It takes more than being in the top 1% of Nicki Minaj “Super Bass” listeners to get a nickname like ‘Bass Boss’ to stick. With a signature sound that weaves genres from all over the map with hypnotic bass lines, when it comes to Amadeezy, “eclectic” is an understatement.

Starting out going to shows in the Boston scene, he would go on to host and DJ one of the most popular monthly nights around before getting into dance music production more heavily. Earning repeated play time on outlets like NTS Radio and Boiler Room, alongside shows that take him across the country and globe, Amadeezy’s notoriety as an artist is growing by the day but the Bostonian behind the bass is still a mystery.

So, even in the midst of his busy schedule which included just wrapping sets in LA and Miami and an upcoming show in Madrid, Amadeezy took a quick breather to talk origin story, inspirations, music as a ‘career’, the legendary PVRPLE, and much more in our latest Pirate Radio. Thanks for your time Omar!

What did your introduction to music look like? First musical memory?
My first introduction to music was going to punk and hardcore shows in Boston as a kid. Around that time I was already buying vinyl. Later in my teenage years I got more into hip hop and turntablism after I saw the movie Juice on VHS with my late friend Black Hesher (RIP). I remember going to his house and he showed me how to scratch that night. That is probably one of the most memorable musical experiences for me cause I knew immediately that it was something I wanted to learn.

What’s your creative journey been like over the years? For instance we know you were involved in street art when you were younger.
Two words come to mind long and eclectic. Hardcore, punk, hip hop, and rave culture were all innovative movements in the 90’s that I was lucky to have experienced firsthand. My creative journey is sort of a melting pot of all those things culminated into a sound and ideology. As far as graffiti, it was something that almost went hand in hand with those movements and was almost a youthful rite of passage at that time. You sort of had to be there to understand how it all fit into the picture.

When did you know you wanted to pursue music as a career?
Never. Music is not my occupation! It’s truly just a labor of love and that is the true beauty and magic of the Bass Boss. There is no pressure for me to be successful by todays standards so everything I do comes from a honest place. As far as I can see people feel it in the music and respect it. So I don’t think I would ever change that by making this a full time job.

What was the first thing you made yourself (song, beat, mix, etc.)?
I started out producing around 2010 and was making hip hop and house in the early days. It’s been so long and there been so many trash beats and scrapped projects I can barely remember the first.
 

How would you describe your sound and what genres do you associate yourself with?
Generally, I would describe my sound as bass music that is heavily influenced by soul, hip hop, southern rap, and dance music. House, Techno, Electro, Breakbeat, and Hip Hop would be the broader genres that I identify with.

How did growing up in the Boston scene influence you as a DJ and producer?
A lot of the music I produce is inspired by my past and being involved in street music and culture. As far as my sound is concerned, not much locally because I draw most of my influences from regional music styles from the south, midwest, west coast, as well as underground music from all over the world.

For those who may not know, what is/was PVRPLE?
PVRPLE is a night I started in 2012 with my brother, DJ Knife, SteadyLeanin, and More Drinks that focused on dirty south, trap music, and chop n screwed. At the time those music styles that weren’t very welcomed in most clubs in the city. Thanks to a local club and cultural institution called the Goodlife we were able to secure a space for it in Boston Nightlife. Over the years as the sound became more popular we were able to curate something that became somewhat legendary by bringing a lot of the DJ and production pioneers from the south like MetroBoomin, Manny Fresh, DJ Paul, Lex Luger, Sonny Digital, Cozy Boys, and DJ Drama and way too many others to name.

You are prolific with samples, without emptying your bag of tricks, what’s your process when choosing them for projects?
It’s pretty basic but most the vocal samples come from southern rap music and classic hip hop. When it comes to melodies or chord progressions I source from older dance music from the 90’s, soul, funk, and hip hop. Sometimes, I manage to replay a lot of stuff to avoid straight up looping.

What are some influences inside and outside of music?
The internet because it keeps me relevant with things I enjoy like art, music, and fashion. Musically I’m inspired by a lot of my contemporaries in underground trap and phonk as well as dance music. Also, my good friend Lil Internet and my older brother cause they’re always on the cutting edge of what’s cool in art and music.

Let’s talk about your graphic design for second - does it follow the music or do you ever create it first? What drives the aesthetic?
It follows the music and is driven mostly by things from my past like hardcore flyers, heavy metal, graffiti, anime, comics, and graphic design from old southern hip hop albums.

Your music has this classic edge while still managing to sound new. How much of a factor does nostalgia play in creating your signature sound?
Nostalgia plays a big role because most cool things eventually come back around. I use that to my advantage by referencing older stuff I grew up with but making it sound new if that makes sense.

Having performed all over the world, what’s your favourite place to play and why?
In the past year I’ve played in 6 countries and a bunch of domestic shows so I wouldn’t quite say all over the world yet. Every place I’ve played has been an amazing experience so it’s too difficult to choose one. But I will say my favourite places to play are any where with an open minded crowd that just wants to have fun.