I usually think of the bass line as another part of the groove. The bass line is usually a bit simpler, and repetitive/predictable in the way that your kick bass can lock in and forget about it. So it just sorta becomes subconscious. But yeah I agree, the 'listening' and 'following' part of my brain is always attentive on the "face" of the song. Guitar, lyrics, the vibe and flow of the frontmen.
You want to listen ahead and imagine how your drums sound to the audience. For mainstream music, the listeners are likely just passively aware of the bass line, they know it
feels good, even if they aren't actively listening to it. They are actively listening to the guitar and singer though. And as the drummer you are next in line of their consciousness. The audience's experience will be more electric if you compose for the parts of the song that are front-of-mind to the listeners.
There was a drummer in a post recently who said they prefer not to even write drums for a song unless they can hear the vocal track in the mix. I have made such a request in the past myself. It is interesting how much composition goes on in the mind of a drummer. We can't always be expected to just look dumb and jam with the bass player the whole time, lol.
That said, I do most of my writing from the bass guitar/drum combo. You can start to generate a whole song from a funky, well composed bass and drums mix.
Guitar players are idiots.
A somewhat unceremoniously placed, yet hilarious non-sequitur, lmao.
Odd just saw the phrase "guitar player", and so replied accordingly.
Not saying I agree. Just enjoying the random.