GULFWEEKLY: For novice listeners, bass can sometimes just feel like another part of the melody, but in his debut album, Salman Marzooq has given it centre-stage, letting it shine beyond its traditional role.
The 23-year-old Bahraini bassist is set to release Fading Signals next Saturday, September 19, after a concert last week showcasing the album.
“I’ve been playing bass for around five years,” Salman told GulfWeekly.
“During that time, I’ve explored different styles and approaches to the instrument, gradually discovering the bass as my main form of musical expression.
“I’m particularly interested in experimenting with sound and pushing the instrument beyond its traditional role.”
Bass in music refers to the lowest part of the musical range, covering deep pitches and frequencies roughly between 16 and 250 Hz, with its low vibrations being felt more than distinctly heard in most songs.
It provides the emotional and physical foundation of a song, connecting the rhythm of the drums with the harmony of chords.
In Bahrain’s thriving music scene filled with Arab, indie, pop, rock and metal records that traditionally centre vocals, beats and chords, Fading Signals stands out as one of its few bass albums, highlighting the oft-overlooked role that bass plays in a song.
BASS HUNTER: Salman
“A bass album is one where the bass becomes the main course of the song, not just an accompanying part,” Salman explained.
“Fading Signals is about proving that the bass isn’t just an instrument that tags along with the melody - it can be the lead voice carrying the song on its own.
“At the same time, it’s deeply personal to me. It’s about my own feelings and emotions, and channeling them through the bass.”
The 11-track album was recorded in just 40 days - an intense process of experimenting with different sounds, textures, and arrangements, with Salman handling much of the recording and production singlehandedly.
LIVE: Salman, Shukrallah and Hussain on stage during the album concert last week
His friend and pianist Hussain Nasser helped him throughout the process, as did Salman’s former bandmate Shukrallah, who handled the mixing, and well-known saxophonist Elton Shera who collaborated on the project.
“The most rewarding part was watching individual ideas gradually become a complete body of work,” Salman explained.
“I’ve only been playing bass for five years, so completing an entire album felt like a significant milestone.
“Being able to finally share something that represents where I am as a musician right now was incredibly rewarding.”
The process of crafting it, while daunting, was also rewarding, and for Salman, finally hitting that ‘publish’ button felt like submitting his homework as a bassist, though, not one to rest on his laurels, the young musician is already working on several upcoming projects.
While he has played in bands in the past, including The Darkling Travellers, Fading Signals was more of a personal journey for Salman, giving him the space to go deeper on his craft, and tell stories from his life through his tunes.
COVER: Fading Signals
“I imagine people listening to it late at night, on a long drive, through headphones, or somewhere quiet where they can really sit with the music,” Salman added.
“Fading Signals has a chill, unique groove to it, so I’d like listeners to find their own connection with it and attach their own memories and emotions to the music.”
Fading Signals will available on all streaming platforms on September 19 and for more details, follow @salmanobass on Instagram.
&uuid=(email))