Influences: Diverse Shares Five Records That Shaped His Melodic Bass Sound
Swiss producer Diverse has developed a sound that brings together the intensity of modern bass music and a strong sense of melody. Drawing on his classical musical training, his productions move between intricate sound design, emotional harmonies and the heavier foundations of drum and bass and dubstep, often bringing contrasting styles together within a single release.
His latest project, ‘Resurgence’, arrived on 23rd October through Vibe Chemistry’s Make Your Era imprint. Spanning five tracks, the EP explores different corners of the bass music spectrum, from the high-energy rhythms of ‘tear everything down’ and the title track to the garage influences of ‘I just need u’ and the more melodic territory of ‘falling next to you’ featuring Cinet.
Having released music through Red Ocean, Seikatsu Records, Gem Released and Future Bass Records since emerging in 2022, Diverse has continued to develop an approach that places musical composition alongside technical production. His move into live DJ performance in 2024 has also brought the dancefloor into that creative process.
For this edition of Influences, Diverse selects five records that have shaped his understanding of electronic music. From the nostalgic garage textures of CloudNone and Direct to Darren Korb’s video game compositions and the experimental drum and bass of Buunshin, his choices reveal an artist drawn to music that challenges conventions without losing its emotional impact.
CloudNone, Direct – Arms Race [Monstercat]
“CloudNone and Direct are some of my favourite artists of all time. Their melodic work and sampling always amaze me because of their apparent simplicity and the nostalgic feeling they convey. Even though they both have their individual sound, I tend to think of them as a duo because of the numerous collaborations they have done.
Direct especially inspired me for this EP’s third track, ‘I just need u’, with his nostalgic chords, tight garage drums and dreamy vocal chops. Using the characteristics of his productions and adapting them to the context of the ‘Resurgence’ EP resulted in a track I truly love listening to.”
Darren Korb – Forecast [Supergiant Games]
“This track is taken from the soundtrack of Transistor, a video game developed by Supergiant Games. The game is great, but the soundtrack is what really stood out to me when I experienced it.
That feeling of an alternate, digital yet organic universe is conveyed brilliantly in the music thanks to composer Darren Korb, his use of fast-paced rhythms (resembling drum and bass patterns) and the contrast with melodic elements.
To this day, this track still holds a very special place in my heart for introducing me to electronic music, and its aesthetic is one that I try to recreate with my music.”
Grape milk – *HAS A KNIFE* [Halcyon]
“Grape milk is another one of those artists that changed my perspective on music. When listening to their music, it really sounds to me like they don’t ever set boundaries on their creations.
Wicked melodies, key changes, crazy psychedelic sounds, heavy-hitting drums and basses, vocal performances and those incredibly interesting repeating rhythmic patterns.
‘*HAS A KNIFE*’ has that melodic play that is so well done that it sounds like you already know it.
Their love for loads of different music genres also pushes me to make whatever I like making, without being too scared to put a garage tune in the middle of a drum and bass EP made of rollers, techy DnB, minimal jump-up and emotional modern jungle.”
Bad Computer – Destroy Me [Monstercat]
“To me, Bad Computer’s early discography is a masterclass in every aspect of electronic music. Abstract melodies and sounds face infectious musical motifs, incredible sound design precision serves effective ideas, all of this while having one of the most recognisable signatures in electronic music at large.
His productions were the first ones to truly blow my mind with how well they were thought out. Every sound, every hit placement seemed perfectly placed.
As an artist, I take a lot of inspiration from his music, even though it maybe isn’t that noticeable in the ‘Resurgence’ EP.
I highly recommend you take a listen to ‘Destroy Me’, as it is his best work in my opinion.”
Buunshin – i think i feel [UKF]
“I have a special relationship with Buunshin’s art. I first discovered him when he played live at Paléo, and I remember already being drawn in by his musical world.
Unconventionally emotive melodies feeling like they come from another world, but accompanied by hard-hitting drums and bass, completely shifted my perspective of what was possible through electronic music at the time.
I then dug deeper into his music and became even more hypnotised by it, especially ‘i think i feel’.
This track is an emotive masterpiece thanks to melodic ostinatos running through the whole piece, creating this mesmerising and truly distinctive drum and bass track.”
Diverse’s selections reveal a fascination with the possibilities of electronic production, particularly where intricate technical ideas meet melody and emotion. CloudNone and Direct demonstrate the impact of simplicity and nostalgia, while Darren Korb’s compositions show how electronic music can build entire imaginary worlds. Grape milk, Bad Computer and Buunshin each offer different lessons in experimentation, precision and creative freedom.
Those influences come together across ‘Resurgence’, where Diverse moves between garage, jungle, drum and bass and melodic bass music without treating genre boundaries as limitations. The result is a project that reflects both his classical foundations and his continuing exploration of what contemporary electronic music can become.
