Would dubstep benefit from not having subgenres at all?

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:32 pm

I believe so.

I know people say they just help to describe certain sounds, but I feel that is just lazy. The evolution of other genres has shown, subgenres only serve to compartmentalise sounds and divide a 'scene'. (as much as I hate that word)

What's wrong with using your imagination to describe music using your personal terms, rather than to lazily lump things into over-simplistic catch-all categories?

One of the things that I find to be unique about dubstep is the sheer variety of sounds and rhythmic styles that can be juxtaposed. It’s interesting to listen to and dynamite to mix with. It is potentially a very fluid, diverse genre.

I believe not having subgenres would definately effect the evolution of the sound - I’m not quite sure how. But the unprecitability of this possibility excites me far more than replicating (insert genre's) progression into tiny, well-defined boxes.

So, I put it to you...

Given that there are definite negatives that subgenres bring, (see above) would the progression of dubstep benefit from the absence of subgenre titles?

Discuss.

upreal · Post by **upreal** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:39 pm

making more precise terms and naming stuff more correctly is a win for me. The fact that dubstep sounds so different in my eyes makes it even more essential to create subgenres(or even new genres, what do you know?). there already are a bunch just waiting to oficially emerge.

fused_forces · Post by **fused_forces** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:44 pm

no to sub genres, they r normally formed by the media just cos they wanna pigeon hole everything, its bollox.

threnody · Post by **threnody** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:45 pm

Why go as far as calling it dubstep?

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:47 pm

I agree, Citizen.

United we stand, innit?

All it takes is a journalist to nonchalantly coin an arbitrary new sub genre and the sheepies are all over it.

140 + Big arse bass + whatever sprinkles you fancy =Dubstep.

elementalism · Post by **elementalism** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:50 pm

threnody wrote:Why go as far as calling it dubstep?

Allow it.

There ain't no subgenres in dubstep if you don't want there to be. I wasn't aware of any, but then again I ain't a keyboard warrior, I go to raves!

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:51 pm

If you don't name something you still understand it as a distinct style.

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:53 pm

threnody wrote:Why go as far as calling it dubstep?

I have a theory about that, too.

oddfellow · Post by **oddfellow** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:54 pm

I dont really see the problem with catigorising or sub-genres in that they just give a name to something thats already there. People catigorise everything so why should this pariticular genre in this particular art form be any different? So far there has been little in the way of grouping different sounds in the scene together but you can definately hear simlar styles coming from different peeps. This doesnt happen because of names it just happens because of the same musical influences within and outside the scene.

thinking · Post by **thinking** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:56 pm

i wasn't aware of any 'sub-genres' in dubstep, breakstep perhaps - although that terms predates dubstep by a few years anyway...

don't really think we're at that point, but if it happens there ain't much we can do to stop it.

godspeed_120 · Post by **godspeed_120** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:00 pm

there are two arguments i reckon... firstly that by defining things more specifically, you create an explicit discourse which is self perpetuating, ie people create tunes to fit into a subgenre because that definition exists, subgenres serve to "create not only knowledge but also the very reality which they appear to describe." or secondly that subgenres merely serve to describe already existing sounds more accurately... it seems to be a question of whether the superstructure informs and shapes the material or vice versa... im not sure what i think the answer is but dubstep tunes seem already to be chiefly described by their influences (ie a 2 steppy tune or a dubby tune) so would it mark much of a change?

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:00 pm

Tomity wrote:...but you can definately hear simlar styles coming from different peeps.

Do you think this is a good thing?

Won't subgenres merely accelerate this trend?

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:02 pm

Why not fuck off genres altogether and just play the good stuff from across the board?

I know it's crazy but it might just work

fused_forces · Post by **fused_forces** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:06 pm

Shonky wrote:Why not fuck off genres altogether and just play the good stuff from across the board?

I know it's crazy but it might just work

thats certainly crazy but we'r backin that, if its good music its good music.

two oh one · Post by **two oh one** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:07 pm

Shonky wrote:Why not fuck off genres altogether and just play the good stuff from across the board?

I know it's crazy but it might just work

Mixing vibes rather than genres and bpms?

Outrageous!

kidcazual · Post by **kidcazual** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:07 pm

Shonky wrote:Why not fuck off genres altogether and just play the good stuff from across the board?

I know it's crazy but it might just work

shonky . u know what time it is , the very werd apaulls me to the bone

citizen · Post by **citizen** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:10 pm

ThinKing wrote:don't really think we're at that point, but if it happens there ain't much we can do to stop it.

Maybe.

This thread is in anticipation of such developments. I honestly think we are closer than you think.

Is the development of subgenres inevitable? Maybe there is some merit in discussing the alternative outcome.

And Shonky, I hear what you are saying, too.

shonky · Post by **shonky** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:19 pm

Well as far as dubstep goes, there are three main ones that hit me

Wobble/jump up
Deep, minimal
Dark, evil

But then most of those are all based on halfstep pretty much (not all - some)

There's also the rare 2 step influenced tunes (Martyn, Trg, Burial), a few 4/4 tunes and the hip hop crossover stuff.

corpsey · Post by **corpsey** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:19 pm

There aren't any at the moment, I don't think

People talk about wobble but really its a convenient term to use instead of naming all the producers/tunes you're commenting on... But wobble isn't exactly a sub genre, its just a bass sound

dubstep_warrior · Post by **dubstep_warrior** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:33 pm

well i think as mr.skream would put it...

"lets play some nice stuff..."

"i'm gonna play some dark stuff later"

No other pigen-holes required me thinks.

i dont think it would be beneficial in any way to have any other sub'categories. period. Unless this is the course which develops. which only time can tell.

i mean what the f**k happened with 'speed garage' anyway lol

Would dubstep benefit from not having subgenres at all?

Would dubstep benefit from not having subgenres at all?

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