A History of Dubstep Music
Contents
A history of dubstep music and how it has revolutionized the electronic dance music scene.
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 a development of jungle and garage.
Where Dubstep Came From
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a group of DJs and producers in South London took elements of two existing genres – 2-step garage and drum and bass – and created a new sound that would come to be known as dubstep.
The first dubstep tracks were made by a handful of producers including Magnetic Man, Benga, and Skream, who were all influenced by 2-step garage, jungle, and other dance music styles. They began to experiment with new sounds, combining the syncopated rhythms of 2-step with the dark, atmospheric sounds of drum and bass.
The result was a new style of music that was darker, slower, and more experimental than either 2-step garage or drum and bass. This new sound quickly gained popularity in the underground club scene in London, and soon dubstep nights were popping up all over the city.
In the early 2000s, dubstep began to gain more mainstream attention. BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel was an early champion of the genre, and in 2004 he devoted an entire show to dubstep on his radio program. This exposure helped to bring dubstep to a wider audience outside of London.
In the years since its inception, dubstep has continued to evolve and change. Today there are many different subgenres of dubstep being made by producers all over the world. But at its core, dubstep remains a dark, atmospheric style of music that is perfect for late-night listening.
The First Wave of Dubstep Producers
The first wave of dubstep producers were mostly London-based. They included pioneers such as Skream, Benga, and Plastician, who were teenagers when they started making music in the early 2000s. These producers were influenced by two UK scenes: garage and grime. Garage was a dance music genre that was popular in the 1990s, while grime was a more recent genre that had emerged in the early 2000s.
The dubstep sound that these producers created was characterized by dark, minimal beats and sub-bass frequencies that could make your chest rumble. The tempo was usually around 140 beats per minute (bpm), which is slower than other dance music genres such as drum & bass (170-180 bpm) and house (120-130 bpm).
In the early days of dubstep, the music was mostly played on pirate radio stations and at undergroundparties in London. These parties were often called “raves” or “free parties” because they were not held in licensed venues. The firstwave of dubstep producers also released their music on free online blogs and mixtapes.
The Rise of Dubstep
Dubstep music has its roots in the UK, specifically in the city of London. The style emerged in the early 2000s and has since become one of the most popular genres of electronic dance music. Dubstep is known for its heavy bass lines, syncopated rhythms, and dark, atmospheric soundscapes.
The Second Wave of Dubstep Producers
In the late 2000s, a second wave of dubstep producers began to emerge. These producers placed greater emphasis on creating unique sonic atmospheres and soundscapes, rather than simply focusing on creating heavy basslines. One of the most important producers of this era was Burial, whose 2006 self-titled album is widely considered to be one of the genre’s defining releases. Other significant producers from this era include Shackleton, whose 2010 album Three EPs is also highly regarded, and Mount Kimbie, whose 2010 album Crooks & Lovers was praised for its innovative use of microsampling and other unusual production techniques.
The Third Wave of Dubstep Producers
In the late 2000s, a new wave of producers arose, helmed by artists such as Rusko and Skream. This new generation of dubstep producers began to move away from the dark and minimal sound of early dubstep, instead incorporating elements of other genres such as techno, house, reggae, and drum and bass. This resulted in a more light-hearted and danceable sound that was better suited for the club environment. These artists also placed a greater emphasis on melody and songcraft, something that had been largely absent from early dubstep tracks.
One of the most notable aspects of this new wave of dubstep was the increased use of robotic or processed vocals, often pitch-shifted or auto-tuned. This gave the music an eerie, otherworldly quality that was perfect for inducing both dancing and introspection. The best tracks from this era are able to straddle the line between these two extremes, expertly shifting between moments of pure hedonism and contemplative reflection.
The Fall of Dubstep
Dubstep was a genre of electronic dance music that originated in South London in the late 1990s. It is characterized by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass frequencies. The style emerged as a development of UK garage and jungle.
The Fourth Wave of Dubstep Producers
In the early 2010s, a new wave of dubstep producers began to emerge. These producers were influenced by the dubstep sound of the late 2000s and 2010s, but they also incorporated elements of trap music, 2-step garage, and grime. This new wave of dubstep producers is often referred to as the “fourth wave” of dubstep.
Some of the most notable fourth wave dubstep producers include Flume, What So Not, MAKJ, and Kennedy Jones. These producers have been at the forefront of the genre’s recent revival. Their music has been featured on major festival stages and in clubs all over the world.
The fourth wave of dubstep has brought about a renewed interest in the genre. It has also led to a increase in the number of young people who are producing dubstep music. This is an exciting time for the genre, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves in the years to come.
The Fifth Wave of Dubstep Producers
The Fifth Wave of Dubstep Producers is the next step in the history of Dubstep music. This new wave of producers has moved away from the traditional Dubstep sound and is instead focusing on a more experimental and ambient sound. This new sound is characterized by its use of reverb and delay, as well as its use of melodies and chord progressions that are not often found in traditional Dubstep tracks. fifth Wave producers include artists such as Burial, Mount Kimbie, James Blake, and Flying Lotus.
