What is Dubstep? I mean, what would you classify AS Dubstep?

Inquisitive_Persona · 08-01-2012, 10:33 PM

Every time I think I know the answer to this I keep getting different opinions. So I am putting the question out there: What is classified as Dubstep? What makes a song Dubstep? I know about it's origins, but I am still bewildered about many things.

PS: Please don't even mention or talk about Skrillex or Deadmau5 if you would be so kind.

Holerbot6000 · 08-02-2012, 03:19 AM

I'm not very good at these genre classifications so forgive me if I oversimplify, but when I first read about dubstep, it was basically described as Techno Dub; taking electronic music and applying the same type of heavy dub mixing techniques that are applied to Reggae music.

Being a dub fan, I was intrigued, and checked out a few samplers and such and I really liked what I heard. I think the band that epitomized this sound for me was Milanese. The 'Extend' album is harsh, heavy, dubbed out bliss. Also, the Planet Mu label has quite a few dubstep compilations available as well. A good place to start.

jackhammer · 08-02-2012, 05:12 PM

UK Garage music was also known as 2 step and b sides of singles were giving a Dub remix with the tracks gaining more popularity and Dubstep was born although the original incarnations of the genre were much darker in tone and atmosphere than todays sound which (commercially at least) is dance tunes incorporating bass drops. Some good and some absolutely terrible.

The label Get Darker is a great place to find original Dubstep as is Hyperdub. Burial, Kode 9, The Bug and Benga are some great artists to check out.

mr dave · 08-04-2012, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inquisitive_Persona

What is classified as Dubstep? What makes a song Dubstep?

At this point it seems to me that the only common defining element to dubstep is the stupidly named 'wobble' bass. Kind of like how a lot of people want to say that any pop tune with power chords played faster than slow = punk.

I don't worry about the classification anymore, I can't stand Skrillex but I most definitely dig on any collaboration I've heard between Kode9 and Spaceape.

Engine · 08-04-2012, 02:00 PM

I think this short article on the history of dubstep has some good information.

That article mentions a 2002 cover story in XLR8R magazine which was actually an article on Horsepower Productions - the cover has a photo of HP with the word 'Dubstep' in large lettering and a subtitle "an inside look at London's Dub 2-Step." I still have a copy of the issue and have tried to find any of its articles online to link here whenever this topic comes up, but I can't even find an image of the cover.

edit: I just checked myself and the full title of the cover story looks like this
"Feel the power! It's...DUBSTEP; an inside look at London's Dub 2-Step Underground with Horsepower Productions, Ammunition, EL-B, Jason Kaye, Heartless Crew and more!"

08-01-2012, 10:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Inquisitive_Persona Groupie Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	What is Dubstep? I mean, what would you classify AS Dubstep? Every time I think I know the answer to this I keep getting different opinions. So I am putting the question out there: What is classified as Dubstep? What makes a song Dubstep? I know about it's origins, but I am still bewildered about many things. PS: Please don't even mention or talk about Skrillex or Deadmau5 if you would be so kind.

08-02-2012, 05:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	UK Garage music was also known as 2 step and b sides of singles were giving a Dub remix with the tracks gaining more popularity and Dubstep was born although the original incarnations of the genre were much darker in tone and atmosphere than todays sound which (commercially at least) is dance tunes incorporating bass drops. Some good and some absolutely terrible. The label Get Darker is a great place to find original Dubstep as is Hyperdub. Burial, Kode 9, The Bug and Benga are some great artists to check out. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

08-04-2012, 02:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	I think this short article on the history of dubstep has some good information. That article mentions a 2002 cover story in XLR8R magazine which was actually an article on Horsepower Productions - the cover has a photo of HP with the word 'Dubstep' in large lettering and a subtitle "an inside look at London's Dub 2-Step." I still have a copy of the issue and have tried to find any of its articles online to link here whenever this topic comes up, but I can't even find an image of the cover. edit: I just checked myself and the full title of the cover story looks like this "Feel the power! It's...DUBSTEP; an inside look at London's Dub 2-Step Underground with Horsepower Productions, Ammunition, EL-B, Jason Kaye, Heartless Crew and more!" __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through. Last edited by Engine; 08-04-2012 at 02:15 PM.

08-02-2012, 03:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Holerbot6000 Music Mutant Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: near a record store Posts: 327	I'm not very good at these genre classifications so forgive me if I oversimplify, but when I first read about dubstep, it was basically described as Techno Dub; taking electronic music and applying the same type of heavy dub mixing techniques that are applied to Reggae music. Being a dub fan, I was intrigued, and checked out a few samplers and such and I really liked what I heard. I think the band that epitomized this sound for me was Milanese. The 'Extend' album is harsh, heavy, dubbed out bliss. Also, the Planet Mu label has quite a few dubstep compilations available as well. A good place to start.