALIVE
BARELY ALIVE makes music that works equally well in a festival main stage set and as focused, headphones-on production study material. That dual function is something 4D4M actively looks for. When you dig into how they build a drop, how they layer bass elements and use negative space in riddim patterns, there is a lot to absorb. The evolution of dubstep from its UK roots to the American bass music explosion runs through acts like BARELY ALIVE.
Beyond the production angle, the energy is right. Dubstep that hits hard but still has personality. Bass music that takes risks rather than chasing whatever formula is working right now. BARELY ALIVE has been delivering on that since 2013.
BARELY ALIVE Discography
| Year | Album / EP | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Lost In The Internet EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2015 | We Are Barely Alive | Disciple Recordings |
| 2016 | We Are Barely Alive: The Remixes | Disciple Recordings |
| 2017 | Domain EP | OWSLA |
| 2018 | Odyssey | Disciple Recordings |
| 2019 | Lost In Time EP | Disciple Recordings |
| 2019 | Multiplayer EP | Disciple Recordings |
| Various | Singles on Monstercat, Firepower, Bassrush | Multiple Labels |
BARELY ALIVE Live and Touring
Within BARELY ALIVE, William “Watt” Watkins handles live and touring duties while Matthew Meier focuses on production. The duo has toured extensively across the US and Europe, sharing stages with Datsik, Trolley Snatcha, and other bass music names. Booking is handled through United Talent Agency with separate European and Asian representation. Follow their social channels for upcoming dates.
BARELY ALIVE FAQ
Who are the members of BARELY ALIVE?
BARELY ALIVE is a duo made up of Matthew Meier and William “Watt” Watkins. Both grew up in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where they attended Monument Mountain Regional High School together. Matthew handles production and studio work while William focuses on live performance and touring. They began making music together in 2013. The name came from a random movie quote and their logo was inspired by a test card.
What genre is BARELY ALIVE?
BARELY ALIVE works primarily in dubstep and riddim, with influence from trap, electro house, glitch-hop, drumstep, and bass music broadly. Their sound is rooted in heavy, textured bass design paired with aggressive rhythmic patterns. On vocal-focused tracks they incorporate melodic elements without abandoning the bass-first approach. Best classified as a bass music act with dubstep and riddim as primary styles, though their catalogue covers more ground than a single genre label suggests.
What label is BARELY ALIVE on?
BARELY ALIVE has released on several labels. Their primary output has been through Disciple Recordings, where they dropped their debut album and multiple EPs including the second album Odyssey. They also released material on OWSLA (the Domain EP in 2017), Monstercat, Firepower, Bassrush, and their own Killed It! imprint. This spread across multiple respected labels reflects their productivity and the demand for their music.
Where is BARELY ALIVE from?
BARELY ALIVE is from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, in the United States. The duo formed there in 2013 after Matthew Meier and William Watkins connected through their high school music program. Great Barrington is a small town in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts, making BARELY ALIVE an unlikely export from an area not typically associated with the bass music scene.
What are BARELY ALIVE’s most popular tracks?
Their most recognized tracks include “Time Machine” featuring Zomboy, “SPEED DEMON”, “OBSCURE VIBE” featuring INFEKT, “Wompum VIP”, and “Send It” with 12th Planet and PhaseOne. From their debut album, “Hackers” featuring Armanni Reign and “Windpipe” featuring the Ragga Twins are standouts. Their melodic collaborations with XO ELIZA, including “Electric Lady” and “Imagineer”, have also found strong audiences across different corners of the bass music fanbase.
Are BARELY ALIVE still active?
Yes, BARELY ALIVE has been active since 2013 and continues to release music and tour. They have maintained consistent output across more than a decade, releasing on multiple labels and playing festivals across the US and Europe. Management through Distorted Management and booking through United Talent Agency indicates a serious, ongoing operation.
How did BARELY ALIVE get their start?
BARELY ALIVE formed in 2013 when Matthew Meier and William Watkins began producing together in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Early releases went out on Dirty Duck Audio and Adapted Records, and they built a following through remixes of Getter, Virtual Riot, and Astronaut. The breakout came when they signed to Disciple Recordings in 2014 and released the Lost In The Internet EP, landing as the second best-selling dubstep artist on Beatport for that year.
Listen to BARELY ALIVE on Spotify
Listen to BARELY ALIVE on SoundCloud
BARELY ALIVE Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | @barelyalive |
| Twitter / X | @BarelyAliveUS |
| @BarelyAliveUS | |
| barelyalivemusic | |
| YouTube | BARELY ALIVE on YouTube |
| Official Website | barelyalivemusic.com |
