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Dubstep music

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Not to be confused with Teminite's and Chime's track named Duckstep.
NCS - Dubstep Playlist Icon

Dubstep (formerly known as Dark Garage), a genre of EDM, originated in South London, England in the late 1990s. It evolved from styles like 2-Step, Breakbeat, Drum & Bass, Jungle, Dub and Reggae. The genre's roots in the UK can be traced back to the Jamaican sound system party scene in the early 1980s. Dubstep is known for its syncopated drum patterns, bass lines with sub bass frequencies, and tempo ranging from 140-150 BPM. The genre often incorporates a Halftime "feel" with a clap or snare every third beat, creating the illusion of slower tempo.

One key feature of Dubstep is the filter-modulated bass, known as the "wub", where a bass note is rhythmically manipulated. This bass style is produced using a low-frequency oscillator to adjust parameters like volume, distortion, or filter cutoff. The resulting sound is characterized by rhythmic variations in volume, filter cutoff, or distortion, driving some variations of Dubstep, especially in club-friendly settings.

This genre was pioneered by Horsepower Productions with their album, In Fine Style, released on January 1, 2002. and popularized by Kode9 & The Spaceape's album, Memories of the Future, in 2005, and Burial's self-titled album on May 15, 2006.[1]

Notable releases of this genre include:

On NoCopyrightSounds, Dubstep is normally represented by a blue circle color.

See here for Dubstep artists.


Layouts & Circles Used[]

Sub-Genres[]

Genre Description Examples
Brostep Brostep emerged as a subgenre of Classic Tearout that gained popularity in the United States. Known for its intense Hardcore elements, it features heavily distorted bass synths and an abundance of wubs. The genre emphasizes aggressive middle frequencies and incorporates "robotic fluctuations & metal-esque aggression". Brostep tracks typically showcase intricate basslines, filled with downsampled growls and chord fillers to ensure that every part of the drop is filled.
Briddim Briddim is a subgenre of Riddim and Brostep that is influenced by Brostep and combines growls with the drum rhythm of Riddim. Unlike other types of Riddim, which often feature 1/3 bar hi-hats and are quite melodic, Briddim tends to be heavier and more chaotic.
Classic Tearout Classic Tearout is a subgenre of UK Dubstep that focuses on the dancefloor aspect and intense energy. Emerged in the late 2000s it's closer to classic Dubstep, but has very intense and complex basslines, dynamic rhythms, a complex sound design using abrasive synthesizers with lots of distortion and effects, and a tempo at 140 that can vary. This genre later evolved into Brostep.
Colour Bass Colour Bass, a subgenre of Brostep, sits between the more aggressive Dubstep styles of Brostep or Riddim and the Melodic Dubstep focused on super saws. Chime, a leading producer in the development of this subgenre, coined the term, along with musicians like Ace Aura, Papa Khan, and Sharks.
Tearout Tearout is a subgenre of Brostep that mainly originates from Deathstep. Key characteristics of Tearout consist of rapid-fire basslines, aggressive sound design, and heavy sub-basses. It is characterized by its intense sound and sets itself apart from Deathstep through its frenzied atmosphere and continuous, thick texture.
Chillstep Chillstep, also known as Chilled Dubstep or Liquid Dubstep, is the polar opposite of Brostep. This is a subgenre of Dubstep that is distinguished by a relaxed and tranquil atmosphere in contrast to the more intense nature of its parent genre, incorporating notable elements of Ambient and Downtempo music. The tempo usually ranges from 115-150 BPM.
Melodic Dubstep Melodic Dubstep, also known as MeloDub, is a subgenre of Dubstep that emerged in the early 2010s; it has its own unique sound and style that distinguishes it from Dubstep and Brostep. Instead of focusing on heavy bass drops and aggressive rhythms, Melodic Dubstep highlights melodic elements like catchy melodies. Despite some similarities with Dubstep, its distinct sound has garnered a loyal fan base and established itself as a recognizable subgenre.
Neurostep Neurostep is a fusion of Neurofunk and Dubstep, often incorporating filtered, sine compression basses and crunchy, distorted reeses inspired by Neurofunk.
Riddim Riddim, a subgenre of Dubstep, is characterized by its simple, repetitive "seesaw" or "swing" rhythms, often featuring heavy percussion, detuned metallic basslines, and effects like reverb, phasers, flangers, and comb filters. It's common to hear a kick and clap combination on beat 3 instead of snares. The line between traditional and modern influences like Brostep has become blurred over time. Drum patterns are usually straightforward with minimal syncopation, while reverb, triplet basslines, and off-beat vocals are key elements.
Future Riddim Future Riddim is a subtype genre of the contemporary Brostep and Riddim fusion called Briddim. Future Bass and Riddim were the two components that gave rise to the name of the genre.
UK Dubstep The descendant of 2-Step and Dub Reggae, UK Dubstep, also known as Classic Dubstep, 140's, or Old School Dubstep, emerged as the first genre of Dubstep (after Proto-Dubstep) during the late 1990s and early 2000s, highlighting a prominent use of powerful bass and sub-bass to produce a mechanical or ethereal vibe. Drawing influence from UK Funky, Techno, 2-Step, Broken Beat, Wonky and Grime, it frequently incorporates unique rhythms not commonly seen in other Dubstep subgenres.

References[]

  1. ↑ The Origins of... Dubstep|Blog|Producertech
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