There are musicians who find their instrument, and there are musicians who are claimed by it. For Andy Narsingh, the calling was unmistakable the moment his fingers wrapped around a borrowed Fender Precision bass at sixteen and he began jamming along to Rush’s “Spirit of Radio”. What started with his father’s six-string acoustic guitar quickly evolved into a lifelong devotion to the low end, guided by towering influences such as Geddy Lee, Stu Hamm, and Billy Sheehan. From that moment forward, the bass was no longer accompaniment. It was identity.
Narsingh’s playing reflects that lineage. There is the melodic assertiveness of Lee, the fearless technicality of Hamm, and the muscular clarity of Sheehan, yet his voice on the instrument remains unmistakably his own. A progressive rock sensibility fused with funk precision and hard rock weight has defined his approach since his formative years, when he formed the all-original three-piece band ARSIN in 1998.
With ARSIN, Narsingh was not merely the bassist but also keyboardist and lead vocalist, steering the band through intricate arrangements and emotionally charged performances. Their 2000 EP, “The Outside”, was released internationally under the name Heavens Fire, marking a significant milestone for the Canadian trio. Yet the day that should have been triumphant was instead one of heartbreak. Just days before the record’s release in Japan and Europe, drummer Michael “MicMac” MacKinnon tragically lost his life in a house fire. Rather than celebrating a global debut, the band gathered to say goodbye to their friend. The European and Japanese tour dates were cancelled, and the chapter of ARSIN quietly closed. The band would never reform.
Grief reshapes artists in unpredictable ways. For Narsingh, it meant stepping away from music and immersing himself in film school, exploring storytelling through another lens. He delved into film production and soundtracks, refining his understanding of atmosphere, pacing, and sonic narrative. The bass was set aside, but not forgotten. Nearly seven years later, the realization struck with undeniable force. He needed to play again. Not casually, not nostalgically, but fully and without hesitation.
That return has culminated in “Smooth Incline”, a mid-tempo hard rock instrumental that feels both triumphant and deeply considered. Featuring the formidable Randy Cooke on drums and Jeff Coggins on guitar, the single is less a showcase and more a conversation between masters of their craft. Narsingh anchors the track on bass, yet he does far more than underpin it. He shapes it.
From its opening bars, “Smooth Incline” establishes a confident pulse. Coggins’ guitar riffs glide with a sharp, polished edge, cutting through the mix with clarity and intent. Cooke’s drumming is thunderous yet fluid, dynamically responsive rather than merely forceful. The production is pristine. Each instrument occupies its own space, breathing within the arrangement rather than competing for dominance.
At the center lies Narsingh’s bass work, groove-heavy and articulate. It locks into Cooke’s rhythms with surgical precision, but it also sings. There are moments when the bass line pushes forward, adding tension and propulsion, and others when it relaxes into a pocket so deep it feels gravitational. This is not bass as background texture. This is bass as architect.
While firmly rooted in hard rock, “Smooth Incline” carries a subtle fusion undercurrent. Unexpected harmonic shifts and rhythmic nuances reveal Narsingh’s progressive pedigree. He understands that technicality without emotion is hollow, and emotion without structure can drift. The balance here is exquisite. His tone control is masterful, warm yet defined, aggressive yet never abrasive. Each note carries intention.
The instrumental format allows the trio’s chemistry to shine without distraction. Coggins’ lead guitar lines soar with melodic intelligence rather than gratuitous flash. Cooke’s drums ebb and surge, creating dynamic landscapes that feel almost cinematic, perhaps a reflection of Narsingh’s years in film. The track unfolds like a carefully composed scene, building tension and releasing it in waves.
What distinguishes Narsingh most, however, is not just his technical prowess but his humility as a collaborator. For all the fireworks, he remains a team player. “Smooth Incline” is not a bass solo with accompaniment. It is a unified statement, an amalgamation of rhythm, harmony, and tone. The groove is shared. The spotlight moves organically. The result is a piece that feels alive.
There is an achingly human quality to Narsingh’s articulation. Even in the tightest passages, his playing breathes. The slight variations in attack, the subtle shifts in phrasing, the dynamic swells that feel almost conversational, all point to a musician who listens as intently as he performs. This sensitivity elevates him beyond technical virtuosity into something more resonant and enduring.
For listeners familiar with his early work in ARSIN, “Smooth Incline” represents both continuity and evolution. The progressive DNA remains intact, but it is now tempered by experience, loss, and rediscovery. The years spent away from the stage have not dulled his edge. If anything, they have sharpened his perspective.
There is a quiet narrative embedded within the single. It speaks of resilience, of returning to one’s calling after stepping away, of honoring the past while forging forward. Narsingh does not need lyrics to tell this story. The groove carries it. The tension and release convey it. The sheer conviction in his tone declares it.
With “Smooth Incline”, Andy Narsingh reasserts himself as a formidable force in the progressive and hard rock landscape. He stands on the shoulders of giants like Geddy Lee, Stu Hamm, and Billy Sheehan, yet casts his own shadow. His musicianship transcends mere technique. It is inventive, controlled, expressive, and deeply collaborative.
Some musicians climb steadily. Others ascend in bursts. Narsingh’s trajectory feels true to the title of his new single, a smooth incline shaped by persistence, passion, and an unbreakable bond with his instrument. The journey has not been without hardship, but the view from this point is commanding. And if “Smooth Incline” is any indication, the ascent is far from over.
OFFICIAL LINKS: BANDCAMP – SPOTIFY – YOUTUBE
