Atlantic Connection
Name & Pronunciation: Atlantic Connection (alias of Nathan Hayes) - pronounced AT-lan-tic Con-nec-tion
Years Active & Status: 1990s (via past aliases) to Present (active)
Origin & Heritage: Bogotá, Colombia; electronic, drum and bass, and multi-genre producer rooted in Latin American and global bass traditions
Hook: Atlantic Connection is the musical alias of producer Nathan Hayes, known for blending atmospheric drum and bass, bass-driven electronic styles, and soulful textures. His catalog spans decades of explorations across jungle, liquid, VIP edits, and hybrid forms, making him a respected name within global bass and ReggaeEDM-adjacent scenes.
Motto/Tagline: "Bridging soundscapes and rhythms"
BIOGRAPHY
Nathan Hayes adopted the Atlantic Connection name to channel his deep affinity for soulful, bass-driven music that spans genres. While originally from North Carolina, Hayes later gravitated toward electronic and bass music communities, eventually relocating to Los Angeles and operating via his own imprint (Westbay Recordings) as a home base. Over time he has developed a reputation in the drum & bass and liquid bass scenes as a purveyor of emotionally rich and introspective soundscapes.
Atlantic Connection’s catalog includes original tracks, VIP mixes, remixes, loops, and sample packs. He has also released “The D&B Samples,” a collection of loops and stems derived from his drum & bass works, as well as “B-Sides (Drum & Bass)” which compiles deeper cuts, VIPs, and unreleased material. These releases illustrate both his creative range and his role as a curator of his own sonic archive. (Bandcamp credits confirm Nathan Hayes as writer/producer for those projects.)
Though his output is primarily in electronic bass music, Hayes often weaves in reggae-inflected moods, dub atmospheres, and melodic sensibilities that nod to roots tradition. He has cited influences ranging from LTJ Bukem to J Dilla in how he thinks about rhythm, tone, and feel. In features and press he has described his sound as “future-soul” within the bass music realm. (As noted in a “Best Drum and Bass” spotlight, Hayes blends genre boundaries in his work.)
Over the years, Atlantic Connection has collaborated with other artists in the drum & bass space (for example, a collaboration with Random Movement) and placed music on respected deep / liquid labels. His consistency in releasing quality tracks and EPs has earned him a loyal underground following across the D&B community.
REGGAEEDM ANALYSIS
Reggae Roots
Rhythm: Atlantic Connection occasionally integrates offbeat syncopation, echoing reggae or dub subdivisions beneath faster drum & bass breakbeats, thereby creating a hybrid rhythmic feel.
Bass: He utilizes deep sub-bass foundations reminiscent of reggae’s heavy roots lines, but adapted to the faster tempos of drum & bass, often with warm filtering or modulation to emulate dub bass movement.
Vocals/Message: While much of his work is instrumental, guest vocalists and MCs appear in his catalogue (e.g. feature verses). His melodic and harmonic choices often evoke emotional tension, introspection, and connection, aligning with the conscious spirit found in roots reggae.
Electronic/EDM Techniques
Sound Design / Texture layering: Hayes builds lush pads, atmospheric reverb layers, and textural ambient flourishes over rhythmic cores to create immersive soundscapes.
Time-domain processing / delay & echo: He uses delay, echo, and feedback chains (in dub style) to sculpt rhythmic echoes around drums, giving tracks depth and space.
Hybrid tempo fusion & dynamic transitions: Though grounded in drum & bass, Atlantic Connection sometimes experiments in the 140–160 bpm range, shifting between intensities. He also uses VIP mixes and alternate arrangements to recontextualize tracks in different subgenres (e.g. liquid, deep, minimal).
ESSENTIAL WORKS & WHAT TO LISTEN FOR
“Around The Way” (2025) — a recent single that showcases his current voice in melodic liquid D&B with soulful lift.
Landslides EP (2025) — a contemporary EP which marks his forward momentum in bass music.
B-Sides (Drum & Bass) (2022) — a compilation of VIPs, unreleased cuts, and deep tracks offering insight into his deeper vault material and creative breadth.
The D&B Samples (2022) — a loops / samples release giving direct access to his creation process and showing the DNA behind many of his tracks.
Copelandia (2023) — one of his more recent full works (via Bandcamp) signaling evolving aesthetics.
INFLUENCE ON REGGAEEDM
Innovations: Atlantic Connection has carved a niche by weaving soulful, ambient, and dub-influenced elements into the faster world of drum & bass, thus offering a blueprint for bridging reggae/dub ethos with modern bass music.
Impact: His consistently refined approach and catalog have inspired producers in the liquid, future, and hybrid bass scenes to consider how reggae’s spatial and emotional qualities can inhabit faster tempos. He stands as an exemplar of how roots influence can survive in electronic bass music forms.
RECOMMENDED ALBUMS
B-Sides (Drum & Bass) (2022)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/323BD4mjoLA1ajX6zjIe2q?source=reggaeedm.com
Key tracks: “Frogstomp (VIP)”, “I Think It’s Love (VIP)”, “Heal feat. Tali”
Notes: Deep cuts, VIP remixes, and less mainstream works compiled to reveal his archive and evolutionLandslides EP (2025)
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7IEaPNJbk8qpsCnlJWbXja?source=reggaeedm.com
Key tracks: “Around The Way”, “Landslides (title track)”, “Burning Blue (Instrumental)”
Notes: Fresh direction, modern production, blending accessibility with depth
