What really defines dubstep?

[psyphon]

Now I've been into electronic music for a long time, I'm talking '89 to now, and the one thing that still surprises me is the people who come into these scenes with an attitude that says, "this music is unique and our own".

We all know that every form of electronic music was born from the musical womb of the late 80's, and that every genre has its own sound, but, what still gets me is how is dubstep defined?

I'm in no way being naive, because I've lived, breathed and suffered for my music since I was small, but I do find it difficult to say "that's a dubstep track".

I think the boundaries are so finely blurred that it's a very difficult genre to define.

How would you describe it?

[legend4ry]

Probably get half of the people saying

Wobble.

Because they like taking the piss.

Half of the other people saying when you start defining blah blah blah.


I think personally its one of those things where if it sounds a bit different, and gives you that vibe dubstep does, it is dubstep.

But thats just me, I think its a personal thing more than anything.

[tempest]

How would you describe it?

Groovy

Bass





Only two words I could come up with that aren't completely contridicted by different artists under the dubstep blanket... I suppose bass could be argued as a key element with burial, which I think is just 2-step garage or something other than dubstep. Although my knowledge of UK underground dance music culture isn't very good compared to some of these other lads who've actually lived through it.

[hugh]

anything with lots of bass, non hip hoppy breaks and drums and at around 140bpm.
to be honest, i dont see how dubstep is really different to hip hop anyway, other than "wowz it has Basssss oh my god"
its just beats, rythms, samples and synths, like all music.
its stupid to define it and stupid to ask how it could be defined.

[Horza]

[/quote]

Groovy

Bass

[/quote]

Nailed! Haha

Lets just change the name to that actually...

[slothrop]

I think personally its one of those things where if it sounds a bit different, and gives you that vibe dubstep does, it is dubstep.

Yeah, agree.

you see, no one man owns dubstep because dubstep music is a universal language, spoken and understood by all.
You see, dubstep is a feeling that no one can understand really unless you're deep into the vibe of dubstep.
Dubstep is an uncontrollable desire to brock your body.
And, as I told you before, this is our dubstep and our dubstep music.

[clubroot]

...........

[cixxxj]

dumb and cheap definition, but if you're feelin it then its dubstep

[clubroot]

............

[jackquinox]

Difficult question to answer given the broad range of influence on what can be defined as a dubstep record especially when you compare artists like say for example Peverlist, Vex'd and Mala.

It just reminds me of jungle when you would hear tracks like Kenny Ken - Everyman, Kemit Krew - The Box Re-Opens and Dj SS - Black all in one set, very different tunes but its all jungle.

[alphacat]

Yet despite simple shared elements, which loosely define the current style, the real appeal lies in the differences among the main players making dubstep. Each has its own distinct feel, and influences run the gamut, from Indian and industrial to crunk and heavy metal, but all are infused with dub's core ethic of studio as both instrument and imaginary space.
...
For now, dubstep is safe from being pillaged by the mainstream, at least according to Hyperdub's experimental artist, Burial. “The music is in good shape because everyone's in splinter cells,” he says. “They're in the ditch — there's no highway to attract the rubbish producers. The lights of the highway, that's when it goes wrong. But right now it's just darkness; everyone's just off wandering.”


from here: http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=28308&start=15

[hugh]

...
For now, dubstep is safe from being pillaged by the mainstream, at least according to Hyperdub's experimental artist, Burial. “The music is in good shape because everyone's in splinter cells,” he says. “They're in the ditch — there's no highway to attract the rubbish producers. The lights of the highway, that's when it goes wrong. But right now it's just darkness; everyone's just off wandering.”
from here: http://dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=28308&start=15

thats the best thing i've ever read anyone say about any type of music ever.
burial must be a shrewd blokie.

[FSTZ]

this is what I posted when the same question was asked on another forum:

I think "dubstep" is a catch-all term for music between the 135-145 tempo range, with a distinct drum pattern that can be compared to anything from dancehall or downtempo and distinguished by deep sub-bass, sometimes modulated with a low frequency oscillator.

[slothrop]

with a distinct drum pattern that can be compared to anything from dancehall or downtempo

Er, what do you actually mean by this. Sorry, not being pedantic or facetious, but distinct from what?

[hugh]

kicks, snares, percussion? don't pretend like certain sounds dont come to your mind when you think of dubstep drums and percussion.

[r]

its just fuckin up tempo dub ( ska i think? ) with some electronic sounds man... dont think too hard

[slothrop]

kicks, snares, percussion? don't pretend like certain sounds dont come to your mind when you think of dubstep drums and percussion.

Yeah, but kicks snares and percussion are hardly unique to dubstep are they? And as for the patterns, if Burial, Loefah, Mala, Horsepower, Rusko, Kode 9, and Shackleton have much in common in terms of their drum programming...

[djshiva]

[cixxxj]

dumb and cheap definition, but if you're feelin it then its dubstep

Is that directed at me?

lol, disrespected gramatical rules can make great mess. It is my definition which is dumb and cheap, because it is totally antimusical. chill out!

[thesynthesist]

wobble