Who is Modestep? Modestep Songs, Music, Discography & Artists Like Modestep
Some artists blur the line between electronic music and live band energy so hard that you can not even tell where one ends and the other begins. Modestep does exactly that. As someone who lives and breathes bass music, Adam has always been drawn to producers who refuse to stay in one lane. Modestep took dubstep, drum and bass, electronic rock, and trap, then smashed them all together into something that sounds like a rave inside a rock concert.
4D4M recognizes Modestep since the early days, when Sunlight started blowing up on BBC Radio 1 and the whole UK bass scene was paying attention. There is something magnetic about an act that can drop filthy wobbles one second and then hit you with live vocals and guitar the next. That kind of range is rare, and it is exactly the type of energy that keeps bass music exciting.
Who Is Modestep
Modestep is a dubstep and electronic rock project from London, England. It was originally formed as a band in 2010 by brothers Josh and Tony Friend. The early lineup also included guitarist Nick Tsang and drummer Matthew Curtis. Together they built a sound that fused heavy bass drops with live rock instrumentation, which set them apart from every other dubstep act at the time.
The band went through several lineup changes over the years. Kyle Deek and Pat Lundy joined in 2014 after Curtis and Tsang departed. Tony Friend left in 2017, and when Pat Lundy departed in 2022, Modestep became a solo project helmed by Josh Friend. Despite the shifting roster, the core identity has stayed consistent: heavy, genre-bending electronic music with real attitude.
The debut single Feel Good hit the BBC Radio 1 A Playlist in 2011 and charted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart, landing Modestep on major labels like Polydor and Interscope before moving into the underground with releases on Monstercat, Disciple Records, UKF, and Never Say Die.
Modestep’s Sound Explained
Modestep’s sound is a collision of genres that should not work together but absolutely does. At its foundation, you have classic UK dubstep with massive wobble basses and half-time rhythms. Layer on top of that aggressive rock vocals, distorted guitars, and drum and bass breakbeats, and you get something that is completely its own thing.
The production quality has always been top tier. Early Modestep tracks leaned heavily into the filthy dubstep sound that was dominating the UK scene in 2010 and 2011. Sunlight and Feel Good had that classic Brostep energy with huge drops and sing-along hooks. As the project matured, trap influences crept in, and the drum and bass side became more prominent.
What sets Modestep apart is the commitment to live elements. Even as a solo act, Josh Friend layers in vocal performances and real instrumentation that give the tracks a raw, human quality. The bass design is consistently nasty: metallic screeches, growling mid-range, and sub-shaking low end that pulls from the Disciple Records school of sound design.
Top 15 Tracks
1. Sunlight
The track that put Modestep on the map. Sunlight hit the Radio 1 A-list, debuted at number 16 on the UK charts, and still goes off at every festival.
2. Show Me A Sign
A darker, more aggressive cut that shows off Modestep’s heavier side. The bass hits like a freight train and the vocal delivery is raw.
3. Feel Good
The debut single that started everything. It captures that early dubstep energy perfectly with its infectious vocal line and wobbly bass drops.
4. On My Mind (with Hedex)
Hedex brings the breakneck drum patterns while Modestep delivers the melodic top line. Pure dancefloor energy.
5. Another Day (xKore Remix)
xKore flipped this collab into something absolutely chaotic with glitchy sound design and relentless energy.
6. Hang My Heart
Emotionally charged production with a vocal performance that carries real weight. It hits different late at night.
7. Bodybag
Modestep at peak aggression. Relentless bass design built for maximum impact on a festival sound system.
8. Limerence (with Cassyette)
Cassyette’s rock vocal energy meets Modestep’s electronic production. Right at the intersection of bass music and alternative rock.
9. Final Boss (Modestep Remix)
Modestep turned Naeleck and Hige Driver’s track into an absolute banger with signature bass design that hits like a final boss.
10. We Don’t Play
A massive Disciple Records collab with 12th Planet, Dirtyphonics, Fox Stevenson, Dodge & Fuski, and more. Pure chaos.
11. To The Stars
Anthemic and uplifting before dropping into absolute mayhem. Made the Radio 1 A-list alongside Sunlight.
