Is Dubstep Indie Music?

In today’s music scene, there are a lot of different genres and subgenres of music. One genre that has been growing in popularity over the past few years is dubstep. But what exactly is dubstep? And is it considered indie music?

What is Dubstep?

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies.

Origins of Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and dub.

The earliest dubstep releases date back to 1998, and the genre began to achieve mainstream popularity in the UK in 2005. In the following years, dubstep artists such asSkream, Benga, and Plastician began to gain notoriety for their productions, while a new wave of producers such as Burial and Mount Kimbie emerged with a more introspective sound.

In the 2010s, dubstep regained popularity in the UK, driven by bass music festivals such as Outlook and others. In the US, dubstep reached a wider audience through mainstream EDM artists such as Skrillex and Zedd.

Characteristics of Dubstep

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is generally characterised by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on characterized by a signature wobbly bass sound.

What is Indie Music?

Indie music is a genre of music that includes a wide variety of styles. Indie music is usually made by independent artists who are not signed to a major label. Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that has its roots in garage and drum and bass. Dubstep is usually made by independent artists as well.

Origins of Indie Music

The word “indie” has been used to describe music since the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the term began to be used exclusively to describe independent music. The origins of indie music are often traced back to the English post-punk and new wave scenes of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Indie rock is a genre that developed in the United Kingdom and North America in the aftermath of punk rock.

One of the earliest use of the word “indie” to describe music was in a NME article from 1977, which used the term to describe The Stranglers. In 1980, Sounds magazine used the term to describe Joy Division, stating that their song “She’s Lost Control” was “indie disco at its best.” By 1982, indie had come to mean specifically independent record labels, and DIY ethic applied to music production outside of mainstream channels.

In the 1990s, indie became associated with slightly different scene in North America. The grunge explosion of 1991-1992 led many major record labels to sign grunge bands, which created a backlash among some fans who felt that these bands were no longer “indie.” In response, a new generation of DIY musicians emerged, often playing lo-fi or experimental styles of music influenced by punk and grunge. This scene was often referred to as “post-rock.”

The 2000s saw a continued diversity within indie music. While some artists achieved mainstream success (such as The Strokes and Arcade Fire), others remained committed to underground DIY ethic (such as Ariel Pink and Animal Collective). In recent years, “indie” has come to be used as an umbrella term for a wide variety of musical genres and scenes, making it difficult to provide a precise definition.

Characteristics of Indie Music

Though “indie music” is difficult to define, there are certain characteristic that are often found in this type of music. These characteristics include:

* A Do-It-Yourself Attitude: One of the most defining characteristic of indie music is the DIY attitude. This means that indie artists often take on all aspects of their careers, from writing and recording their own music to booking their own tours.

* A willingness to experiment: Indie music is often seen as more experimental than other genres, and indie artists are often willing to take risks with their music. This can result in a more eclectic sound, which can be both a good and bad thing depending on your taste.

* An emphasis on lyrics: Lyrics are often more important in indie music than in other genres, and many indie artists place a great deal of importance on being able to express themselves through their words. This can result in very personal and introspective lyrics, which can be both a good and bad thing depending on your taste.

Is Dubstep Indie Music?

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged in the late 1990s. The style is characterized by a distinctive bass sound that is often accompanied by syncopated drums. Dubstep music is often created with a software program called a sequencer.

The Case for Dubstep as Indie Music

It is easy to see how dubstep could be considered indie music. For starters, dubstep is often produced by independent artists and labels. In addition, dubstep shares many sonic characteristics with other genres that are commonly considered to be indie, such as lo-fi and experimental music.

Furthermore, dubstep has been embraced by the indie community in recent years. Many popular indie festivals, such as SXSW and Pitchfork Music Festival, have featured dubstep performers on their lineups. And some well-known indie bands, such as Vampire Weekend and Modest Mouse, have incorporated dubstep-inspired elements into their music.

So, there is a strong case to be made that dubstep is indeed indie music. However, there are also some arguments against this classification. For instance, some people argue that dubstep is too commercialized to be considered indie. Additionally, some purists may argue that dubstep does not meet the definition of “indie” because it is not truly independent from the mainstream music industry.

Ultimately, whether or not dubstep can be classified as indie music is up for debate. But there is no denying that the genre has made a significant impact on the indie music scene in recent years.

The Case Against Dubstep as Indie Music

Despite its popularity in underground and independent music scenes, dubstep cannot be considered indie music. There are several reasons for this, chief among them being that dubstep is simply not experimental enough to qualify as such.

What defines indie music, at its core, is a willingness to experiment with sounds and genres in order to create something new and unique. Dubstep, while certainly unique, does not stray far enough from its electronic dance music roots to be considered truly experimental. In other words, it is not pushing the boundaries of what music can be.

Indie music is also typically defined by its DIY ethic – that is, the tendency for bands and artists to self-produce and self-release their material. While there are some dubstep producers who fit this bill, the majority of those who have found mainstream success do not. Instead, they are signed to major labels and play at large festivals – neither of which are typically associated with indie music.

So while dubstep may have its roots in underground and independent scenes, it cannot be considered indie music.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is difficult to definitively say whether dubstep is classified as indie music. While the genre does have some roots in the independent music scene, it has also been adopted by the mainstream to such an extent that it is now difficult to consider it purely indie. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to class dubstep as indie music is a matter of personal opinion.