Bass is Base
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | North York , Canada |
| Products | Albums, singles |
Bass is Base was an R&B ensemble originating from North York, Ontario, Canada, known for their contributions to the Canadian contemporary R&B scene.
History
In 1993, Chin Injeti and Ivana Santilli were members of Syndicate 305. During the Music West conference held that year in Vancouver, they encountered MC Mystic (Roger Mooking), who was then affiliated with The Maximum Definitive. Mystic invited them to perform alongside him at the Canadian Music Video Awards, which led to the creation of Bass is Base. The group featured Injeti on bass guitar, Santilli handling keyboards, and Mystic on percussion. Vocals were shared among all three, with Injeti and Santilli providing singing parts and Mystic delivering rap verses.
Their initial performance was as an opening act for Jamiroquai, followed by a supporting slot for The Pharcyde. In early 1994, they independently released their first album, First Impressions for the Bottom Jigglers, under their own label SoulShack. The track "Funkmobile" included a music video that received airplay on MuchMusic and earned a nomination for the MuchMusic Video Award in the category of Best Independent Music Video. The album achieved sales exceeding 20,000 copies within Canada. By October 1994, they secured a joint agreement with A&M Records and Loose Cannon Records for distribution in the United States. In 1995, the group received a Juno Award recognizing Best R&B/Soul Recording.
Throughout 1994 and 1995, Bass is Base toured across Canada alongside Barenaked Ladies and Crash Test Dummies. Their sophomore album, Memories of the Soul Shack Survivors, was released on September 27, 1995, reaching number 38 on the RPM Canadian albums chart. This album was made available in the U.S. market on April 16, 1996, yielding one top 40 single titled "I Cry".
The band dissolved in May 1997, with each member embarking on individual solo ventures.
Aftermath
Following the breakup of Bass is Base, Ivana Santilli went on to produce four solo records. Chin Injeti built a career as a producer and bassist, notably producing Ridley Bent’s debut album Blam in 2005. His production credits extend to Eminem’s Grammy-winning projects Recovery and Marshall Mathers LP 2, along with contributions for artists such as Drake, The Clipse, Kanye West, and Lecrae’s Grammy-winning Gravity. His collaborations also include work with Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, and Toronto’s Drake. Roger Mooking shifted his focus from music to culinary arts and entrepreneurship within Toronto’s food sector before releasing two soul albums in 2008 and 2013.
Singles
- 1994 "Funkmobile" (Soul Shack)
- 1995 "Straw Stix & Brix" (Soul Shack)
- 1995 "Westside Funk" (Soul Shack)
- 1995 "Diamond Dreams" (Loose Cannon/A&M Records)
- 1995 "Floating" (Loose Cannon/A&M)
- 1996 "I Cry" (Loose Cannon/A&M)
- 1996 "Why" (Loose Cannon/A&M)
Albums
- 1994 First Impressions for the Bottom Jigglers
- 1995 Memories of the Soul Shack Survivors