12. Evolution Theory
The title track from the debut album. Sets the tone with a blend of electronic and rock elements that defined early Modestep.
13. Living for the Weekend
Festival-ready anthem from the London Road era. Massive chorus and a drop designed for crowd singalongs.
14. Higher
Leans into Modestep’s melodic side without losing the bass weight. The vocal hook sticks with you.
15. Machines
Dark, heavy, and mechanical. Strips back the pop sensibility and goes full aggression.
Why 4D4M Vibes With Modestep
4D4M gravitates toward artists who refuse to be boxed in, and Modestep is the definition of that mentality. The way Modestep blends dubstep, rock, drum and bass, and trap into a single cohesive sound is exactly the kind of genre-fluid approach that 4D4M respects. There are no boundaries, just good music that hits hard.
The fact that Modestep started as a full band and evolved into a solo project without losing any of the energy is impressive. Josh Friend kept the spirit alive through every lineup change, and the music stayed heavy, honest, and unapologetically loud. That kind of resilience and commitment to the craft resonates deeply with anyone building something in electronic music.
Discography
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Feel Good (Single) | Polydor |
| 2012 | Sunlight (Single) | Polydor |
| 2012 | To The Stars (Single) | Polydor |
| 2013 | Evolution Theory | Polydor |
| 2015 | London Road | Interscope |
| 2017 | Higher (Single) | Monstercat |
| 2018 | Summer (EP) | Disciple Records |
| 2019 | Set Me Free (Single) | Monstercat |
| 2020 | Bodybag (Single) | Never Say Die |
| 2023 | Limerence (Single) | UKF |
Live and Touring
Modestep built a reputation as one of the most explosive live acts in bass music. During the band era, the live show featured full instrumentation with drums, guitar, bass, and vocals on top of electronic production. The project has played major festivals including Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Download Festival, and Tomorrowland. As a solo act, Josh Friend continues to perform DJ sets at clubs and festivals, bringing that same high-energy approach to every show.
What genre is Modestep?
Modestep spans dubstep, electronic rock, drum and bass, and trap. The project started as a full band blending live instrumentation with heavy bass music, and has evolved into a solo electronic act while keeping those genre-blending roots intact. You can hear elements of UK bass culture, alternative rock, and festival-ready dance music all in the same tracks.
Is Modestep a band or a solo act?
Modestep started as a band in 2010, founded by brothers Josh and Tony Friend in London. The original lineup included guitarist Nick Tsang and drummer Matthew Curtis. After several lineup changes, the project became a solo act by Josh Friend in 2022 when Pat Lundy departed. The music continues under the Modestep name.
What is Modestep’s most popular song?
Sunlight remains Modestep’s biggest track. It hit the BBC Radio 1 A-list and debuted at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video crossed one million YouTube views in four days. The track broke from the bass music underground into mainstream recognition and still hits hard at festivals.
What labels has Modestep released on?
Modestep has released on Polydor, Interscope, Monstercat, Disciple Records, UKF, and Never Say Die. That range shows the ability to move between major label crossovers and underground bass music heavyweights. Not many acts can claim releases on both Interscope and Disciple.
Where is Modestep from?
Modestep is from London, England, founded there in 2010 by brothers Josh and Tony Friend. London’s deep connection to dubstep, drum and bass, and underground rave culture shaped everything about the project. The second album is literally called London Road.
What albums has Modestep released?
Modestep has released two studio albums. Evolution Theory dropped in February 2013 on Polydor with singles Sunlight, Feel Good, To The Stars, Show Me a Sign, and Another Day. London Road followed in May 2015 on Interscope. Beyond the albums, numerous EPs and singles have landed on Disciple Records and Monstercat.
Does Modestep still make music?
Yes. While the project shifted from a full band to Josh Friend operating solo, Modestep is still active and releasing new music. Josh continues to produce, release, and perform live, collaborating across the dubstep and drum and bass scenes. The sound keeps evolving while staying true to that heavy, genre-bending foundation.
Listen to Modestep
Modestep Online
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Spotify | Listen on Spotify |
| SoundCloud | @modestep |
| @modestep | |
| Modestep on Facebook |
