To what extent is the enjoyment of dubstep due to exposure?

[johnboy01]

ok...

this thought is somewhat difficult to articulate.

you know when you play a big tune for some person who has zero dubstep or dance music experience and they just dont feel it? i guess what im trying to ask is... is it necessary to have a bit of a background in dance music in order to fully appreciate some of the tunes you love?

for example...

if a person has had absolutely no exposure to garage, would that make it more difficult for them to appreciate burial? Or if a person had no previous experience with jungle, would they have a tough time getting into RSD? (i think some of his beats are very jungly).

do you kind of get what im saying?

it would be the same if a person had no previous exposure to the genre of science fiction and you showed them your favourite sci-fi flick...

does true connection/enjoyment/interpretation depend (at least to some extent) on previous knowledge/exposure?

and here's the real mind-fuck... having been immersed in dubstep and other electronic genres for so long, are we incapable of measuring the tunes we love by a more universal scale? ie... is it "good music"? or is it good music as far as electronic music goes?

and do you ever feel guilty (or closed minded) for listening as intently as you do to electronic genres, rather than other ones?

just thinking aloud really... trying to stimulate thought. please dont hate.

[Radiant]

Good post, and all your questions are pretty clear.

What I've experienced with people hearing new genres is that when they first get into the genre, they always pick out of the mainstream/top artists, and later gradually appreciating the fine details in music and establishing their favorite artists in that genre. But most of all the music just has to connect, what brought me to dubstep is the beat and the ability to put a lot of melody in, and the bass just makes for a great dark atmosphere that I enjoy.

I think it'd be similar to people going to garage, they've most likely heard reggae and can connect with the elements in garage, the laidback relaxed setting of it. And it starts growing from there. So yeah, I do believe that some sort of background helps, as it helps to pick out the details that are different, whereas with an instant connection, also possible, you like the main aspects, and you gradually start recognizing those details.

That's my opinion on it, hope I was clear!

[johnboy01]

Good post, and all your questions are pretty clear.

What I've experienced with people hearing new genres is that when they first get into the genre, they always pick out of the mainstream/top artists, and later gradually appreciating the fine details in music and establishing their favorite artists in that genre. But most of all the music just has to connect, what brought me to dubstep is the beat and the ability to put a lot of melody in, and the bass just makes for a great dark atmosphere that I enjoy.

I think it'd be similar to people going to garage, they've most likely heard reggae and can connect with the elements in garage, the laidback relaxed setting of it. And it starts growing from there. So yeah, I do believe that some sort of background helps, as it helps to pick out the details that are different, whereas with an instant connection, also possible, you like the main aspects, and you gradually start recognizing those details.

That's my opinion on it, hope I was clear!

BIG UP RADIANT. read you loud and clear mate. thanks for giving my post some thought and not hating.

[eclectic-bass]

Yes! i think so, to get that "PHWOAR!" feeling first time around anyway.. but i dont think someone has to be into dance music to feel it from a different dance genre, an element from other genres would be enough. vocal samples and remix's in songs have led me down so many different paths, i love when that happens!

[NickUndercover]

tbh I don't really think it's necessary. I've played jungle quite a few times in front of friends that didn't know anything about it and the breaks, the bass just got to them.

[scspkr99]

I think this is a pretty interesting question.

I think atmosphere is going to be pretty important. I gave a mate a CD with some stuff on it in advance of taking him along to DMZ last week and while he wasn't feeling it on his system he certainly felt it when we were out. I also think it's going to be tough to test given the ubiquitous nature of dance music as a whole so most people would have had some exposure.

With regard to the universal scale I don't think it's an issue, the idea of good and bad music is pretty subjective anyway and so however we decide to grade the stuff we're into suits us

[test_recordings]

The best way to introduce music is to not tell people what they're going to be listening to, preconceptions can make them deaf to anything that would actually interest them otherwise. Most people also perceive genres through prototypical stereotypes so when you mention something they might think they know what it is and make a decision before the music has even started.
What I've found from experience and lots of other people's is that psychedelic drugs, MDMA particularly, prevents the brains preconception 'filter' from blocking the fundamental elements of music so it can be enjoyed for what it is instead of just listening to particular types unquestioningly. Like dubstep to me was 'the music I was looking for' though DnB had filled in nicely before that. I've since disentangled all the elements for what moves me and listen to a much wider variety of music (when it comes to radio I have Radio 1, Radio 3, Classical FM and the local pirate station on lock ).
The online radio station Pandora is an amazing concept as it sorts music according to fundamental elements (e.g. 'upbeat tempo', 'thin synths', 'wet ambience' etc) and then gives you new music based on previous preferences (a simple 'like' or 'dislike'). It's also very accurate and you can get stations that will pretty much give you consistently what you want but you might never of picked if you had a choice of the entire catalogue. Shame it's only available in the USA though

