What is it?
It starts off slow, and for a while the only sounds that meet your ear are soft twinkles of rhythmic synth and pulse-pounding drum mixes. The sound is both real and supernatural all at once, and it doesn’t take long to get lost in the swaying beat. Then the bass drops. This, ladies and gentlemen, is dubstep.
It’s hard to describe dubstep in just a few words. Although the genre has been on the underground music radar for quite some time now, it’s just now seeing the light of day in terms of mainstream success. And it’s not hard to see why. Dubstep combines countless varieties of bass, tempo and tone, all into one song. Sure, this has the potential to come out messy, but it’s the unkempt no-holds-barred style that makes it one of the most unique genres out there. Every section of just one dubstep track flows together flawlessly, with each highly-detailed piece of the rhythmic puzzle fitting together with ease.
What makes it awesome?
Dubstep creation can be summed up in basically one word: freedom. Just about every single track is distinctly different from the last. You’ll never hear a true dubstep connoisseur comparing two artists because, well, there is no comparison. No two artists are ever truly alike — one may prefer the faster up-tempo beats and another may prefer dropping a deep bass every 10 seconds into the cut, but their works are all seamlessly perfected and altered to fit their musical persona.
Something else that makes dubstep stand out — the musical combinations. Elements like strong percussion, weaving patterns and creative timing are all key when creating dubstep, and though they may not seem to fit in the process, it all comes together at the end. The sound is unencumbered, and sometimes wild, but always ear-pleasing. And, just when you think the song is over, the drop grabs you again. Paces can change from a slow drawl to a racing pulse in a matter of seconds, making it the perfect soundtrack for dance clubs and raves all over the world.
The Best in the Biz:
There are countless dubstep artists in the world today, located in every corner and at every end of the earth. It’s hard to even scratch the surface of the best in the business, but some of the pioneers of the movement have been cutting their chops for quite some time now.
Skream: Oliver Jones, better known as Skream in the music industry, is one of the most well-recognized producers of the dubstep genre. An artist himself, Skream has become widely known throughout the dubstep community for his harmonious experimentations as well as a variety of remixes by other artists in his genre. Skream has released countless EPs, remixes and compilations since the beginning of his career in the early 2000s, and is even part of grime trio Magnetic Man, which includes dubstep giants Benga and Artwork.
Digital Mystikz: Straight out of London come Mala and Coki, a pair who have risen to fame throughout the club scene for their “dubsessive” addiction. The two, who have been together since they were teenagers, take their act around the globe, sprouting dubstep fan bases from Dusseldorf, Germany to their own backyard. Their version of dubstep fuses together elements of tender rhythms with futuristic-sounding beats that have developed into their own record label (DMZ), as well as nightclub DMZ in London.
Skrillex: Although his name kind of sounds like something you might wash a kitchen sink with, Skrillex means serious business when it comes to dubstep. Although he dabbles in a variety of electronica and breakbeat music, Sonny Moore has most recently become known for his dubstep cuts, even DJing MTV’s 2011 Woodie Awards. Skrillex has released only a few albums and singles, but has done countless remixes with other dubstep greats. Skrillex was also featured at this year’s SXSW festival alongside MSTRKRFT and Jakwob.
Where to get it:
The best way to discover new dubstep is simple: type it into Google and see what comes up. Rest assured you won’t be disappointed.
More Like This
Seth Meyers coming to Koger Center
By Mary Cathryn Armstong | March 25, 2013