OUTLINE

• What is Dubstep

• Where does it come from

• How it became popular

• Post-Dubstep

• Course Connections

WHAT IS DUBSTEP• Electronic Dance Music

• Origins in 2-step, Garage, Drum and Bass, Dub, Grime, Breakstep and Reggae.

• In general, Dubstep has less emphasis on vocals, and is most recognizable by its sub-bass reverberating at different speeds (wobble bass), giving the listener a sense of movement and insistence.

• BPM typically ranges from 137-142, but less earlier on.

• Rhythm's are usually syncopated, with a clap or snare usually inserted on every third beat.

• Contains multiple base drops

• Sampling from many other genres is common.

WHERE DOES IT COME FROM

• Originated in South London in the late 1990’s

• First released as experimental “B-sides” of 2-step garage releases by Ammunition Promotions which owned a night club in London called “Forward.”

• Ammunition managed early artists like Skream, El-B, Steve Gurley, Oris Jay and Zed Bias and also gave a venue to play their music.

• In 2002, the term “Dubstep” was coined in a magazine cover story about the club’s scene.

• Zed Bias – Neighbourhood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MyxhThHvI

• Artists performing their records at the Club; also began selling their new sound at “The Big Apple Records Shop” in Croydon South London, which became a hub for Dubstep and was very influential in the evolution of the genre, and staffed by the members of Digital Mystikz.

• In 2003, It began getting airplay on ”Rinse FM” a local London station, and was being heavily promoted by DJ Hatcha; popularizing artists like Skream and Digital Mystikz.

HOW IT BECAME POPULAR• Big Apple Records shutdown, and DMZ records was created by Digital

Mystikz.

• In 2004 DMZ Records first anniversary show saw fans attending from as far as Sweden, the US, and Australia, forcing organizers to switch to a larger venue. This event was later recognized as the moment this genre really took off.

• Online forums and alternative online media were very influential in popularizing the music globally from 2005 on.

Digital Mystikz(DMZ) – Anti-War Dub http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVpjPuzlvus&list=PL19DE4A269C95B4DF

NORTH AMERICAN POPULARITY

• DJ Joe Nice kick-started the spread to the continent after 2005, and regular Dubstep club nights began appearing in Major cities like Denver, Houston, Montreal, Seattle, San Francisco and New York

• By 2007, mainstream artists began taking Dub inspired sounds in their music (Brittney Spears, Rihanna Snoop Dog, Jay-Z)

• In 2010, Dubstep was still topping the charts in the UK, and 2011, North American Artist Skrillex released his LP, “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” which made it to No.3 on the US Billboard.

• Other North American groups were also gaining popularity, such as Mt. Eden.

• Mt Eden – Sierra Leone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3yPyc5ZdNs

POST-DUBSTEP

• North American Dubstep, is considered Post-Dubstep, and is known for spawning of sub genres like Brostep

• Skrillex became the poster boy for bro-step, specializing in a hard “lurching and aggressive” style featuring “robotic fluctuations and metal-esque aggression.”

• Canadian producers “Excision and Datsik” have also become famous for their Brostep sound.

• Amateur producers globally remake popular songs into Dubstep editions, and many have found popularity on youtube, and other online sharing mediums (Soundcloud, Songza, etc)

• Skrillex – Scary Monsters and Nice sprites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSeNSzJ2-Jw

COURSE CONNECTIONS

• London was an important cultural hearth in the development and popularization of DubStep.

• Sampling and Cross fertilization are very popular

• Communication technology (internet, radio) allowed for an accelerated development and spread of Dubstep.

• Professionals and Amateurs can make this genre of music because the instruments and recording technology is as simple as a laptop.

• Another form of music as a force for resistance, capturing the rebellious youthful spirit like so many genres before it.

THE END

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgII2gDY-Rw

• Any Questions??

By: Dan Cato