[icanicant]

I think it is natural for people to listen to something that is quite similar to what they like from another genre. Then as they slowly become used to the nuances from that genre they begin to find what they like aprt from it. For example at first I liked all the vocal remix's in dubstep but have now moved away from that massively

[nclpad]

Nothing will come close to the first time I heard Burial, which was my first exposure to dubstep. It was basically just "ah I get this." Before that I hadn't really been into electronic dance music, the closest I'd come was the Streets' Original Pirate Material. I had heard some shit drum and bass but it didn't grab me at that point - most of it still doesn't.

So I'd have to say that my enjoyment had little to do with previous exposure.

[Icey]

Good post, and all your questions are pretty clear.

What I've experienced with people hearing new genres is that when they first get into the genre, they always pick out of the mainstream/top artists, and later gradually appreciating the fine details in music and establishing their favorite artists in that genre. But most of all the music just has to connect, what brought me to dubstep is the beat and the ability to put a lot of melody in, and the bass just makes for a great dark atmosphere that I enjoy.

I think it'd be similar to people going to garage, they've most likely heard reggae and can connect with the elements in garage, the laidback relaxed setting of it. And it starts growing from there. So yeah, I do believe that some sort of background helps, as it helps to pick out the details that are different, whereas with an instant connection, also possible, you like the main aspects, and you gradually start recognizing those details.

That's my opinion on it, hope I was clear!

This.

Dubstep was the first dance/electronic genre that I got into(ex-metalhead), but because of that Distance was one of my first favorites

[prisoner]

this is why i always play sine of the dub to anyone who hasn't heard dubstep before.

[DannyLifted]

people enjoy what there familiar with and base a lot of the music they like around whether they feel it would be socially acceptable to like that music among there peers. So if neither they or there peers are familiar with the "jungle" genre and you play them the biggest jungle song ever...it's possible there not going to like it. Sometimes they have to be exposed to it a few times and see that other people like it so they know it's socially acceptable to like that sound. Then the opposite can occur and everyone starts jumping on the band wagon just because something is a trend.

[eclectic-bass]

people enjoy what there familiar with and base a lot of the music they like around whether they feel it would be socially acceptable to like that music among there peers. So if neither they or there peers are familiar with the "jungle" genre and you play them the biggest jungle song ever...it's possible there not going to like it. Sometimes they have to be exposed to it a few times and see that other people like it so they know it's socially acceptable to like that sound. Then the opposite can occur and everyone starts jumping on the band wagon just because something is a trend.

do you think you could actually repeatedly listen to a genre of music that you didn't like just because everyone else was doing it? highly doubtful, you wouldn't last long.. saying that people are "jumping on the bandwagon" just because it's popular, would only be true for a small number of people, and those people would more than likely be the type who didnt have a passion for music in the first place, so chances are they're trying to fit in or it is a passing phase.
my theory on why it seems like people are jumping onto a trend all at once is evolution in a genre leading to greater interest within friend circles, from there it gets requested on radio stations and dj's drop a track or two outside of their normal genre.. and then it spreads like wildfire, NOT because it's the new cool thing to listen to, but because they may not have been exposed to it before. The internet also plays a huge part in wider spread of what was once underground, more DJ's also means bigger competition/variety/ideas/backgrounds.. all of this creates new sounds and break offs within genres, so many people treat this as a bad thing, but without variety, things turn stale, people loose interest and goodbye scene. every "genre" evolved from something else, putting a label on a group of music is stupid in the first place.. which people would just enjoy what they like without feeling the need to belittle others who dont have the same knowledge/passion as themselves.

bit off track, damn fried, oops.

