Dubstep: More Than Just Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Dubstep is more than just music. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a way of thinking. It’s a way of life.

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. The style emerged as an offshoot of UK garage, drawing on a lineage of related styles such as 2-step and dub reggae.

In the early 2000s, dubstep began to emerge as a distinct genre in its own right, characterized by a dark, bass-heavy sound and a signature half-time shuffling beat known as the “wobble.” Over the next few years, dubstep would go on to become one of the most popular genres in electronic dance music, spawning countless subgenres and derivatives.

The History of Dubstep

In the late 1990s, a new style of music emerged from the underground garage scene in London. This new style was called dubstep. Dubstep is a type of electronic dance music that combines elements of 2-step garage, drum and bass, and dub reggae. The music is characterized by its dark, bass-heavy sound and its use of syncopated rhythms.

Where did Dubstep come from?

Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that emerged 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 reggae.

The earliest dubstep releases date back to 1998, and the genre really began to take off in the early 2000s with pioneering producers such as Horsepower Productions, Benga, and Skream. Dubstep became increasingly popular in clubs and on pirate radio stations, eventually crossing over into the mainstream with hits like DJ Fresh’s “Gold Dust” (2011) and Calvin Harris’ “Bounce” (2011).

In recent years, dubstep has begun to fragment into a number of subgenres and offshoots, such as future garage, wonky, grime, and post-dubstep. Despite this increasing diversity, dubstep remains united by its focus on bass – often described as its “hallmark sound.”

How has Dubstep evolved?

Since its humble beginnings in the early 2000s, dubstep has undergone a significant evolution. The sound has become more polished and mainstream, while still retaining its underground edge. Here’s a brief rundown of how dubstep has evolved over the years.

In the early days, dubstep was primarily influenced by 2-step garage and jungle music. These sounds were characterized by their dark, bass-heavy melodies and fast tempo. Dubstep producers began to experiment with these sounds, slowing them down and adding more bass to create a new genre of music.

As dubstep became more popular, producers began to experiment with different sounds and tempos. This led to the creation of subgenres such as wonky and brostep. Wonky dubstep is known for its off-kilter rhythms andmelodies, while brostep is characterized by its aggressive, bass-heavy sound.

In recent years, dubstep has undergone a resurgence in popularity due in part to its appearance in mainstream pop culture. Films such as The Fault in Our Stars and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire have featured dubstep tracks, while artists such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga have incorporated the sound into their own music.

The Dubstep Scene Today

Dubstep is more than just music, it’s a way of life. If you’re not familiar with the dubstep scene, it’s time to catch up. This section will cover the basics of what dubstep is, where it came from, and where it’s going.

Who are the biggest Dubstep artists?

In the early 2010s, dubstep was frequently associated with brostep, a subgenre characterised by highly distorted and often aggressive basslines. The term “brostep” emerged in response to criticism from veteran dubstep producer and DJ Mary Anne Hobbs, who said in 2011 that dubstep had been “co-opted by brash young men,” resulting in a sound that was “threatening and dark.” In 2012, MusicRadar published an article identifying melody as a key element that had been lacking from much of the music produced in the previous years, saying that while “[t]ech-y percussion and wobbly bass have always been paramount … in recent years there’s been a total disregard for melody or anything even approaching it.”

The top five most popular Dubstep songs, according to Spotify, are:

“Breathe” by Wilkinson
“Take Me Away” by Flux Pavilion
“Gold Dust” by Flux Pavilion
“I Remember” by Deadmau5
“Strobe” by Deadmau5

How to Get Into Dubstep

If you’re looking to get into dubstep, there are a few things you should know. Dubstep is more than just music – it’s a culture. It’s a way of life. It’s a way of thinking. And it’s a way of moving. If you’re willing to embrace all of that, then you’re ready to get into dubstep. Here’s what you need to know.

Where can I find Dubstep music?

The first place to look for dubstep is, of course, the internet. In particular, SoundCloud is a hotbed for finding new and upcoming dubstep artists. Skream, Benga, and Plastician all had their starts on SoundCloud, and the site continues to be a hub for the dubstep community today. Plus, with its user-friendly interface, SoundCloud makes it easy to find the tunes you’re looking for.

Another great resource for finding dubstep tunes is YouTube. While YouTube doesn’t have the same community feel as SoundCloud, it’s still a great place to find new music. The advantage of YouTube is that you can usually find tracks in high quality without having to download anything. You can also find a wide variety of live sets and DJ mixes on YouTube, which can be helpful if you’re trying to get a feel for the sound before committing to buying any tunes.

Last but not least, there are a number of excellent dubstep blogs out there that can help you stay up-to-date on new music releases. Some of our favorites include UKF Dubstep, Use Your Ears!, and I Heart Dubstep.

What are some good Dubstep tracks to start with?

There are a few key things to look for when picking out Dubstep tracks. Firstly, theTrack should have a solid, hard-hitting bassline that really hits you in the chest. Secondly, it should have some signature wub-wub sounds, and lastly, it should have a good tempo that will get your head nodding along. With those criteria in mind, here are some great Dubstep tracks to start with:

1. “Bare Noize – Originate”
2. “Cookie Monsta – Me want cookie”
3. “Datsik & Excision – Calypso”
4. “Downlink – Mushroom Kingdom”
5. “Flux Pavilion – Bass Cannon”
6. “Koan Sound – Max Out”
7. “Nero – Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)”
8.”Pendulum – Salt in the Wounds”
9.”Skream – Midnight Request Line”
10.”Zeds Dead – Hit Em Up”

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