[pompende]

if a person has had absolutely no exposure to garage, would that make it more difficult for them to appreciate burial? Or if a person had no previous experience with jungle, would they have a tough time getting into RSD? (i think some of his beats are very jungly).

i didn't have exposure when i started listening. it all sounded better after going back and filling in the context you're talking about.

[test_recordings]

people enjoy what there familiar with and base a lot of the music they like around whether they feel it would be socially acceptable to like that music among there peers. So if neither they or there peers are familiar with the "jungle" genre and you play them the biggest jungle song ever...it's possible there not going to like it. Sometimes they have to be exposed to it a few times and see that other people like it so they know it's socially acceptable to like that sound. Then the opposite can occur and everyone starts jumping on the band wagon just because something is a trend.

do you think you could actually repeatedly listen to a genre of music that you didn't like just because everyone else was doing it? highly doubtful, you wouldn't last long.. saying that people are "jumping on the bandwagon" just because it's popular, would only be true for a small number of people, and those people would more than likely be the type who didnt have a passion for music in the first place, so chances are they're trying to fit in or it is a passing phase.
my theory on why it seems like people are jumping onto a trend all at once is evolution in a genre leading to greater interest within friend circles, from there it gets requested on radio stations and dj's drop a track or two outside of their normal genre.. and then it spreads like wildfire, NOT because it's the new cool thing to listen to, but because they may not have been exposed to it before. The internet also plays a huge part in wider spread of what was once underground, more DJ's also means bigger competition/variety/ideas/backgrounds.. all of this creates new sounds and break offs within genres, so many people treat this as a bad thing, but without variety, things turn stale, people loose interest and goodbye scene. every "genre" evolved from something else, putting a label on a group of music is stupid in the first place.. which people would just enjoy what they like without feeling the need to belittle others who dont have the same knowledge/passion as themselves.

bit off track, damn fried, oops.

Some people don't go out to listen to good music hence the ubiquity of bland house music in 95% of nightclub venues. They just want something to dance and drink to, it's probably how the 'house' genre name emerged as it was based on the particular style of music that a venue or area played, much like house wine in a restaurant. That's what I understand of it. 'Garage House' was the house music of the Garage Club in the USA, 'Niche' is the house music of the Niche club in Sheffield and in wider zones you've got Detroit Techno (okay, techno) and Chicago House. Apparently it started in a club in Chicago called 'The Warehouse', too...
Anyway, try asking people who listen to generic music like what ever is in the Top 40 or what's played in most nightclubs and I bet they won't be able to tell you!

[garethom]

Anyway, try asking people who listen to generic music like what ever is in the Top 40 or what's played in most nightclubs and I bet they won't be able to tell you!

Not the case in Birmingham man, as it seems it IS just the top 40 that's played in most nightclubs.

[clifford_-]

Anyway, try asking people who listen to generic music like what ever is in the Top 40 or what's played in most nightclubs and I bet they won't be able to tell you!

Not the case in Birmingham man, as it seems it IS just the top 40 that's played in most nightclubs.

same up and down the country to be fair!

[leeany]

I had no garage experience at all and I love Burial. It took me a while to get into him though.

I think the fact that I produce music myself makes me appreciate a lot of music more. If I wouldn't produce
and heard Aphex Twin, I'd probably just think that he just presses some random buttons

[bSQUARED08]

This thread is going a lot better than I'd expect, hahaha. Definitely some quality posts and good discussion here.

As others have already said, I think it has everything to do with previous listening experiences. I think that dubstep should be somewhat easy for outsiders to catch onto because it incorporates so many different sounds and influences from other genres. For example, I grew up listening to 90s hip hop, so I caught onto dubstep once I heard the similarities in beats/ drum patterns/ instrumental elements. Dubstep includes elements of soooo many different genres across the board, so naturally, you'd think it would capture more attention and as we've seen within the past few years, it's popularity has grown exponentially.

[test_recordings]

Anyway, try asking people who listen to generic music like what ever is in the Top 40 or what's played in most nightclubs and I bet they won't be able to tell you!

Not the case in Birmingham man, as it seems it IS just the top 40 that's played in most nightclubs.

same up and down the country to be fair!

Okay so you have a unitary sample for comparing then I swear brum had the custard factory!? That surely isn't playing Top 40 tripe?
EDIT: I get what you mean, a lot of places in Leeds do that but that's what I'm talking about. One place played the local radio station Cheap as, not even putting a DJ on!?